Ham and Potato Casserole

Recipe from Allrecipes.com

• 6 small potatoes, peeled and cubed
• 3 tablespoons butter
• 2 cups cubed fully cooked ham
• 1 small onion, finely chopped
• 1/4 cup butter

• 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 cups milk
• salt and ground black pepper to taste
• 1 (8 ounce) package shredded Cheddar cheese
• 1/4 cup bread crumbs

Directions

1. Place potatoes into a large pot and cover with salted water; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer until tender, about 20 minutes. Drain.
2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
3. Grease a 9x13 baking dish.
4. Melt 3 tablespoons butter in a skillet over medium heat. Stir in the ham and onion; cook and stir until the onion has softened and turned translucent, about 5 minutes.
5. Stir potatoes into ham mixture; transfer to the prepared baking dish.
6. Melt 1/4 cup butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir flour into melted butter until smooth.
7. Gradually whisk milk into flour mixture; season with salt and black pepper. Continue cooking and stirring until thickened, about 2 minutes.
8. Reduce heat to medium-low and stir Cheddar cheese into the white sauce until melted.
9. Pour sauce over ham and potatoes.
10. Sprinkle bread crumbs atop casserole.
11. Bake in the preheated oven until sauce is bubbly and browned, 25 to 30 minutes 
 

 Rate It!!!

Jen: 7

Kile: 6.5

Kiley: 5

Madee: 6.5

          Destrie: good

Italian Seasoned Red Potatoes

Ingredients:
Red Potatoes
Olive Oil
1 pkg. zesty Italian dressing mix
Minced Onion Flakes
Salt and Peppet

Scrub red potatoes.
 Cube with skin left on.
 Put in a 9x13 baking dish.
Drizzle with extra virgin olive oil, coat with a package of zesty Italian dressing mix and stir to coat, add minced onion flakes for flavor, salt and pepper to taste.
 Cook 400 degree oven for 45 minutes or until tender.
 Top with grated Parmesan cheese.

Rate It!
Jen: 8
Kile: 8.5
Kiley:
Madee: 7.5
Destrie: didn't have any

Homemade Soft Pretzel Bites

Ingredients:

Soft Pretzels:
1 1/2 cups warm water
2 tablespoons light brown sugar
1 package active dry yeast (2 1/4 teaspoons)
3 ounces unsalted butter, melted
2 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
4 1/2 to 5 cups all-purpose flour
Vegetable oil
3 quarts water
3/4 cup baking soda
1 whole egg, beaten with 1 tablespoon cold water
Coarse sea salt

Directions:

For the Pretzels: Combine the water, sugar, yeast, and butter in the bowl of a stand mixer and mix with the dough hook until combined. Let sit for 5 minutes.
Add the salt and flour and mix on low speed until combined. Increase the speed to medium and continue kneading until the dough is smooth and begins to pull away from the side of the bowl, about 3 to 4 minutes. If the dough appears too wet, add additional flour, 1 tablespoon at a time. Remove the dough from the bowl, place on a flat surface and knead into a ball with your hands.
Oil a bowl with vegetable oil, add the dough and turn to coat with the oil. Cover with a clean towel or plastic wrap and place in a warm spot until the dough doubles in size, about 1 hour.
Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
Bring the water to a boil in a small roasting pan over high heat and add the baking soda.
Remove the dough from the bowl and place on a flat surface. Divide the dough into 8 equal pieces, about 4 1/4 to 4 1/2 ounces each. Roll each piece into a long rope measuring 22 inches and shape. Cut the dough into one inch pieces to make the pretzel bites. Boil the pretzel bites in the water solution in batches. We did about 15 bites at a time. Boil for about 30 seconds. Remove with a large slotted spoon. Place pretzel bites on a baking sheet that has been sprayed with cooking spray. Make sure they are not touching. Brush the tops with the egg wash and season liberally with the salt. Place into the oven and bake for 15 to 18 minutes until golden brown.
Remove to a baking rack and let rest 5 minutes before eating. Serve with cheese sauce.

*If you want to make cinnamon and sugar pretzel bites-instead of adding salt, sprinkle the bites with cinnamon and sugar. For the frosting mix-soft cream cheese-about 3 T, powdered sugar, a teaspoon of vanilla extract, and a little bit of milk. Whisk together. Add more milk if it is too thick, if it is too thin, add more powdered sugar. I don't measure. I just guess until the consistency is right.*
Recipe makes a lot of bites-perfect for sharing!

Rate It!
Jen: 8
Kile: 8
Kiley: 7
Madee: 7
Destrie :good

Recipe and Photo from: Two Peas and Their Pod