I know it's not the psychology du jour, but food and emotions are inseparable. I can't help myself. When I’m feeling in need of a little emotional comfort, there are certain temperatures, tastes and textures that cheer up my mouth and in turn, my attitude. I eat a healthy diet most of the time, but a little comfort food now and then is better than an apple a day in keeping the doctor away. I'm not taking any chances, I also ate my apple.
Emotional case in point, tonight I had a craving for scalloped potatoes. My mom, Lord love ‘er, prepared this dish for me and my 4 siblings on many an occasion. It was quick and inexpensive to feed this to her horde of perpetually hungry children and was usually served with boiled weiners. Mom was not a good cook. I don’t hold this against her. None of us do. She gave us her lovin' best, and we adored her for that! However, I like MY recipe A LOT better:
6 medium potatoes, peeled
1 bunch fresh green onions, chopped
1-1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
1 pint sour cream
salt
freshly ground pepper
a wee bit more shredded cheddar cheese
paprika
Boil potatoes until fork easily pierces potato. Slice or grate potatoes--I like them sliced, just like mommy made them—and then combine with green onions, cheddar cheese, sour cream, salt & pepper. If you plan ahead, store them overnight in the refrigerator in an ovenproof casserole. But if this was a whim of the moment, you can also bake them right away.
Pre-heat your oven to 350 degrees.
Cover top of casserole with a little more cheddar cheese and sprinkling of paprika.
Bake uncovered for about 45-60 minutes, until potatoes and cheese are lightly browned. Love that crispy brown.
This is a super side dish with baked salmon, served with a dry white wine. But I love it by itself, or with a crispy fresh romaine and red cabbage salad.
Emotional case in point, tonight I had a craving for scalloped potatoes. My mom, Lord love ‘er, prepared this dish for me and my 4 siblings on many an occasion. It was quick and inexpensive to feed this to her horde of perpetually hungry children and was usually served with boiled weiners. Mom was not a good cook. I don’t hold this against her. None of us do. She gave us her lovin' best, and we adored her for that! However, I like MY recipe A LOT better:
6 medium potatoes, peeled
1 bunch fresh green onions, chopped
1-1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
1 pint sour cream
salt
freshly ground pepper
a wee bit more shredded cheddar cheese
paprika
Boil potatoes until fork easily pierces potato. Slice or grate potatoes--I like them sliced, just like mommy made them—and then combine with green onions, cheddar cheese, sour cream, salt & pepper. If you plan ahead, store them overnight in the refrigerator in an ovenproof casserole. But if this was a whim of the moment, you can also bake them right away.
Pre-heat your oven to 350 degrees.
Cover top of casserole with a little more cheddar cheese and sprinkling of paprika.
Bake uncovered for about 45-60 minutes, until potatoes and cheese are lightly browned. Love that crispy brown.
This is a super side dish with baked salmon, served with a dry white wine. But I love it by itself, or with a crispy fresh romaine and red cabbage salad.
Oh mama! Thanks for the memories!
1 comment:
Since you sent the email asking if we'd seen the photo & talking about Mom's cooking, I had to come look.
Ah, the memories ...
I remember so many truly mediocre meals ... Mom evidently used up her wonderfully exotic imagination with endeavors other than the meals she planned and provided for her family(ies). She was very much the meat-and-potatoes mid-western wife. Meat WELL-cooked and leathery ... little seasoning other than Seasoned Salt and maybe a half-pinch of garlic. But we obviously didn't starve; and she provided me with the basis for the meals epicurian delights I can now share with my family (yeah, right ... we'd starve without Hamburger Helper & Ragu spaghetti sauce). Actually, I did learn quite a bit from Mom in the kitchen, and I have expanded on her recipes, to make some really decent meals (not great, but a step beyond mediocre).
Thanks for the memories, Sis! (and I have that picture in my wallet, and in my randomly changing screen saver pictures. YAY!)
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