Meatless Monday - Cheesy Au Gratin Potatoes

One thing that I've missed so much since giving up heavily processed food is Au Gratin Potatoes.  I’ve never been a patient person and making the cheese sauce required for this type of dish and other dishes like Mac & Cheese were a struggle for me.  I’d always end up separating the sauce somehow.  It was so frustrating and after two or three tries I gave up.

I decided to give it one more try and it was sooooo worth it.   The amazing recipe is below.  Enjoy!

Photo Credit - Renee Olson

Ingredients

4-6 large russet potatoes, cut in ¼ inch slices

1 small onion finely diced

3 tbsp Butter

3 tbsp flour

2 cups of milk

2 – 2 ½ cups of shredded cheddar cheese

Salt

Pepper

The Potatoes

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees

Photo Credit - Renee Olson

Wash your potatoes

Butter a 1 – 1 ½ quart casserole dish

Photo Credit - Renee Olson

Slice potatoes to about ¼ inch thick

Photo Credit - Renee Olson

Layer the potatoes in the pan

Photo Credit - Renee Olson

Finely dice the onion

Photo Credit - Renee Olson

Alternate the potatoes with the diced onion

Photo Credit - Renee Olson

Season with salt and pepper

The Sauce

Melt the butter over medium heat in a medium sauce pan

Photo Credit - Renee Olson

Mix in the flour and salt and whisk for one minute

Stir in the milk and whisk

Cook and stir until the sauce has thickened

Photo Credit - Renee Olson

Grate 2 - 2 1/2 cups of cheese

Photo Credit - Renee Olson

Add the cheese and stir until the cheese is melted

Photo Credit - Renee Olson

Pour over the potatoes and cover with foil

Bake for 1 ½ hours

Photo Credit - Renee Olson

Serve

Photo Credit - Renee Olson

This dish can easily be modified to include meats such as sausage or diced ham or perhaps adding a meat substitute.   Next time I’m going to try switching up the cheeses.  Maybe try a Gorgonzola mixture with sharp white cheddar.

Love to hear what you think of this one!

Namaste & Blessed Be

Sosanna

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