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!

Apple Fritters Anyone?

I really don't have much of a sweet tooth but when it comes to Apple Fritters (made the right way) and Butter Tarts (made with the right pastry shell) I CANNOT resist. Here is an easy recipe that is bound to be a hit in your home. Give it a try and let me know what you think. Thanks to one of my favourite Canadian Chefs, Stefano Faita on CBC television

                          Photo compliements of In the Kitchen on CBC television

Coated in cinnamon and sugar, kids and adults will do anything to get their hands on this dessert.

INGREDIENTS

2/3 cup all purpose flour
1/4 cup ground almonds or almond flour
1 tsp. sugar
Pinch salt
1/2 tsp. baking powder
Pinch cinnamon
1 egg, beaten
2/3 cup milk
1/2 tsp. vanilla
2 large apples, such as golden delicious or McIntosh (about 1/2 pound)
2 tbsp. lemon juice
Flour, for dredging apples
Vegetable oil, for frying
Icing sugar, for finishing fritters
1 tbsp. ground cinnamon, for finishing fritters (optional)
1 cup sugar, for finishing fritters (optional)

PREPARATION

In a large bowl, combine flour, ground almonds, 1 tsp. sugar, salt, pinch cinnamon and baking powder. Set aside.
Combine egg, milk and vanilla. Gently stir the wet ingredients into the dry. Let the batter rest in fridge for 30 minutes.
Peel and core apples. Slice apples into 1/2-inch thick rings. Sprinkle apple slices with lemon juice to stop them from browning.
Meanwhile, in deep fryer or deep saucepan, heat about 2 to 3-inches oil, over medium heat to 375 degrees F.
Dredge apple rings in flour, shaking off excess. Then dip into batter to evenly coat. Carefully add fritters to hot oil, in batches, turning once. Fry fritters until apple is tender and batter is golden brown, about 3 minutes. Transfer to paper towels to remove excess oil.
Dip fritters in icing sugar. Alternatively, make cinnamon sugar by combining 1 cup sugar with 1 tbsp. ground cinnamon and dip fritters in the cinnamon sugar. Serve warm.

Yield: 4 servings.

Kit Kat Lasagna?? Yes please!!

I have a fabulous Educational Assistant that works alongside me in my Comprehensive Intellectual class. She truly is one of a kind. I am very grateful to have her in my classroom helping out just about everywhere. This particular day while I was assisting other students, she took the lead in putting together an AMAZING KitKat lasagna as our classroom treat with one of our students. This recipe is fool proof and no bake.

Give it a try and I challenge you not to love it as much as we did!!

What you need:
3 family size KitKat blocks
250g Cream Cheese 
1 container of whip cream
1 packet Graham Crackers or Sweet Biscuits
1 lasagna dish

 Putting it all together:
1. Soften the cream cheese
2. Combine the cream cheese with the whip cream
3. Place one layer of graham crackers into the lasagna dish
4. spread on a layer of the cream cheese/ whip cream combination
5. generously place on a layer of kit kat
6. repeat steps 3,4 and 5 until the desired amount of layers have been reached
7. Chill in fridge for a couple hours
8. Cut and enjoy!!

I would love to hear what you thought of this recipe once you've tried it!

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