Multi-tasking was my down fall this week.  I decided to create a side dish to take to my cousin's New Year's Eve Party.  I collected all the ingredients for these light Au Gratin Potatoes (recipe from CP a.k.a Christina Peters).  Things were going well until I put the baking dish in the oven.  I thought while it baked I would fill out our holidays cards (just a little behind on that too :)   As I was wrapped up in the addressing envelopes I forgot to take the time to check on the potatoes.  And when the time finally beeped I found the potatoes to be pretty burnt on top.  

     Now my husband likes when dishes has a crispy portion to it, so he insured me that it would be fine to serve despite the way it looked.  Hesitant I took the dish up the Lakewood, OH (near Cleveland- a 2 hour drive) to my cousins.  Needless to say they potatoes had to be reheated.  We popped them in the oven for about 15-20 minutes.  Despite them not looking too pretty they ended up tasting all right.  

     From this cooking experience I take away a couple lessons... 1.) make sure to check on the dish throughout the cooking/baking process, 2.) Au Gratin potatoes is a dish that is meant to be served hot of the oven instead of being transported 2 hours before serving.  

     This is definitely a recipe I'm going to try again.  And when I do I'll add a tasting looking picture to this blog entry!

Light Au Gratin Potatoes (by C. Peters)

Ingredients: cooking spray, 1 tbsp butter, 1 med onion, 2 tbsp flour, 2 c fat free milk, 2 lbs potatoes, 1 c low fat shredded cheddar cheese, 1 tsp salt, 1/4 tsp pepper

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven 375*

2. Melt butter in large pot over medium heat, add onions and brown.

3. Stir in flour, add milk, stir slowly

4. Add potatoes and bring to a boil

5. Stir in 3/4 c of cheddar cheese, salt, and pepper

6. Spray 2 quart baking dish. Pour contents of pot into baking dish.

7.Bake for 1 hour

8. After an hour change oven over to broil and sprinkle 1/4 cheddar cheese on top of potatoes

9. Broil 6 inches from heating unit for 1-2 minutes until cheese is golden brown. 

Enjoy!

"Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined." H.D. Thoreau