| This time of year, we think more about staying inside | | | | 1 cup onion, chopped |
| our warm houses and enjoying a home-cooked meal. | | | | 2 cloves garlic, minced |
| But sometimes it's hard to think of things to prepare | | | | 4 cups potatoes, peeled and cubed |
| for dinner night after night, especially when you're trying | | | | 2 cans (21 oz) cream of chicken or mushroom soup |
| to use up things you have on hand. | | | | 2 soup cans milk |
| Potatoes are a staple food in my family's winter diet. | | | | Salt and pepper |
| They're inexpensive, easy to prepare, and there are | | | | Melt butter in a large saucepan. Add onions and garlic, |
| so many different things that you can do with them. | | | | cooking until soft. Add potatoes and enough water to |
| Even though my husband sometimes complains, | | | | barely cover the potatoes. Cook, covered, until |
| "potatoes again?!" when we've had them in some | | | | potatoes are tender (15 to 20 minutes). In a |
| shape or form for dinner every night for a week, I still | | | | medium-sized bowl, mix together soup and milk. Pour |
| manage to come up with new and different ways to | | | | soup mixture into potato mixture and stir. Heat but do |
| serve them. I personally never get tired of eating them. | | | | not boil. Season to taste. |
| Potatoes are very versatile in that you can serve | | | | Parmesan Potato Casserole |
| them as a main course, side dish, or appetizer. They | | | | 2 cups mashed potatoes |
| also freeze very well, so you can prepare meals | | | | 8 ounces cream cheese |
| ahead of time and freeze them for later use. One | | | | 2 eggs |
| easy meal to prepare is a simple potato soup base | | | | 1 small onion, diced |
| consisting of potatoes, onions, garlic, salt, pepper, and | | | | 2 tablespoons flour |
| milk or water. You can add flour to thicken it up if you | | | | 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, grated |
| wish, or I add cream of mushroom soup to give it a | | | | 1/4 cup dried bread crumbs |
| richer flavor. From there you can add whatever you | | | | Salt and pepper |
| wish to create a meal your family is sure to enjoy. I | | | | Preheat oven to 300 degrees. In a small bowl, mix |
| often add clams for an easy-to-make clam chowder, | | | | Parmesan cheese and bread crumbs; set aside. In a |
| ham, or corn and bacon for corn chowder. There is no | | | | medium-sized bowl, combine mashed potatoes, cream |
| end to the possibilities you could come up with. Served | | | | cheese, eggs, onion, and flour. Beat with a mixer on |
| with fresh homemade bread, you can't beat the feeling | | | | low speed until blended. Beat at high speed until |
| of comfort a bowl of potato soup brings on a cold | | | | mixture is light and fluffy. Add salt and pepper. Pour |
| winter's day. | | | | potato mixture into a greased casserole dish. Sprinkle |
| Potato Soup Base | | | | with bread crumb/Parmesan cheese mixture. Bake for |
| 3 tablespoons butter | | | | 35 minutes. |