Desiree Potatoes...

This is a potato, chicken casserole...it is from the magazine 'MaryJanes Farm'... so good...after making it, I could think of all kinds of things to use in it...It would be a great way to use up some of the vegetables in the garden....and mushrooms would be great to add...so change it up and make it yours...she would be happy, really!

Desiree Potatoes...

3 tablespoons of butter
2 cloves of garlic
2 teaspoons of chili powder
1/2 tsp of salt
1/2 cup of water
3 tablespoons of flour
1 cup of half and half
2 lbs of red potatoes sliced thinly
2 cups of boneless chicken breast cooked and diced
1/2 cups of sliced green onions
1/2 cup of corn (fresh or canned)
1 pint of cherry tomatoes, halved
3/4 cup jack cheese shredded
3/4 cup cheddar shredded
3/4 cup o mozzarella shredded

1. Preheat oven to 375, butter a 9 by 13 pan
2. melt butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add garlic and saute for 1 minute. Add chili powder and salt and saute 1 minute. Add water and cook for another minute. Whisk in flour 1 T at a time until a paste has formed...cook for 2 minutes.  Reduce heat and whisk in cream until smooth...Remove from beat and set aside...
3. Spread half of the potatoes in the baking dish. Top with half the chicken and scallions and corn and tomatoes. Spread half the sauce evenly over the layers, sprinkle half the cheeses over the top. Repeat with the remaining ingredients.
4. Cover baking dish with foil, doming foil slightly so that it doesn't touch the ingredients and bake for 1 hour. Increase temperature to 425 uncover dish and bake for an additional 20-30 minutes, or until potatoes are tender and top is golden brown...Remove from heat and rest for 15 minutes....

melt the butter

saute the garlic in the butter and then add the chili powder and the salt and saute...then add the water...bring back to a boil and then add the flour 1 tablespoon at a time, whisking...

it looks really lumpy like this....slowly add the half and half, whisking all the while....

comes out smooth like this....

get all your ingredients ready before you start to assemble...

here is one layer without the cheese....

and the finished casserole....ready for the oven....

out of the oven......very crisp!

So cheesy and good....a great make ahead dish....serve with the vegetable of your choice....we had it with just a plain romaine salad...

Cheers to Happy  !!