Scalloped Potatoes

I recently compiled a list of quarantine essentials...

1. Private beach 

2. Justin Timberlake 

3. Toilet paper 

Since I can't have any of these at the moment, I will have to settle for the one thing I can have- scalloped potatoes- the ultimate comfort side dish. This recipe originates from Janebp. 

The smell of this cooking will make you forget all about J.T. not being in your kitchen dancing for you.

When I first stumbled on this recipe, I was a bit skeptical to be honest. The reason is- it doesn't call for cheese and I am a HUGE fan of cheese. I feel like a dish is just incomplete without that highly caloric wedge of goodness we all know and love bubbling over the edges. However, because this is a highly rated recipe (4.5 stars) and because this quarantine has me feeling some kind of crazy, I decided to go for it and make it anyway. I'm so glad I did. If you are someone who feels that no cheese is a dealbreaker, you can always add it, but I really didn't miss it.  

I can relate.

For this recipe, you're going to need 3 lbs. of red potatoes. If you can make a happy face out of them, then you know you have enough. The yummy cocktail I was drinking played no part in my decision to create this potato art. At all. 

In addition to the thinly sliced potatoes, you will need 1/2 onion (thinly sliced), 9 Tbs. of flour (divided), 6 Tbs. butter (sliced & divided), 3 c. whole milk and salt & pepper to taste. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Easy enough. 

Some of the items you will need: a 9 x 13 casserole dish, a mandolin slicer, a pina colada, and a curious little kitten peering over your bench.

Once you slice the potatoes and the onion, the hard part is over. Then it's just a matter of layering the ingredients in the dish. 

Let someone else do this part.

The layering can be fun, but don't be like me and forget a step and start yelling out to the heavens when you realize what you did. The pattern is- potatoes, onions, 3 Tbs. flour, 2 Tbs. butter and salt & pepper. Repeat two more times for a total of 3 layers. As my Irish grandmother would say- make sure you use ALL of the potatoes. 

Layering is life.

I did substitute the salt for a cherished family secret ingredient. I probably shouldn't tell you, but as long as you promise not to tell them that I told you....Johnny's Seasoning Salt. It's life-changing. 

Compliments of my mother-in-law.

(After you do the layering, don't forget to add the milk, a bit at a time. I poured a little too fast and disaster struck. The recipe says to warm the milk, but I never have and it still comes out great. Bake it for an hour. This gives you plenty of time to do a little dance with Justin Timberlake. Classic. 

Cheers!

Grilled kielbasa, maple mustard pork loin, sauteed asparagus and scalloped potatoes

For the recipe card, please click here.  It also goes great with Mom's Apple Meatloaf. Happy cooking!