What does this have to do with creamy cheesy potatoes…you ask? Let me explain. My mom made these potatoes at least once a week, because we all loved them. It was tradition with Dad & I, an on going joke of sorts, to see who got the leftovers the next day. Trust me, there wasn’t ever many leftovers. There might be a small bowl, covered with foil, tucked in the fridge after dinner. My DAD likes to tease, and invariably, he would get to those potatoes before I did, but would always share half with me.
I decided one night after partaking of these potatoes at dinner, that I would pull a dirty trick on DAD. I got up in the middle of the night, grabbed that little bowl of potatoes from the fridge, and tucked it under my bed for safe keeping. The next day, after school, I plopped myself down at the dinner table and dove into some homework. I eagerly waited for DAD to come home from work – go to the fridge, and find that little bowl missing. The front door opened, and I’ve never been so happy to see my DAD. Finally, it would be my turn to pull a good one on him.
My eyes were glued to DAD, as he filed through is normal routine. He tossed a hat on a hook, coat over a chair, filled a glass with water, and opened the fridge door. My heart was racing as he surveyed each shelf of that fridge.
All of a sudden, he went to the floor, racked with severe pain. Not long after, he graced the halls of a hospital, waiting for Kidney Stones to pass. The next day, he was still trying to pass those stones, without success. My DAD was still joking through the pain. He looked at me and said, “Babe….go get me those potatoes….they will make your ‘Ol Dad feel better.” Now, being the naive daughter I was at the time, I believed what he was telling me. I ran to my bedroom, stuck my head under my bed, and grabbed at that bowl of potatoes. I quickly handed that bowl to my DAD, hoping that they would relieve his pain. DAD laughed, and proceeded to tell me he was just joking, and that he couldn’t possibly eat those potatoes right now! He told me to go ahead and enjoy them. I insisted he at least try a few bites, to see if he would feel better. I popped the lid off, hoping the sight of them, would entice him to give it a try.
What happens, when cream isn’t refrigerated? I probably don’t need to tell you the rest of this story. Neither of us enjoyed that little bowl of leftovers!
You however, can enjoy these perfect potatoes. Sometimes, I layer ham slices in between the potatoes, cream and cheese. Now that’s delicious, and makes a full meal. Another yummy way to prepare these, is to brown porkchops on each side, then layer those pork chops in between.
You won’t know what you are missing until you try them. I’m thinking that a big pan of these, would help to cure my DAD. I love you DAD…..I still need your jokes and teasing, so get better soon.
Who knows……you might be hiding the leftovers under your bed!!
YOU WILL NEED:
*
About 5 – large potatoes
1 pint whipping cream
Salt and Pepper
2 tsp. Parsley flakes
2 cups grated cheddar cheese
Grated Cheese
*Cut your potatoes into thin french fry strips,
and lay the fries, in a 9×13″ glass pan.
(Arctic circle type of thin!)
*
Pour all of the cream over the top of the fries. Salt and pepper them generously.
Sprinkle at least 2 cups grated Cheddar Cheese over the top.
Sprinkle Parsley flakes on top of the cheese.
*
Cover with foil, and poke a fork through the top of the foil, 2 or 3 times to allow a little steam to escape. This way, your cream doesn’t boil over into your oven!
Cook at 400 degrees for about 1 hour, 15 minutes, or until potatoes are tender.
Place your oven rack in the middle of the oven.
During the last 15 minutes of baking lower your rack one more step.
This makes the bottom of your potatoes, brown and crispy.
*
ENJOY!
So sorry to hear about your dad. THese times do bring out the best memories to share with each other. How wise of you to recall this story and write about it.
My prayers are with you.
Fondly, B.