Bakin’ With The King for Christmas!

Welcome To My Holiday Kitchen!

Oh yes………..holidays just automatically mean GOOD COOKIN’ don’t they. People share recipes – ideas for snacks – if it was a normal year people would be preparing ideas to feed groups of friends and family. Instead we are keeping things small this year. Just to stay on the safe side. Even here at the Castle, we are having no big “do” – just a nice Christmas dinner for the holiday. Oh – and some other little goodies along the way.

That’s what today is all about………..an idea to put in your “idea box” for thinking about when it comes to feeding YOURSELVES during the holiday.    We are fans of scalloped potatoes here – Mom loves them and so does Dad but the same old/same old recipe loses its’ charm after a while.    This really jazzes things up signicantly and will be one of the side dishes Mom makes to have with the ROYAL HAM CHRISTMAS DINNER this year.    Check it out – you probably won’t be able to resist trying it – if not for Christmas – maybe New Year’s Eve?????

Granny’s Apple Scalloped Potatoes

 

Ingredients

• 1 medium Granny Smith apple, peeled and thinly sliced
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 1 teaspoon lemon juice
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1/2 cup sliced sweet onion
• 4 medium red potatoes, thinly sliced (about 1 pound)
• 3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons shredded Parmesan cheese, divided
• 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
• 1/2 teaspoon minced fresh thyme or 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme  (I used dry)
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• 4 bacon strips, cooked and crumbled
• Chopped fresh parsley, optional  (yes it’s green and holiday-ish but I didn’t have any so left this out!)

Directions

• Preheat oven to 350°. In a small bowl, combine apple slices, sugar and lemon juice; toss to coat. Set aside. In an 8- or 9-in. cast-iron or other ovenproof skillet, heat butter over medium heat. Add onion; cook and stir until crisp-tender, about 3 minutes. Remove from the heat.
• Alternately arrange potato and apple slices in a single layer in same skillet. Combine 3/4 cup Parmesan cheese, cream, thyme, salt and pepper; pour over top.
• Bake, uncovered, 50 minutes. Top with bacon and remaining 2 tablespoons Parmesan cheese. Bake until potatoes are tender and top is lightly browned, 5-10 minutes longer. Let stand 10 minutes before serving. If desired, sprinkle with parsley.

Oh boy – not only is this going to be super extra tasty but it’s also beautiful just to look at!    All those potatoes and apples arranged slice by slice……YUMMMMM.

Now – time to say to all of you how much I’ve enjoyed being your Chef in the Castle – having taken over from Angel Sammy who used to run this kitchen as King of Bacon before me.    So much fun and so many delicious recipes!    We hope the new year will be just as much fun – no reason to think it won’t be – and we hope you continue to enjoy picking up a tip or two for some new dish to try.    EATING IS FUN.   

Maybe leave him a small dish of scalloped apples and potatoes instead of cookies this year???  They have bacon on top you know!

 

Love and Holiday Hugs, Teddy