Cheesy Scalloped Potatoes

Happy day after Easter! While I didn’t celebrate in any religious aspect, I do embrace a good holiday meal and love the opportunity to whip up a somewhat fancier than normal meal. Even if it is just for me and my roommate, and our dog if you’re like me and dumb enough to leave chicken sitting on the counter where she can reach. Lucky for the dog, it was just some pieces of thigh meat that I didn’t really want anyway.

Backing up for a minute though, my weekend kicked off with a trip to the liquor store after having a particular bad day on Friday. I was all set to get vodka drunk and most likely cry, and then after receiving a few quick texts my mood took a complete 180. My friend surprised me with a visit for the night, because he knew I was in a terrible mood (even if he might have had a little to do with said bad mood in the first place). All was very quickly forgiven, and we got vodka drunk together and watched Pitch Perfect. I even gave them permission to cover my mouth when I inevitably started singing along and quoting the movie. It was a pretty perfect evening.

However, when you go vodka drink for vodka drink with someone who has 80 lbs on you it takes a toll and I was hurting a little bit on Saturday. After a quick lunch and goodbye, I relegated myself to the couch for the rest of the day/night. It happens. Just left me with more energy for cooking on Sunday; which started off with some banana chocolate chip muffins to make use of some disgustingly over-ripe bananas. My favorite part of Sunday’s Easter meal though (which consisted of roasted chicken, asparagus, and scalloped potatoes) were the scalloped potatoes. It was my first time attempting the dish, and I have to say I think they came out pretty well. And I used my Mandolin without losing any fingers, which is huge.

I started off by slicing some Yukon Gold potatoes into thin slices, and then boiling them for a little while to speed up the casserole cooking process. While that was happening, I buttered my casserole dish, placing a layer of potatoes on the bottom once they had cooked slightly.

For the sauce, I melted one stick of unsalted butter in a saucepan, added 8 oz of sour cream, 8 oz of shredded sharp cheddar, pepper and seasoned salt. Once thoroughly combined, I poured 1/3 of the sauce on the first layer of potatoes.

Add another layer of potatoes, more sauce, and a final layer of potatoes and sauce, which I then topped with breadcrumbs just because I felt like it. Bake covered at 350 for 40 minutes, and uncover for the last 20 until bubbly and brown around the edges.

Now if anyone wants some potatoes… I have leftovers.

Cheesy Scalloped Potatoes
3 lbs Potatoes (russet or yukon gold)
8 oz sour cream
1 stick unsalted butter
8 oz shredded cheddar cheese
seasoned salt
pepper

Preheat oven to 350, wash and slice potatoes about 1/8 inch thick with a Mandolin or a very sharp knife, be careful. If you have the time, boil your potatoes after slicing for about 5 minutes, drain and cool. In a medium saucepan melt the butter, stir in the sour cream, add the cheese. Salt and pepper to taste. Butter the bottom and sides of a casserole dish, arrange the potatoes in a thin layer, pour 1/3 of the cheese sauce over top, repeat twice more. Bake covered for 40 minutes, uncover for another 20. Slice and serve.

xoxo

 

 

A Few Things

Whoa… two posts in the same week, I KNOW. I don’t actually have anything meaningful or important to say (when do I ever), but I kind of felt like shooting the shit this morning. Also I wanted to say thank to everyone who weighed in on Monday’s post, you guys are kind of great at making a girl feel like she’s not actually going insane, even if I am just slightly.

Anyway, back after I had my heart ripped out, stomped on, put in a blender and buried in the ground, I started getting bi-weekly manicures. It made me feel pretty, and helped to cheer me up, and when I paint my own nails it lasts maybe two days before chipping or my nails breaking. Also, it’s not that expensive and my nails stay painted for two weeks without getting messed up. I had an appointment yesterday, and the salon had just gotten in the new OPI James Bond collect, and omg is it fun.

this is GoldenEye and Moonraker

Yup, there is something so fun about sparkly gold nail polish. I can’t wait to try all of the colors. Also, I figured this combo was good for Halloween? Just go with it. I also cooked last night, for like the first time since June? I made Shepherds Pie (sweet potatoes instead of regular) for myself, Dani, and her boyfriend, and it turned out just as fantastically as I remembered. I just wish it had been 50 degrees last night instead of 70. WTF October?

my hands still smell like onions and garlic

Umm yeah, so that’s really all I’ve got for you today. OH! I’ve been listening to Taylor Swifts new album (the deluxe available only at Target, obvi) and I’m obsessed. Specifically these two songs:

 

 

Happy Wednesday!

Impulses

Yesterday it was fan-fucking-tastic outside.  Today, we’re apparently going to break records with the temperatures and with a high of 76 for our Saturday St. Patty’s party I couldn’t be happier.  Around noon yesterday, I dragged my stuffy and coughing self, along with my laptop and lunch outside to some picnic tables located relatively close to the building and prayed the wireless would reach.  It did, and I spent the next two hours outside working, while simultaneously wishing my laptop battery would last forever.  I’m pretty sure the backs of my shoulders got some color, and the sun definitely made me feel less like I was dying.  One more pic of yesterday’s colorful ensemble.

gratuitous picture of my outfit Thursday

As you can see above, I’m in the gym locker room, which means I did some measly workout yesterday.  Holy god are my legs sore from a combo of yoga and the strength class.  I suffered through 40 minutes on the elliptical and 20 minutes on the treadmill before driving home with my sunroof and windows wide open.

So, on Tuesday night I went grocery shopping post work and work-out which meant I was absolutely starving once I got there.  This usually bodes horribly for both my credit card and nutrition because I impulsively throw things like three frozen pizzas, bags of chips and other junk into my shopping cart.  I exercised a good amount of restraint this week and only bought one frozen pizza, and a bag of cheddar and sour cream Cape Cod chips, but somehow this also found its way into my goods.

Um, say what?  It looked easy and convenient, much like my guy roommate I once dated in college, and so when I arrived home last night I used it on some chicken.  Luckily this impulse buy ended much better than that relationship and my chicken was delicious.  Although I didn’t end up using all the mixture, so if I end up buying this again I probably won’t dump the chicken in the bag but sprinkle some on a plate to preserve the rest.

With a side of ravioli and peas for a well-rounded carby and delicious meal.  I rounded out my evening by having anxiety attacks during One Tree Hill and laughing  my ass off at Happy Endings.  If you’re not watching OTH this season, you should be.

Also, I’m actually going to a real doctor today.  If he can’t help me I’m calling it quits and giving up on the prospect of ever feeling better again. Happy Thursday, we’ve almost made it.