(Carrie's Famous) Tater Tot Shepard's Pie

In the beginning of this month I had the pleasure of escaping on vacation with a group of dear friends of mine for a whole week to Cape Cod.  We were all of 15 - 9 women and 7 children (ages 7 months - 9 years old) in one lovely house over looking the water.....

We enjoyed one sunset after another...each one more beautiful and full of magic than the one before.

Watching the sun set each evening was just one of the many highlights of our vacation.  FOOD...absolutely scrumptious food was a huge part of our vacation too.  Making sure those kiddos were well fueled for all their swimming and low-tide adventures was very important.  Carrie, as seen below with her adorable little doggie named, Saki ....

....made 3 scrumptious, kid-friendly casseroles that were gobbled down with happiness by all.  One of the three casseroles that she made was a Tater Tot Shepard's Pie.  It was SO good!  When we came home from vacation it was one of the first meals I made for my family.  They loved it as I know you guys will too.

(Carrie's Famous) Tater Tot Shepard's Pie

Ingredients:

1 1/2 ground beef or turkey

1 medium onion, chopped

1 tsp garlic salt

1/2 tsp ground pepper

2 tsp Worcestershire sauce

1 can cream of corn

1 can sweet corn, drained

1-2 cups grated cheddar cheese

1  bag frozen Tater Tots

Directions:

1.  Over medium heat saute chopped onion until soft.  Add in ground meat and cook to brown. Turn off heat and then drain grease.  Stir in garlic salt, ground pepper and Worcestershire sauce.  Pour meat mixture into a 9x13 baking dish.

2.  Over ground meat mixture layer spoon can of creamed corn and drained can of sweet corn. Sprinkle a layer of grated cheese over corn.

3. Layer frozen tater tots over grated cheese.....

....and then sprinkle with more cheese to finish it off.  Pop into preheated 350 degrees oven.  Bake for 25-30 minutes (check after 20 minutes to make sure casserole is not getting too brown).

Serve up some yumminess!

Happy Tater Tot Shepard's Pie Baking!

Perfect Potatoes au Gratin

What a scrumptious dish!  A couple of weeks ago I made this recipe for Easter dinner along side the ham as one of the side dishes. 

It is EASY to make.  Easy to EAT.  Easy to LOVE. And EASY to want to make it AGAIN!!!

Once again, one my "Queen's of Cooking" (QOC) - The Pioneer Woman - was who I discovered this recipe from.  I seriously worship this woman.....if you haven't discovered that already.  :-)

Perfect Potatoes au Gratin

(recipe has been adapted from The Pioneer Woman)

Ingredients:

4-5 whole Russet potatoes, scrubbed clean

2 Tbsp butter, softened

1 1/2 cup heavy cream (I used 1/2 and 1/2)

1/2 cup whole milk (I used 2%)

2 Tbsp flour

4 cloves garlic, crushed or minced

1 tsp salt

freshly ground pepper, to taste

1 cup sharp cheddar cheese, freshly grated

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.

2. Smear softened butter all over bottom of baking dish (2 qt baking dish or a pie pan).

3. Slice potatoes, then cut in slices and forths.  Place in a bowl of water as you cut them so that they don't get brown....also a great way to decrease the starch in them.

4. In a medium bowl, whisk together milk, cream, flour, garlic, salt and pepper.

5. Place a 1/3 of the potatoes in the bottom of baking dish.  Pour a 1/3 of the cream mixture over the potatoes.  Repeat 2 more times, ending with the cream mixture. 

6. Cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes.  Remover foil and bake for an additional 20 minutes, or until potatoes are golden brown and bubbling. 

7. Add grated cheddar cheese to the top of potatoes and bake for another 3-5 minutes, until cheese is melted and bubbly.

8. Allow to stand for a few minutes before serving by the spoonful.

Deeeeelish!

Happy Perfect Potatoes au Gratin Baking!

~avril :-)

*This recipe has been linked to Mommy's Kitchen -  for "Potluck Sunday"*