Mmmm Cracker Barrel Potato Casserole

My boyfriend absolutely loves potatoes but is very very picky on how they're prepared. He had no desire to even try a piece of this casserole when it first was taken out of the oven...but low and behold after seeing me dig into it he couldn't resist. Now...I've been volun-told that I will be making a second casserole tomorrow for the party at his mom's place ...lol!!--Hopefully the Irish family will like it as much as the two of us do.

Author: CopyKat Recipes

Recipe Type: Side Dish

Prep time: 10 min

Cook time: 45 min

Serves: 10

This classic casserole is one of our favorite recipes at Copykat.com. You don't even need to be an experienced cook to make this dish--it is easy.

Ingredients

• 1 (2 pound) package frozen hash browns
• 8 ounces sour cream
• 1 can cream of chicken soup
• 1/2 cup margarine or even butter works very well also
• 1/2 cup chopped onion
• 2 cups grated Colby cheese (personal note--I prefer sharp cheddar)

Instructions

Place potatoes in a greased 9x13 inch pan. Season with salt and pepper. Melt butter in the microwave. In a bowl, add minced onions, sour cream, cream of chicken soup, and melted butter and mix together. Pour soup mixture over potatoes; sprinkle with cheese. Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes, or until all is completely warm, and the cheese begins to melt.

One of the best things about the Cracker Barrel Hash Brown Casserole is you can literally serve it for any meal. One thing is for certain: now you won't wonder how to make the Cracker Barrel Hash Brown casserole anymore!

Spicy beer sauce anyone?

There is a restaurant my boyfriend and I frequent called Qb's, they serve THE most amazing Spicy beer chicken penne pasta. The sauce simply is to die for...it's creamy and has just the right amount of spiciness. We really wanted the restaurant to share their recipe with us but as we expected it's a chef secret. After spending many, many meals eating their awesome spicy beer sauce in their pasta; on their fries and even on their chicken wings I decided to try my own hand at creating this sauce. After many many attempts I am pleased to share with you my replica of the Spicy Beer Sauce. Do let me know what you think of it as this is my attempt at creating a sauce from scratch. Use it in your pasta; on fries; as a dip...let me know what you would use my spicy beer sauce for.

Ingredients:
3 teaspoons of finely diced garlic
2 tablespoons of olive oil
2 tablespoon of flour
2 cups of cream
1/2 a cup of parmesan cheese (grated)
1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese (I use old)
1/2 a cup of beer (I use whatever is cheap)
1/2 stick of butter
6 teaspoons of chili powder
6 teaspoons of cayenne pepper
salt to taste
cornstarch

What to do:
1. Using enough olive oil to coat the bottom of frying pan sautee the garlic on low heat.
2. Sautee flour in with the garlic
3. Add cream and butter
4. Add beer, chili and cayenne pepper
5. Begin to cook the entire sauce on medium heat
6. Add both parmesan and cheddar cheese
7. Add salt to taste
To thicken up the sauce stir in cornstarch (approximately 3 tablespoons)

Bon Appetite!! ENJOY!!

A Cheese Biscuit recipe to DIE for!!

I was craving carbohydrates...and not the healthy ones I might add. I was craving anything bread-like SMOTHERED with cheese. I decided to flip around on the television today and came across Paula Deen's guest making cheese biscuits...what a great idea...so I decided to make them...OMG...they were SOOOO good. I used the recipe below...then added even more cheese...you can never have too much cheese...right? So here it is...a recipe by Lady and Sons--Bon Appetit!!

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
• 1 cup shredded Cheddar
• 4 cups biscuit mix
• 2 cups milk
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper
• Garlic Butter, recipe follows, optional

Directions

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Spray a baking sheet with nonstick cooking spray.

To a large bowl, add the cheese. Add the biscuit mix and gradually add the milk. Stir together until desired consistency is reached. Add salt and pepper, to taste. Scoop the batter with an ice cream scoop and drop onto the prepared baking sheet. Brush the biscuits with garlic butter. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes. Brush the biscuits with more garlic butter when they come out of the oven.

Garlic Butter:

• 1/2 stick butter, melted
• 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

In a bowl mix together the butter and garlic.

                                                    Photo Courtesy of Food Network