Loaded Potato Casserole

This is a recipe from my friend Lori ... she gave it to me before Christmas and we have been preparing this dish ever since! Her brother created this recipe on a camping trip ... I'm not sure what he officially named it ... but we call it Loaded Potato Casserole! It is so yummy! The good thing about it is ... you can add more of one item or not add as much of another and make it pleasing to your palate. And usually when I make it, I don't measure anything ... and my amounts vary each time ... and ... you can do the same. Thanks Lori for sharing!

Loaded Potato Casserole

ingredients:

red new potatoes

butter

bacon

Ranch dressing

Cheddar Cheese

salt and pepper

directions:

1. wash and cut red new potatoes into 1/4's - smaller cuts if potatoes are larger ... (the amount varies according to how many I'm serving. I usually allow a couple of potatoes per person)

2. boil potatoes with salt, pepper and a pat of butter (I always put a little butter in mainly so it doesn't boil over). Cook until soft and tender.

3. fry bacon ... I use 1/2 lb to 1 lb - according to how many potatoes I'm using.

4. preheat oven to 350 degrees. (I usually do this first ... but oven is hot way before the prep of the dish is ready)

5. drain potatoes.

6. pour potatoes into a casserole type dish

7. add salt

8. add pepper

5. cut up (usually a stick) of butter on top of potatoes (I shred my butter if it's not quite soft enough)

6. crumble bacon and spread over dish

7. add Ranch Dressing over the entire dish (amount is your preference) (I accidentally started adding my cheese before the Ranch - if you see it in the pic)

8. cover entire dish with cheddar cheese (normally I use the cheddar, but I used Mexican 4 cheese because that's all I had this evening)

9. bake on 350 degrees for 20 minutes (I lay a piece of foil across the dish for about 15 minutes and remove the foil for the last 5 minutes of baking time)

comments: YUM city! When I first starting making this I had too much Ranch dressing in the dish ... but after making it several times we got it just right for our palates. This is a very tasty dish that goes well with many main entrees ... we've had it with steak, bbq chicken and tonight it was with hamburger steak! Our family really enjoys this version of potato casserole!

rating: 4.5

Marinated New Potatoes

This was part of our dinner this evening ... it is a side dish potato recipe that I have been using for about 13 or 14 years now. Very easy, simple and delish.

Marinated New Potatoes

Ingredients:


2 lbs red new potatoes
1 envelope Lipton Onion Recipe Secrets Soup Mix
1/3 Cup oil




Directions:


1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees.

2. Wash potatoes and cut into 1/4's (if potatoes are larger, cut even smaller)



3. Pour oil and onion soup mix into a gallon size plastic bag and add potatoes.

4. Press all air out of the bag, close, and mix thoroughly until evenly coated.



5. Empty into a shallow baking dish.


6. Bake on 450 degrees for about 45 minutes or until brown and tender - stirring occasionally.


comments: This has been a favorite side dish for a long time. I use it most often when having some type of chicken for dinner. It's also an alternative for baked potatoes when having Steak.


rating: 4