Elegant Scalloped Potatoes

8 large baking potatoes
6 tablespoons butter or margarine
6 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
3 1/2 cups milk
12 ounces process cheese (Velveeta) or I just used shredded cheddar cheese
1/3 cup crumbled cooked bacon
1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
1/4 cup sliced green onions
Directions:
Scrub and pierce potatoes; place on a microwave-safe plate. Microwave on high for 15-20 minutes or until tender. Cool slightly. You can also boil the potatoes until tender.
In a saucepan, melt the butter. Stir in flour, garlic powder, salt and pepper until smooth; gradually whisk in milk. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened. Add the process cheese and bacon; stir until cheese is melted. Remove from heat; set aside.
Cut the potatoes into 1/4-in. slices. Place a third of the slices in a greased 13-in. x 9-in. x 2-in. baking dish; top with a third of the cheese sauce. Repeat layers twice. Sprinkle with cheddar cheese and onions. Bake, uncovered, at 350 degrees F for 15 minutes or until cheese is melted.

picture and recipe from Allrecipes

Grilled Potato Packets

4-5 medium sized potatoes thinly sliced

8 green onions, chopped with some of the green, plus more for garnish

4 cloves garlic, minced

4 Tbs. olive oil

salt and pepper

Preheat grill. Place two 18 inch long pieces of heavy duty tin foil on a flat surface. Divide the potatoes, green onions, and garlic between the two pieces of foil keeping the mixture in the center of each sheet. Drizzle with olive oil and season the to your liking. Gently toss the ingredients on the foil, then fold and crimp the foil along the sides to make a flat packet (make each packet a uniform thickness for even cooking). Grill the packets for 15 minutes, then turn them over and grill for 10 minutes. Sprinkle with additional green onions, parmesan cheese, or shredded cheddar cheese. Serves 8.

(picture courtesy of Family Fun magazine)

Ranch House Crock Pot Pork Chops with Parmesan Mashed Potates

This recipe was very yummy! It had very good flavor!

6 pork chops, 1/2 inch thick

2 packet dry Ranch Dressing Seasoning

2 10 oz can Cream of Chicken Soup

4 lbs peeled, cubed potatoes

5 Tablespoons real butter

1 Cup fresh grated Parmesan cheese

6 cloves roasted garlic (click for directions how to roast garlic)

1- 1 1/2 Cups warm skim milk (any milk will do, I just happened to use skim)

1 Tablespoon salt, or to taste

1 teaspoon fresh cracked black pepper, or to taste.

Place pork chops, Ranch seasoning and soup into a medium sized crock pot over high heat for 4 hours or low heat for 6 hours.

Place potatoes into a large pot of cold water. Place onto stovetop over high heat and bring to a boil. Once water is boiling, cook for 10-12 minutes or until potatoes are fork tender. Drain and transfer to the work bowl of a stand or electric mixer. Mix on low until potatoes are mashed then add butter, parmesan, garlic, milk, salt and pepper. Season to taste if needed. For thinner mashed potatoes add more milk, slowly until your desired consitency.

Scoop mashed potatoes onto serving plates and top with pork chops and soup gravy from crock pot. Enjoy!

This recipe and picture courtesy of Picky Palate