Scalloped Potatoes

This is one of those staple Southern recipes that uses only a few cheap, basic ingredients. It should cost you 20 dollars or less to make and it is great as a side dish or as a main entree. 

Things you will need:

1 6”x9” baking pan (you can use other sizes, depending on how many you are cooking for)

Aluminum foil

Ingredients:

4 medium sized potatoes

1 package of sliced deli ham (optional)

5 tablespoons butter or margarine

1 cup of milk

¼ cup all purpose flour

1 teaspoon pepper

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon garlic powder

Step 1:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit

Step 2:

Pour milk into a small saucepan and heat on low

(Leave the milk to heat while you make your other preparations but come back to stir it ever once in a while)

Step 3:

Add four tablespoons of butter to the heating milk so that it will eventually melt when the milk is hot.

Step 4:

Use your remaining tablespoon of butter to grease the baking pan. (You can use cooking spray instead, just omit one tablespoon of butter from this recipe if you do)

Step 5:

Peel and wash the potatoes. Peeling the potatoes it optional, just make sure you wash them very thoroughly if you leave the skin on.

Step 6:

Slice the potatoes so that they are thin, round pieces (like an uncooked potato chip).

Step 7:

Put down one layer of potatoes on the bottom of the baking pan.

Step 8:

Mix the flour, pepper, salt, and garlic powder in a small bowl or measuring cup.

Step 9:

Sprinkle some of the flour mixture on top of your first layer of potatoes. If you are using ham in this recipe, break it apart and put it into the pan as well.

Step 10:

Pour some of the hot milk/butter mixture into the baking pan.

Step 11:

Continue to put down layers of potatoes, sprinkling the flour mixture and pouring the milk/butter mixture for each layer you create.

Step 12:

Put down one last layer of potatoes, but do not add the flour mixture or milk for this top layer.

Step 13:

Cover the baking pan with the aluminum foil

Step 14:

Bake covered for 45 minutes.

You can also add onions and use a fresh clove of garlic if you have any on hand.

This recipe goes very well with cheese if you have any. If you are going to use cheese, take the pan out of the oven about five minutes early and grate whatever cheese you will be using over the top. Put it back in the oven for another 5-10 minutes.