Phil's Au Gratin Potatoes

• 3 Tbsp butter
• 3 Tbsp flour
• 1/2 Tbsp parsley, finely chopped
• 1/2 Tbsp garlic, minced
• 1 1/2 cups milk
• salt
• pepper
• 8-10 medium yellow/red potatoes, sliced
• 1 cup peas
• 2 1/2 cups cheddar cheese, grated
• 1/2 cup Swiss cheese, grated
• 1/2 tsp chilli pepper

Preheat oven to 350°F.

In a 3qt pan, melt butter on medium-low heat. When butter is melted, add flour and whisk for 2 min or until flour is lightly browned. Next, add the garlic and parsley to the roux and stir just to combine. Add the milk and bring to a simmer whisking continuously. The sauce should thicken. Remove sauce from the heat and then mix in 1 1/2 cups cheddar and 1/2 cup Swiss cheeses adding slowly to avoid clumps. Salt and pepper to taste. Add peas to the sauce.

In a 8x8" glass casserole dish, pour just enough sauce to coat the bottom of the dish. 

Slice potatoes thinly, about 1/8" thick, and layer them in the dish. Alternate one layer of sauce to coat and then a layer of sliced potatoes. There should be about 5 layers of potatoes.

Pour remaining sauce on the top and then cover with the remaining 1 cup of cheddar cheese.

Bake at 350°F for 80-90 minutes or until the the potatoes are fork tender and the cheese on top is browned.

Eggless Pumpkin Bread

 

• 1 3/4 cup flour
• 2 tsps baking powder
• 1/4 tsp baking soda
• 2/3 cup sugar
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1/8 tsp clove
• 1/2 tsp ginger
• 1/8 tsp nutmeg
• 2 dollops sour cream or greek yogurt (a dollop is a heaping tablespoon)
• 1 cup pumpkin puree
• 1/4 cup melted butter, cooled
• 1/2 cup chopped walnuts

Sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
In a separate bow,l mix the sugar, nuts, sour cream, pumpkin, and melted butter.
Add the dry ingredients to the pumpkin mixture and mix until just combined.
Spoon the batter into a lightly grease and floured 8x4" loaf pan. I use a glass loaf pan for all my quick breads so that the crust doesn't get too dark.
Bake at 350°F for 1 hour or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
Allow to cool in the pan for 5 minutes and then turn out onto a wire rack to finish cooling.