#3547 - Sausage Potato Casserole

(by Shirley McNevich)

1lb. Idaho potatoes
3/4 cup chopped onions
4 TBSP butter
4 TBSP flour
2 cups milk
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
8oz. + 1/2 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
1lb. smoked sausage (casings removed, sausage crumbled)
paprika for sprinkling

Peel the potatoes. Cook the potatoes in salted water over medium heat until tender--drain them and cool completely. Cut the cooled potatoes into bite sized pieces. In a skillet over medium heat add crumbled sausage pieces and chopped onions--cook/stir until sausage is browned. In a greased 2qt. casserole dish make alternating layers of potatoes and sausage/onions. In a skillet add butter, flour, milk, salt, pepper and 8oz. shredded sharp cheddar cheese--cook/stir over medium low heat until melted and smooth. Carefully pour the cheese sauce mixture over the casserole mixture. Sprinkle the remaining 1/2 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese over the top. Sprinkle paprika over the cheese (to your taste). Bake at 350 degrees for 35-45 minutes or until heated through.

#291 - Crispy Potato Pancakes

(by Shirley McNevich)

4 cups freshly grated Idaho potatoes
4 eggs, beaten with a fork
1 1/2 cups flour
1 cup grated onion
2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. pepper
canola oil for frying

Wash, peel, and grate potatoes into a bowl. Fill bowl with cold water to cover the grated potatoes. Set bowl with grated potatoes into the sink and turn cold water on slowly--keep the cold water running for about 5 minutes until the potato starch disappears. Drain water off of potatoes using a colander, then sprinkle grated potatoes on to paper towels on your counter and pat them completely dry. Mix eggs and flour together in a bowl until smooth, then add onion, salt and pepper and mix well. Add grated potatoes to egg mixture and stir until mixed (at this point, you can add grated cheese if you wish). Pour 1/4" of canola oil in a skillet over medium heat. Drop 1/4 cup portions of batter into the oil--do NOT flatten yet--turn potato cake after 2 minutes using a spatula and then flatten using the spatula and brown other side for 2 more minutes or until golden brown. Drain on paper towels before serving--serve hot.