Friday, February 25, 2011

Gotta Use Those Taters and Onions

Spring is coming, Folks. All you have to do is look at my onions and potatoes and you will believe.

My remaining onions are trying to tell me something. They're putting out their green shoots of summer and I'd better use them . . . or lose them.

These white potatoes haven't sprouted nearly as much as my red ones, but they're still showing signs of being in storage for many moons.

When the reds started to sprout, I used the sprouting ones and then shoved as many as I could into the bottom of the spare refrig, and I'm happy to say they seem to be happy and doing well in there.

Yesterday afternoon I remembered this recipe that would help use up some potatoes AND onions so I made it for dinner. Below I've written out the full recipe but for just the two of us, I cut all the ingredients in half.

This recipe is pretty basic and easy to put together while at the same time being more than just plain, old potatoes. If your digestive system is bothered by onions, this recipe might not be for you. But even though there are quite a few onions in the dish, I don't think it has an "onion-y" flavor after being baked.

POTATO AND ONION PIE

8 cups potatoes, thinly sliced
3 cups onions, thinly sliced
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Salt and Pepper
Cayenne Pepper

Layer potatoes and onions in a greased 9" x 13" baking pan. Sprinkle each layer with salt and pepper and dot with butter. (The above photo was taken when I had about half of the ingredients in the baking pan.)

Bake covered at 400 degrees for 45 minutes.

Remove from oven, uncover and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and cayenne pepper.

Return to oven (uncovered) to brown cheese. (Leave in oven until desired brown-ness and crispness to top layer is achieved.) Makes 8 servings.

Even making only half the recipe last night, we had plenty left to warm up with eggs for breakfast. It's a mighty tasty potato casserole.

21 comments:

Erin said...

Sounds delish! It IS official... since you, my "almost" Northernmost blogger (can't forget about your daughter and the lovely Fiona!) has onions in storage sprouting, it must be right around the corner! Do you freeze mashed potatoes? My experience is that they freeze pretty well. I make bags of garlic mashed potatoes for the freezer and also make twice-baked stuffed potatoes and freeze on a cookie sheet then into a baggie for a yummy meal topped with cottage cheese, one of my favorite dinners while hubby is deployed :)

Amy Dingmann said...

Yum. Yum. Yum. I don't know what else to say. Looks fabulous and will probably go on the menu here shortly. :)

Anonymous said...

I just dried a whole bunch of onions in my dehydrator. We snack on 'em like potatoe chips and it's so nice to grab a handful of dried ones and throw 'em into a crockpot, baking dish, etc. with the rest of the ingredients... Your recipe sounds good. I might have to try it soon.

Sue said...

No matter what, those veggies KNOW when spring has sprung. Why doesn't the weather figure that out-LOL!!!

Mama Pea said...

Erin - Thanks for the jogging of my memory re twice-baked potatoes. I haven't made them in a long time . . . and do like to make a bunch for the freezer to pull out whenever. Topped with cottage cheese? I never would have thought of that.

Mama Tea - I know you probably do it, but finding time to bake bread is probably a challenge in your busy household! Hope you can squeeze it in, Busy Lady.

Sue - I must admit that the air outside does have a "different" feel to it these days. Well, except when it's below zero as it is again this morning. :o(

Erin said...

I started doing that years ago as a healthier substitute for sour cream (I'm not a fan of fat free sour cream LOL), it's delicious and has a texture that goes very well on a potato! I wouldn't freeze that but rather put a dollop on when it's heated and ready!

Jane @ Hard Work Homestead said...

I am impressed you still have so many onions and potato in storage. And they still look good! That potato dish looks wonderful.

Anonymous said...

Wow Mama Pea! What a great dish! I'm going to the market this morning, so I'm definitely going to pick up the ingredients! Thanks for the great idea! I'll let you know how it turns out!!! :)

Mama Pea said...

Erin - Got it!

Jane - I work really hard to have a year 'round supply of veggies from the garden for us. As usual, I continue to grow waaaay too many carrots. I still have more in storage than we can possibly eat (or give away) by the end of summer. Too bad we live so far apart. Bet your horses would like some!

Rain - Please do let me know how it turned out for you. The last of them were eaten for breakfast this morning with leftover gravy on top. Oooooh my gosh, that was good!

Aimee said...

I'm going to have to try that recipe - our onions and potatoes look worse than yours!

The Renwicks said...

I recently wrote a quick post on bulk mash making and freezing which may be of interest to a lady with THAT many potatoes in your fridge! Just LOVE that they have lasted so well :-) With our central heating in london we dont stand a chance!

Mama Pea said...

Aimee - You and I both may be dehydrating onions and potatoes soon!

The Renwicks - Welcome and thanks for commenting all the way from London! If I didn't have the spare refrigerator to tuck the potatoes in, I'm sure mine would be in much worse shape!

Jenyfer Matthews said...

Goodness, the only thing that might make that casserole (hot dish?) even better would be crumbled bacon on top :)

Mama Pea said...

Jen - You are bad. You are really, really bad.

Catherine said...

A spare fridge? No wonder your potatoes look so good. Ours are sort of, well, wizened. Not even sure if they're still good to eat.

But I'm going to whip up this pot/onion thing ASAP, just in case.

Thanks!

Mama Pea said...

Catherine - When I made it the other night, it tasted so good that hubby has requested I make it again . . . like soon! Hope it works for you and The Farmer.

Melissa said...

Mama Pea,
Where do you keep your onions so they don't rot? They look great compared to ours. I will have to try your recipe-you could probably sneak a couple carrots in there, too!
Melissa

Mama Pea said...

Melissa - Our onions have been in a cardboard box on the cement floor in a far corner of the heated part of our attached garage. I'm guesstimating the temp there has been around 55 degrees.

Yes, sliced carrots would be good. Also some chopped cooked bacon as another commenter suggested! Hey, what about left over ham cubes? Omigosh, we could go on and on!

Jenyfer Matthews said...

You could also make some potato soup - bacon optional :)

Mama Pea said...

Jen - I do make a lot of Potato Soup which we both like sometimes adding other veggies to add a little variety. And bacon as an option, of course! ;o)

Jennifer Jo said...

I made these, swooned, and wrote about them. (http://bit.ly/ifim5t) Thanks!