Yep. It's true. I keep a box or three of cheesy scalloped potatoes in my pantry at all times. You'll also find some Stovetop Stuffing in there, along with some Rice-a-Roni and a couple bottles of store-bought pasta sauce too. You see -- I'm no different than the rest of the world. On occasion, there are times in all our lives when we need to rely on a convenience food in order to get dinner on the table in a hurry. There's more. "Doctoring up" a boxed mix is one of my specialties, meaning adding a few ingredients and/or tweaking the instructions to make it semi-homemade.
Truth told: I like boxed scalloped potatoes prepared on the stovetop more than when they're prepared in the oven.
2 tablespoons salted butter
1 1/2 cups water
1 cup + 2 tablespoons cream (Note: half-and-half or milk may be substituted, but, cream really makes for a rich delish dish.)
1 teaspoon dehydrated minced garlic
1 teaspoon dehydrated minced onion
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon coarse-ground pepper
1 5-ounce box Betty Crocker Cheesy Scalloped Potatoes, dehydrated potatoes and seasoning packet
~Step 1. In a 2-quart saucepan, place all the the ingredients as listed. Give the mixture a thorough stir. Bring to a boil, stirring frequently, over medium- medium-high heat.
~ Step 2. Adjust heat to a gentle but steady simmer, cover the pot and continue to cook until potatoes are cooked through and tender, and, a thick, rich cheese sauce has formed, about 20-25 minutes (taste it to test for doneness). Turn the heat off and/or remove from heat. Set aside 5-10 minutes prior to serving.
Thick, rich, creamy, full-flavored & perfectly cooked potatoes:
The Best Boxed Stovetop Scalloped Potatoes Ever: Recipe yields 2-4 servings.
Special Equipment List: 2-cup measuring container; 1-cup measuring container; 2-quart stockpot; large spoon
Cook's Note: We all love a one-skillet dinner. It's family-style eating at its best. Theres more. A skillet that goes from stovetop to table cuts down on cleanup time too. One-skillet dinners are usually not overly complicated, but, when you're seriously in a pinch (you know, those stress-filled times -- time and patience ran out, an ingredient got left at the grocery store, or, a popup snowstorm made for bad traveling), if it can be made with a few pantry ingredients and some pork chops or chicken breasts you've had tucked in the freezer, it's a welcome relief. Try my ~ Scalloped Potatoes & Pork Chop Dinner~.
"We are all in this food world together." ~ Melanie Preschutti
(Recipe, Commentary and Photos courtesy of Melanie's Kitchen/Copyright 2021)
Comments