helen's cheesy potatoes
Helen was a friend of my parents, the kind of friend who would show up with food & sympathy for sad occasions or food & happiness for joyous occasions. One dish she often brought for any occasion was her Cheesy Potatoes. Her original recipe called for 4x every ingredient, put into a LARGE roaster and baked for 60-90 minutes. I'm quartering her recipe for the average family. The cheese sauce also makes a delicious baked mac & cheese with 1/2 pound of cooked pasta. Halving the cheese sauce would give you the perfect amount for broccoli & cheese. Thanks, Helen. I remember your love. =^..^=
prep time
20 Min
cook time
25 Min
method
Bake
yield
8 serving(s)
Ingredients
- 2 1/2 pounds red-skinned potatoes, scrubbed
- 2 tablespoons butter or margarine
- 2 tablespoons flour
- 1 cup milk
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 8 ounces shredded cheddar cheese
- more - milk
How To Make helen's cheesy potatoes
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Step 1Earlier in the day, or the night before, cook the potatoes in a pot of water until just done. (I use red-skinned potatoes so I don't have to peel, but if you use regular potatoes, cook them with their skins on, then peel the skins off right before slicing them.) Drain and cool completely. Refrigerate, if cooking them the night before.
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Step 2When it's time to put the dish together, slice the potatoes into a greased 13 x 9" pan. (This photo shows regular potatoes with their peels removed before slicing into the baking dish.)
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Step 3To make the cheese sauce, melt the butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir in the flour with a whisk and cook for a few minutes. Add the milk and salt and continue stirring constantly. Cook until the sauce is hot and starts to thicken. Remove from heat.
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Step 4Stir in the shredded cheddar cheese until melted. Slowly add additional milk while stirring, until the cheese sauce is thinned to the desired consistency.
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Step 5Pour the cheese sauce over the sliced potatoes, covering completely. Using a spoon, lift up potatoes from the bottom so the sauce will run down. (If the cheese sauce is too thick, just pour a little bit of milk over the potatoes and don't worry about it. They'll still turn out fine after baking.) Sprinkle a little extra shredded cheese on top, if you like.
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Step 6Bake at 350 degrees F for around 25 minutes, until the dish is bubbly in the middle and the cheese on the top looks done.
- Last Step: Don't forget to share! Post a picture of your finished recipe here and on your favorite social network. Don't forget to tag Just A Pinch and include #justapinchrecipes!
Discover More
Category:
Potatoes
Tag:
#Quick & Easy
Tag:
#For Kids
Diet:
Vegetarian
Keyword:
#cheese
Keyword:
#cheesy
Keyword:
#augratin
Method:
Bake
Culture:
American
Ingredient:
Potatoes
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