Old Fashioned Cheese Potatoes

 

Old Fashioned Cheese Potatoes

 

 

I don't know about everyone else, but I have a very hard time thinking of side dishes to compliment my main dish.  This is actually not a family recipe, but it's one that I have used for years, and I've seen it or something similar at a number of church dinners and such.  I think these potatoes go especially well with ham.  This is definitely comfort food.  I think you will enjoy making this recipe. :)

 

As always, gather your ingredients first.  This is essential to a smooth running recipe assembly.  Everything must be in reach, already measured out and ready to go. You will need:

6-8 medium potatoes 

¼ cup butter

¼ cup flour

2 ½ cups milk

salt

pepper

1½ cups of pasturized process cheese (either Velveeta or slices is fine)

 

First of all, preheat your oven to 350°.

 

 

Next, scrub all of the dirt off of your potatoes, then peel them and slice them thin.  Place them in a greased 9x13 baking dish.

Set aside.

 

 

Now we are ready to make our cheese sauce. First, we will make a roux.  A roux is made by mixing fat (butter or drippings) with flour which you will combine with milk or water to make a gravy or a sauce.

  To begin, melt your butter in a saucepan over medium heat.

 

When your butter is melted, add in your flour and whisk until it is well incorporated. 

 

Now add your salt and pepper to taste.  Don't be afraid that you are not putting enough in. You can add more later when you have your entire cheese sauce done.

 

Whisk your salt and pepper in to incorporate 

and let it begin to simmer.

 

Next, add your milk very slowly, whisking as you pour it in.

 

Turn the heat to medium and allow it to begin to simmer again. This is an important step: Whisk your mixture almost constantly and let it simmer for about two minutes or until it thickens somewhat.  You must continue to whisk, or the milk will scald.   

When your mixture has thickened, you can add your cheese. 

Just dump it in and continually stir until it's all melted.

 

 Our cheese sauce is complete! Isn't it beautiful? You can also use this versatile sauce on macaroni, broccoli, and anything else that you might want to add a cheese sauce to.  It is delicious!  

 

Okay, this is the last step before the oven. Pour your cheese sauce over your potatoes in baking dish.  They will probably not all be covered.  I always just stir them around a tiny bit to get some cheese sauce on or around each potato.

 

Place your dish into your preheated oven.

 

 

 

 Bake for 1 hour.

 

 

Comfort food at it's best.

Old Fashioned Cheese Potatoes

6-8 medium potatoes 

¼ cup butter

¼ cup flour

2 ½ cups milk

salt

pepper

1½ cups of pasturized process cheese (either Velveeta or slices is fine)

 

Preheat oven to 350°.  Scrub potatoes, peel, and slice thinly, then place in greased a 9x13 dish.  Set aside.

 Melt butter over medium heat.  Add flour and whisk until well incorporated.  Add salt and pepper and whisk.   Let mixture begin to simmer and slowly stir in milk.  Allow mixture to return to simmer and stir constantly for about 2 minutes or until sauce thickens.  Add cheese and stir until melted.  Remove pan from heat and pour cheese sauce over sliced potatoes.  Make sure the potatoes are all covered.    Bake for 1 hour.

Hope you enjoy!!!  :)

 

 

Sun Drop Pound Cake

This is my maiden blog posting here at Southern Specialties, and I am going to start out with a food that is undoubtedly southern. . . Sun Drop Pound Cake!!!  Sun Drop is a golden carbonated beverage that is so heavenly that angels gather near when someone opens a new can (maybe they are just on standby due to the fact that the caffeine content has been known to give some the heart flutters).  Seriously though, it's the stuff that dreams are made of.  To say that I am addicted to this amazing substance would be an understatement, for sure.  Until recently, Sun Drop has been a regional drink, appearing only in a few areas of the country, but it is my understanding that it is now starting to be available nationwide.  I have made many, many pound cakes over the years, but just made my very first ever Sun Drop Pound Cake last night.  It is divine!  I actually remembered to get pictures as I went along, so that's why Sun Drop Pound Cake is my first blogging subject.

Also, as you might know, we are a NASCAR family. So, for those who might be interested in the NASCAR aspect, it is my understanding that this cake was Dale Earnhardt's favorite cake which his mom, Martha, made for him.  Supposedly, Dale Earnhardt was quoted as saying about this cake, " If you put a piece on top of your head, your tongue will beat your brains out trying to get to it"  If the Intimidator thinks this cake is that good, then it MUST be good!  :)

 

 

  Hope you all enjoy!!!  :)

First of all, gather your ingredients.  I like to have everything all laid out ahead of time.  It makes the process of assembling whatever I am making much simpler!  You will need:

A greased and floured tube pan (without the removable bottom).  You could also use a bundt pan.

3 cups of All Purpose Flour

3 cups of sugar

½ cup of shortening (I only use Crisco)

5 eggs, room temp is best

2 sticks of butter, softened

1 cup of Sun Drop

1 teaspoon vanilla flavoring

2  teaspoons lemon flavoring

NOTE: Do NOT preheat your oven.  This cake goes into a cold oven, so you don't turn the oven on until you put the cake in.

To begin, put the butter, sugar, and shortening into your mixing bowl.

Mix them until they come together into a nice creamy texture.  

Next, add your eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.

Your batter will have a nice golden hue now.  :)

 Now you will begin to add your flour and Sun Drop.  Add them alternately with each other.  I do this in about three segments:  one-third of the flour, then one-third of the Sun Drop, then repeat until it's all added. Mix well.

Always make sure you scrape the sides of the bowl a few times as you mix, to ensure that all of the good stuff on the bottom gets mixed in, too.

Last of all, add your flavorings and mix.

  Now that we have our cake batter ready, it's time to add it to our greased & floured tube pan.  This batter is thick.  Make sure you spread it into your pan evenly.

Next, place your cake into a COLD oven, then turn the oven to 325°.  You will bake the cake for

1 hour and 15 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.  Make sure you let your cake get plenty brown.  Pound cake tends to look done on top but still have a ribbon of raw batter in the center.  Don't rush it!

 When your cake is finished, let it cool in the pan for about 10 minutes or so

 before turning it out onto a plate.

I like to turn my cake so that the rounded part is on top, but some people like for the square part to be on top.  Either way you prefer is fine.

Next, we will make our glaze for the top of the cake.  You will need:

¼ cup of Sun Drop

1 cup powdered sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla

Alternately, you may use milk in the place of Sun Drop for a traditional glaze.

Dump all the ingredients into a bowl and whisk until they are thoroughly combined.

Then, just drizzle the glaze over your still warm cake.

All finished!

All we need now is a nice cup of coffee with our slice of heaven!  :)

For those of you who like to skip to the recipe, here you go:

Sun Drop Pound Cake

3 cups of All Purpose Flour

3 cups of sugar

½ cup of shortening (I only use Crisco)

5 eggs, room temp is best

2 sticks of butter, softened

1 cup of Sun Drop

1 teaspoon vanilla flavoring

2  teaspoons lemon flavoring

Combine sugar, shortening, and butter in mixing bowl until creamy.  Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.  Next, add flour and Sun Drop alternately.  Last of all, add flavorings.  Pour into a greased and floured tube pan and place in a COLD oven.  Turn oven to 325° and bake for 1 hour and 15 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes our clean.

Glaze:

¼ cup of Sun Drop

1 cup powdered sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla

Combine all ingredients into a bowl and mix well.  Drizzle over warm cake.

Have a great day!!!  :)