Potato Casserole With Bacon And Caramelized Onion Food

CARAMELIZED VIDALIA ONION AND POTATO GRATIN WITH FRESH SAGE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
• Heat oil and butter in a large saute pan over medium-high heat. Add the onions, season with salt and pepper and cook until caramelized, about 15 to 20 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the sage. Let cool slightly.
• Make a layer of potato slices in a 10 by 10 by 2-inch casserole, season to taste with salt and pepper, spread 1/12 of the onion mixture over the potatoes and coat with 2 tablespoons of the cream. Repeat each step to yield 12 layers. Press down gently on the layers, place the dish on a sheet pan and bake, covered for 25 minutes. Remove cover and bake for another 20 to 25 minutes, or until the potatoes are tender and golden brown on top. Let rest 10 minutes before serving.

CARAMELIZED ONION POTATO SALAD WITH BACON

Steps:

• 1. Cut the potatoes (with skins attached, gotta love the extra vitamins) into bite sized pieces and get them boiling in water without salt.
• 2. "Fake" caramelize the onions by sweating them over medium heat with the butter and brown sugar. This takes about 20-30 minutes.
• 3. Cut the bacon into little pieces and fry them up. Use the cheap bacon, it doesn't really matter here. I take a package and cut the whole thing in half and use that. You want them all browned but not too crunchy. Drain them on a paper towel.
• 4. By the time 2 and 3 are done, the potatoes should be ready. Don't let them get mushy. You want them firm enough to stay together when you pierce them with the fork.
• 5. Mix the potatoes, onions, and bacon. Yum.
• 6. Let these three things cool.
• 7. Mix the remaining ingredients well, leaving extra chives out for garnish. I use wild chives when they are available because they are free, grow like weeds, and are easy to distinguish. The measurements are approximate. This dish rocks. You can leave out the chives but you are doing yourself a great disservice. Make sure you use fresh rosemary and chop it finely. The dried stuff will not do so well in this dish unless you let it sit for at least a day or two before eating.
• 8. Gently stir in about half of the dressing. You want to be sure to not overdo it on the dressing, so I start with half and add as needed. Just go with what's right for you.
• 9. Let it chill for an hour at least for the flavors to marry. And say yum again.

POTATOES AND CARAMELIZED ONION CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Set oven to 350 degrees.
• Butter an 8-cup baking dish (or larger).
• In a large skillet melt the butter with oil over medium heat add in sliced onions; saute stirring often until a rich golden brown (about 18-20 minutes).
• Add in the garlic the last 5 minutes of cooking.
• Add in the sherry and tarragon; cook until the liquid is absorbed season with salt and pepper, remove from heat and set aside.
• Arrange a layer of sliced potatoes in the bottom of the baking dish, season with salt and pepper.
• Top with 1/3 of the caramalized onion mixture.
• Arrange another layer of potatoes over the onions, season with salt and pepper.
• Repeat the layers until all of the potatoes and onions are used up (finishing the top with potatoes).
• Bring the chicken stock to a simmer and pour slowly over the potatoes.
• Cover the mixture directly but lightly with parchment paper, then cover the dish with foil.
• Bake for about 40 minutes.
• Uncover the dish and bake about 20 minutes more or until the potatoes are tender.
• Cool for 10 minutes before serving.

MAPLE GLAZED SWEET POTATOES WITH BACON AND CARAMELIZED ONIONS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C). Toss the sweet potato chunks, olive oil, salt, and black pepper in a large bowl, and spread the sweet potatoes out onto a large rimmed baking sheet.
• Roast in the preheated oven until browned and tender, about 40 minutes; stir after the first 20 minutes.
• Cook the bacon until crisp and brown in a large skillet over medium heat, about 10 minutes; transfer bacon to a bowl, but leave the grease in the skillet. Cook the onions in the bacon grease until browned, about 10 minutes, stirring frequently. Reduce heat to low, and cook the onions until very soft, brown, and sweet, another 10 to 15 minutes. Stir often. Mix the onions with the bacon in the bowl, and set aside.
• Pour the maple syrup into the hot skillet with the thyme, and bring to a rolling boil. Boil the syrup until reduced by half, 3 to 4 minutes. Place the roasted sweet potatoes and onion-bacon mixture into the skillet, and stir to coat the vegetables with maple glaze. Transfer to a serving dish.