Yes, it’s a strange way to start this topic. But for those who have to watch every penny repeatedly before spending it, before buying something for the pot, I can suggest simple, quick dishes that do not require a lot of money, cooking skills and a wealth of knowledge in this area. The first of these might be the simplest potato casserole; admittedly, you can find a great many recipes on the Internet, but I will use my tried-and-tested method. The basic ingredients are: potatoes, 1 onion, 300-400 grams of bacon (preferably smoked), 200 grams of mushrooms, bay leaf, salt, pepper, seasoning for potato dishes, two stock cubes, two tablespoons of 18% cream, oil, cheese. The quantities of the ingredients depend on the dishes in which we will be preparing this dish. Thus, we boil the potatoes, in an amount a little smaller than our dish, after peeling, until they are cooked, pour off the water, and cool down. In a frying pan, we fry bacon, onions, mushrooms – all the ingredients must be finely chopped, we fry them separately. Once these ingredients are fried, transfer them to a separate dish, salt, sprinkle lightly with pepper, mix.
Personally, I use a baking dish for my potato casseroles. I grease the inside surfaces with a small amount of oil (or butter), cut the cooled potatoes into slices and place them in the baking dish. On top of the layer of sliced potatoes I put a mixed layer of fried bacon, mushrooms and onions. I then cover this with another layer of sliced potatoes and finally sprinkle it all with grated cheese. Next, I pour on the sauce, which I make as follows: I dissolve two stock cubes in water (e.g. in a large mug), then I add two tablespoons of cream, and I mix everything together until the sauce is homogeneous.
At the very end, I sprinkle the whole casserole with seasoning for potato dishes, and generously.
I place the casserole in an oven preheated to 180°C for 30-40 minutes. The dish is simple, quick and, above all, very tasty. I recommend and wish you a delicious meal.
