Many years ago, I was a young newly-wed with no idea how to cook. I wanted to learn though, so I spent hours pouring over cookbooks, copying recipes, watching the Frugal Gourmet on PBS and spending a large percentage of our meager grocery budget to cook one nice meal a week. We would invite friends over, all hungry college students, and have dinner together.
One of the recipes I copied in my cookbook journal was this one for Au Gratin Potatoes. I think I made it for Easter one year, when we couldn’t get home to celebrate. I’ve made it many times since and it’s always a hit.
Here’s what you’ll need:
Notice, there are no potatoes in that picture. I have no idea why. It might have something to do with 3 out of 4 of my kids talking to me at the same time. Well, you know what potatoes look like, so it’s all good. Right?
- 1 1/2 pounds potatoes, unpeeled
- 2 Tbs. butter
- 2 Tbs. flour
- 1 1/2 cups hot milk
- 1/2 cup cheddar cheese, shredded
- 1 tsp. parmesan
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- salt and pepper
- extra cheese for the top
Boil the potatoes in lightly salted water until tender. Cool and cut into 1/4″ slices. You can peel them if you like, but I like the rustic look and flavor of leaving the peels on. Layer the slices in a buttered casserole dish.
Melt the butter in a saucepan. Add the garlic and cook it for a minute over medium heat. Whisk in the flour and cook for another minute. Whisk in the hot milk, stirring constantly. Stir in the cheeses and keep stirring until it’s all melted and smooth.
Pour the cheese sauce over the potatoes and top with extra shredded cheese. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes. You can also brown it up under the broiler for a minute, if you like.
Man, I’ve been craving cheesy, potato-y stuff lately and this fits the bill. Wonder if there’s any room for bacon in there??
I used to love the frugal gourmet, I thought he was interesting and cool. Although I somewhat doubt his frugal-ness.
Julie, yeah – the frugal gourmet wouldn’t cut it at all in this frugal culture! His is the only cooking show I’ve ever really gotten to watch, because we don’t have cable tv. We also only have 1 tv, which means choosing things that everyone wants to see. Unfortunately, no one else wants to watch people cook. I miss all the cool cooking shows now.
Comfort food at its best!
This looks fantasic, especially for fall.
This looks so delicious, Tiffany! I make a dish very similar to this already, and it is one of my kids’ favorite meals. I always add small chunks of ham and top it off with cooked bacon crumbles. My kids eat anything with cheese and bacon on it! It is one of my go-to menu meals since it is so economical for a family of 6.
Honestly, scalloped potatoes usually make me gag, (literally) but these look like heaven on earth! lol! I think i’m going to give them a go! Yum!! Had to laugh at your comment about 3 out of 4 kids talking to you, I do the dumbest things sometimes when i’m trying to double task with the kids in one ear and my mind in a different place! lol! Really love your blog.. everything looks soooo good!
ummm…where’s the beef? The title says Black Angus…but there is not meat. Surely this is not the whole meal?
Black Angus is the name of the restaurant where this particular dish originated.
this was great!
so I’m making this now except i put it to cook in the crock pot
Why are these called Black Angus….? Is there supposed to be beef in here somewhere?
ChiTown Girl, they were from a restaurant called Black Angus. Maybe it was a steak place.