Potatoes are the epitome of comfort food. Filling and creamy, a dish of scalloped potatoes often accompanied ham and peas for a traditional North American Sunday dinner. Whether you prefer to stick with a cheesy scallop potato recipe or would like to try a scallop potato recipe using sweet potatoes and apple, one of these easy recipes should fit the bill.
Garlic Cheesy Scalloped Potatoes
Ingredients:
1/4 cup of butter
2 small garlic cloves, crushed, or 2 tsp of crushed garlic in oil
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
2 1/2 cups milk
1/2 tsp each of salt and pepper
8 medium potatoes, peeled and thinly sliced
6 whole green onions, chopped
2 cups grated Swiss Cheese
6 strips of bacon, crumbled (optional)
Method: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease an 8 cup or 2 litre casserole dish. Melt butter in a heavy bottomed saucepan over medium-low heat. Add garlic and cook for 3 to 5 minutes, stirring regularly. Turn heat up to medium and blend in flour, stirring as you do. When it bubbles, slowly whisk in milk. Keep whisking as mixture thickens – this should take between 2 to 5 minutes. Stir in salt and pepper and remove from heat. Using the sliced potatoes, layer one third of the slices in the bottom of the dish, overlapping to ensure they fit and line the dish properly. Sprinkle chopped green onions over the potatoes. Pour some more sauce over top and sprinkle grated cheese and bacon bits if you are using. Repeat layers until all the ingredients are used up, ending with cheese. Cover casserole with foil and bake for about 45 minutes. Uncover and bake for another 45 minutes to an hour. Check potatoes with a fork for tenderness. Once the top has started to brown, cover again with tin foil. Remove from oven and let stand for 5 minutes before serving.
This dish makes 5-6 servings and is sometimes called Potatoes Au Gratin. Au Gratin refers to casserole dishes made with cheese and is a french term.
Sweet Potato and Apple Scallop
This is an old American recipe that was served at harvest dances in the 1800’s. It is a great way to introduce sweet potatoes to your family. Serve as a side dish with a pork tenderloin, ham, or roast for your next Sunday dinner. Follow it up with a pumpkin harvest cake and vanilla ice cream.
Ingredients:
2 cups of thinly sliced sweet potatoes or yams, lightly boiled
1 1/2 cups peeled, thinly sliced tart apples (Granny Smiths work well)
1/2 cup brown sugar
4 tablespoons butter
salt to taste
Method:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease an 8 cup or 2 liter baking dish or casserole. Place half the sliced sweet potatoes or yams in the bottom of the dish, overlapping slightly to cover the entire dish. Cover with half the apple slices and sprinkle with some sugar. Dot with butter, and sprinkle with a dash of salt. Repeat until all the ingredients are used. Cover with casserole lid or tin foil and bake for about 30 minutes. Uncover and bake for another 30 minutes or until the apples are tender when tested with a fork.