Perfect Potatoes au Gratin

Originally posted May 2, 2011

We enjoyed Easter dinner with some (awesome!!) friends this year - and I made these potatoes au gratin (a la The Pioneer Woman) for our feast! They were incredible! I was even accused of putting a controlled substance in the potatoes! I didn't know cream and butter were controlled substances...but maybe they should be! :)

Perfect Potatoes au Gratin
Recipe from: The Pioneer Woman
4 whole Russet Potatoes, Scrubbed Clean
2 Tablespoons Butter, Softened
1-½ cup Heavy Cream
½ cups Whole Milk
2 Tablespoons Flour
4 cloves Garlic, Finely Minced
1 teaspoon Salt
Freshly Ground Pepper, to taste
1 cup Sharp Cheddar Cheese, Freshly Grated

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Smear softened butter all over the bottom of a baking dish.

Slice potatoes, then cut slices into fourths.

In a separate bowl, whisk together cream, milk, flour, minced garlic, salt, and plenty of freshly ground black pepper.

Place 1/3 of the potatoes in the bottom of the baking dish. Pour 1/3 of the cream mixture over the potatoes.

Repeat this two more times, ending with the cream mixture. Cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes. Remove foil and bake for 20 minutes, or until potatoes are golden brown and really bubbling. Add grated cheese to the top of the potatoes and bake for 3 to 5 more minutes, until cheese is melted and bubbly.

Allow to stand for a few minutes before serving by the spoonful. Delicious!

Sliced Baked Potatoes

These are something else my mom made when I was growing up. Really yummy, easy, and different way to fix potatoes. I can't believe I haven't fixed them more often!!

Sliced Baked Potatoes

4 med. even potatoes
1 tsp. salt
2-3 tbsp. melted butter
2-3 tbsp. chopped fresh herbs, such as chive, parsley, thyme, sage or 2-3 tbsp. dried herbs you choose
4 tbsp. grated cheddar cheese
1 1/2 tbsp. Parmesan cheese

Peel potatoes if the skin is bad, otherwise just scrub and rinse them. Cut potatoes into thin slices BUT not all the way through. Use a handle of a spoon to prevent knife from cutting all the way. Put potatoes in a baking dish. Fan them open slightly. Sprinkle with salt and drizzle with butter. Sprinkle with herbs. Bake potatoes at 425 degrees for about 50 minutes. Remove from oven. Sprinkle with cheese. Bake potatoes for another 10 to 15 minutes until lightly browned, cheeses are melted and potatoes are soft inside. Check with a fork. Serves 4.