Hot German Potato Salad

I made some delicious Hot German Potato Salad to go with our roast pork tonight.  I forgot to take a picture, I'll get a picture when we have the leftovers  :)  We really enjoyed it, I don't know why I don't make it more often?


Hot German Potato Salad
serves 4
about 1 1/2 lbs of potatoes
3 slices bacon
1/3 c onion(I used chives this time)
1 T corn starch
1 T sugar
1 t salt
pinch of celery seed
1/2 c water
1/4 c vinegar

Now, traditionally the potatoes should be cooked in their skins and then sliced.  I don't like handling hot potatoes (and ours are really old this time of year) so I peeled them and cubed them (cubes are sturdier than rounds).  Boil potatoes until tender.

Meanwhile, fry bacon until crisp.  Remove and chop for later.  If using raw onions (I usually use dried) saute in bacon fat until soft.  Into bacon yumminess (aka fat) stir in cornstarch, salt, celery, and sugar.  Add a little butter if the bacon didn't render enough.  Carefully pour in water and vinegar (keep face away from pot).  Stir until thick. 

Drain potatoes, peel and slice if necessary.  Pour potatoes into sauce, add bacon and stir gently to coat.  Yum!

Parmesan Oven Fries

I was suggesting these fries to some friends online, so I thought I'd share the recipe to all of you here.

Parmesan Oven Fries

enough potatoes
1/3 c oil
2T corn starch
1/3 c Parmesan cheese (I use the stuff in the can)
1/4 tsp garlic powder and paprika

Peel and cut up potatoes, into fries or pieces.  Mix everything else together and stir in potatoes to coat.  Pour into roasting pan or lined cookie sheet.

Bake 375F for 1 hour

Recipes

Here's a few new recipes to share.  I'm sorry I forgot to take pictures.  I'll try to remember the next time I make these.

First recipe is a link.  I know I've mentioned this recipe before, but the loin roast recipe over at Like Mother, Like Daughter is absolutely delicious.  It's the recipe I used this year for Daddy's birthday.

Have you seen the new flavoured Philly Cream Cheese tubs?  I picked up the herb and garlic one last grocery day and came up with these potatoes.  They are like my Company Potato recipe.

Easy, Fancy Mashed Potatoes
12 large potatoes, peeled and cooked
1 c lite sour cream (5%)
1 pkg (270g) flavoured cream cheese
3 T butter, softened
1/2 c mozzarella cheese (to make it stringy)
sprinkle of cheddar (for topping)
Cook and rice potatoes.  Have all other ingredients at room temperature for easy mixing.  Combine everything (except cheddar) and mix well.  Spoon into a greased casserole dish.  Sprinkle with cheddar.  Bake 350F for 30 minutes or until hot.

I had some boneless chicken breasts the other day and nothing to do with them.  So this is what I tried and it was yummy.

Parmesan Chicken Breasts
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts halves
1 c mayonnaise
1/2 c Parmesan cheese
1/2 t pepper
1 t garlic powder
Mix everything together and spoon over top the chicken breasts.  Bake 375F for 45 minutes.

Here's another yummy soup.  It works with canned tomatoes or fresh.
Tomato Potato Soup
1 T butter
2 T oil
2 large onions, chopped
4 c peeled and cubed potatoes
1 c each celery and carrots, chopped
2 garlic, minced
1/2 t thyme
1 (14.5oz) can tomatoes
1 c chicken broth
2 c milk
1 1/2 T cornstarch (dissolve in a little water)


Cook onions in butter/oil until nice and golden brown.  Add vegetables, thyme and stock.  Simmer until vegetables are tender.  Add milk  and cornstarch.  Stir over low heat until soup thickens.

Yumm

Supper New Year's day went really well and tasted delicious.  Here's a couple recipes:

Boeuf Bourguignon

6 slices bacon
4 lb stew beef, dried
2T butter
2 large carrots, quartered
3T flour
2 large onions, chopped
2T tomato paste
2c good red wine -I used a Cabernet Sauvignon
2c beef stock
1/2 t thyme
1/2 t parsley
1/2 t rosemary
2 bay leaves
salt and pepper

Cook bacon until crisp.  Drain fat and reserve (save bacon for sandwiches).  Return a bit of bacon fat to pan.  Heat till very hot.  Brown the stew beef, a little at a time, adding more bacon fat as required.  I used my 12 inch deep skillet and removed beef to dutch oven as they were done.

Reduce heat and add butter.  Saute, covered, onions and carrots until onions are soft and translucent.  Add garlic and cook briefly.  Sprinkle with flour and scrape any bits from the bottom of the pan.  Add everything else.  Bring to a boil and let thicken a bit.  Pour over meat and gently stir to combine.  If meat isn't covered, add a bit of beef stock.   Cover dutch oven and bake for 1 1/2-2 hours at 350F.  Until meat is tender.

If you make this a day ahead of time.  Reheat at 350F for 30 minutes.

I actually thought to take a picture of the finished product.  Here it is in one of my favourite Christmas presents.  My Mom got me a Kitchen Aid 5.??qt, dutch oven.  It's ceramic on cast iron.  Weights a TON but it will be beautiful for cooking with.

Freezer Potato Casserole

5lb potatoes, peeled and boiled
8 oz cream cheese
1/4t garlic powder
1t salt
1/4 c chives, I used dried from the store
shredded cheddar to suit

Mash everything together and put into freezer containers that suit the size of your family.  When ready, thaw and pour into a greased casserole dish.  Bake 375F for 30-40 min.

It was so wonderful to have all the cooking done ahead of time.  We only have a kitchen, so I can't hide dirty dishes while people eat in the dining room.  It was nice to have all the extra dishes washed and put away and not have to be scrambling to get it all done before the guests arrived.  Made for a much calmer day.  Now that I have a smaller home, the cook ahead meals really make sense.  Besides, things like stew just get better the next day!