Cottage-Fried Potatoes

3 tbsp butter
2 cloves garlic, minced
3 medium potatoes (1 pound), peeled, thinly sliced
1 small onion, sliced
1/4 tsp salt
1/8 tsp black pepper

In a large skillet melt butter over medium heat. Add garlic, layer potatoes and onion in skillet. Sprinkle with salt and black pepper. Cook, covered, for 8 minutes, turning occasianlly. Uncover, cook for another 12 minutes until potatoes are tender and light brown.

"Creative Bistro Chef" Mashed Potatoes

Creative Bistro Chefs have elevated humble mashed potatoes to stylish, sough-after sides. I followed one of their "make-it-mine" mashed potato reciepes, and my own version of this classic comfort food was a success.

6 medium potatoes, peeled, cut into chunks
1/4 cup butter
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
1 tsp seasoning blend
1 cup evaporated milk
crumbled crip-cooked bacon
shredded cheese
sliced green onion

In a large saucepan cook potatoes in lightly salted boiling water, covered, until tender; drain. Beat with an electri mixer on low speed. Add butter, salt, pepper and seasoning. Gradually beat in milk to make mashed potatoes fluffy. Blend in bacon, green onion and cheese.

Jalapeno Pickled Eggs

We have 20 eggs everyday from our chickens! What are we going to do with the fresh eggs??
Better make pickled eggs for food storage... They are great alone or on a salad.

3 dozens hard boiled eggs, peeled
1 quart distilled white vinegar
1 sliced onion
1 tbsp mustard seed
1 tbsp dill seed
1 tbsp black pepper
6 cloves garlic
1 jar (16 oz) jalapeno, with juice
4-6 splashes hot sauce

Poke holes in eggs with a fork. Put peeled and poked eggs in quart jars (about 9 eggs in each jar). Boil all ingredients for 15 minutes. Pour hot mixture over eggs until eggs are covered. Add water to fill jar if needed. Marinate in refrigerator for 1 week before using.

Cheesy Potato Gratin

I was so thrilled to try this receipe since potato + gratin is the best. And it turned out pretty amazing! We love the taste of slight crispy on the potatoes.

4 medium potatoes (1.5 pounds), thinly sliced
1/3 cup sliced green onions (3)
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
1.5 cups shredded cheese
1 cup whipping cream

    Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 2-quart baking dish. Layer half of the sliced potatoes and half of the green onions in the dish. Sprinkle with half of the garlic, salt, black pepper. Sprinkle with half of the cheese. Repeat layers. Pour whipping cream over top.
    Bake, covered, for 70 minutes. Uncover, bake for another 20 minutes until potatoes are golden brown.   
   Let stand for 10 minutes before serving.

Butterfinger Cheesecake

Thanks to Supermom Ginny for this receipe. Finally I made it for Thanksgiving dinner. People loved it!
If you like butterfinger, and cheesecake, go for it!

Ghram cracker crust:
1&1/2 cups ghram cracker crumbs
6 tbsp melted butter
1/4 cup sugar
Mix them and press into 9-inch spring pan, put in freezer for 10 minutes

Cheesecake filling:
2 Lb cream cheese, room temperature
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
2 tbsp cornstarch
1 cup sour cream
4 large butterfinger bars, broken into pieces

    Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Mix sugar and cream cheese, blend in eggs, vanilla, cornstarch until mixed. Stir in sour cream, fold in butterfinger pieces. Pour the mixture into spring pan over crust.
   Bake at 400 degrees for 20 minutes. Lower temperature to 225 degrees and bake for 35-40 minutes. Do not open oven doors. Turn off heat and let it set in oven for 1.5 hours. Let cool in room temperature. Refridge it after it cools completely.

Pumpkin Pie

Our only treat of Halloween :) It made our night :)

1 recipe of baked pie crust (I use "Pillsbury Pie Crust")
1 can pumpkin (15 oz)
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1&3/4 tsp pumpkin pie spice
1/2 tsp salt
4 eggs
1&1/2 cup half-and-half or light cream

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Bake the crust according to the instruction on "Pillsbury Pie Crust" . Meanwhile, in a large bowl combine pumpkin, brown sugar, pumpkin pie spice, and salt. Beat in eggs. Gradually stir in half-and-half or light cream.
Pour pumpkin mixture into baked pie crust. Cover edge of the crust to prevent overbrowning. Bake 45 minutes. Cool completely. Serve with whipped cream.

Sweet Potato Casserole

Classic Thanksgiving meal, so holidayish :)

6 sweet potatoes, cooked and drained
1&1/2 cups sugar
2 eggs
1&1/2 tsp vanilla
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup butter, melted

Topping:
3/4 cup oats
3 tbsp flour
3/4 cup brown sugar
1&1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/3 cup butter, melted
1 cup crushed pecans
3/4 cup shredded coconut
mini marshmallows

    Preheat oven at 375 degrees. Prepare a 13*9 baking dish with cooking spray.  Mix cooked sweet potatoes, sugar, eggs, vanilla, milk and melted butter in a large bowl with a mixer. Pour sweet potato mixture into the baking pan.
    Mix topping ingredients ans sprinkle on top of sweet potato mixture.
    Bake uncovered for 25 minutes. Sprinkle marshmallows on top, then bake uncovered for another 5 minutes or until marshmallows are light brown.