Potato Cheese Casserole

200. When my family wants comfort food, I usually default to one of their favorites, Potato Cheese Casserole. This side dish has been one of the go-to dishes that always brings smiles to their faces. Now, you could use the long process to make this dish, but over the years, I have devised some shortcuts. If you bake this casserole in the oven it will take 1 1/2 hours to bake. But the easy process is baked in the microwave and is done in 25 minutes!

Potato Cheese Casserole

8 medium size potatoes or 5 large potatoes, peeled, cubed

1/4 cup butter, melted

1/2 cup onion, chopped

1 cup sour cream

1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

sea salt & ground pepper

Long process: Saute' onion in butter till tender. Mix potatoes, onions, sour cream, cheese and salt and pepper in a bowl till evenly coated. Pour into an 8 x 11 prepared baking dish. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 1/2 hours or till potatoes are tender. Serve hot.

Shortened process:

Place butter and chopped onions in baking dish. Cover with plastic wrap, wax paper or wet paper towels. Microwave on high for 4 minutes. Onions will be tender.

Peel and chop the potatoes.

My process for cubing potatoes.

Place chopped potatoes into baking dish on top of steamed onions and butter.

Dollop sour cream on top and cheddar cheese. Mix all together till evenly mixed.

Top with cheddar cheese. Cover with plastic wrap.

Return to microwave and bake for 25 to 30 minutes on high.

You will begin to smell the yummy casserole.

It is cheesy, tender, creamy and will pair deliciously with any meat dish.

“Food is not about impressing people.

It's about making them feel comfortable.”
~Ina Garten, ‘The Barefoot Contessa Cookbook’

Blueberry Valentine Pies

199. This Valentines Day I made my Valentines mini heart shaped Blueberry Valentine Pies for dessert.

I used these beautiful heart shaped baking bowls to make individual pies.

My recipe is made with 4 cups blueberries, lemon zest, 1 cup sugar, 3 Tablespoons cornstarch, pinch of kosher salt

juice from half a lemon and a pinch of cinnamon.

I made half a recipe of pie dough and only covered the top of each dish.

I crimped the edges to the dishes and made heart shaped air holes in the crust.

Baked for 40 minutes at 350 degrees

these little pies turned out beautifully!

We enjoyed them with a dollop of whipped cream and coffee.

Happy Valentine's Day

"Who, being loved, is poor?"

~ Oscar Wilde