Thursday, February 24, 2011

Comfort food: Hash browns with cheese

As comfort food, this is even better, to me, than macaroni and cheese. Potatoes and cheese -- nothing is better! And if you have a food processor, nothing is easier.

For this recipe, take two medium potatoes, wash them. If you are really fussy, or if you are going to grate them manually peel them, but it doesn't matter.  Grate them. For years, I used a manual grater, in which case you leave them whole but peel them. But now I use my food processor. So I wash them and cut them into quarters to stuff down the chute of the food processor.

Turn the oven to 350. You'll need it later.

On the stove top, heat that big ol' cast iron skillet with a couple of tablespoons of olive oil. Put the grated potatoes in and press them down a little to ensure contact. Cook on high for about 5 minutes or until brown on the bottom side.. Turn. Cook for another 5 minutes or -- well, you know. By then the oven should be at 350. Stick the skillet in and set a timer on 10 minutes.

After 10 minutes, add grated cheese. Cook for another 10 minutes until the cheese is melty and even a little crispy. Yum..

To make it pretty, cut rounds of hash browns and cheese, and add garnishes such as cherry tomatoes and basil.. I used an Iced Tea glass to cut the rounds, because although I may have a round biscuit cutter somewhere, I learned to use what was handy. But if you are not taking a picture, skip that part and just enjoy.

Followers

About Me

My photo
This is me enjoying a limoncello in Rome on the last night of our trip to Italy. Funny thing is, I don't really like limoncello that much, but thought it would be great in a dessert. And wouldn't you know, The Barefoot Contessa just did a great fruit salad with limoncello. So now I can't. Oh, well.