When somebody dumps potatoes on you, make scalloped potatoes
By TheRealDawn
@dawnald (85137)
Shingle Springs, California
December 14, 2009 11:27am CST
It was Thanksgiving and my mother-in-law brought potatoes just in case we didn't have enough. She also brought stuff for gravy. She brought corn starch. I don't know what all she brought. I do know that we had asked her to bring cheesecake. She brought that too. I let her make gravy instead of doing it the way I usually make it. Made her happy, what the heck. But I told her we didn't need the potatoes. Not only do my children not eat potatoes very often, but I already had a bag of them.
So while I was in San Francisco after Thanksgiving, we sent the MIL home with the turkey carcass. I told her she could use it to make soup for herself since I wouldn't be there to do it for us. She immediately decided that she was making soup for US. Funny. I told her it was for her, but she wouldn't hear of it. So while I was gone, she made soup for us and dropped it by the house with a sack of potatoes. Apparently it is just not acceptable for us not to have a house full of potatoes. lol
So we ate the soup, grumbled a little bit about the potatoes, laughed, and figured, oh well, the kids are just going to have to get used to the idea of eating potatoes more often for a while.
That's when I got the potluck invite at work. Aha! So I signed up for scalloped potatoes and last night I used up all of the MIL's potatoes for the potluck.
Now I just have to figure out what to do with the German sausages, red cabbage, mashed potatoes, vegetables, potato dumplings and gravy that she sent home with us yesterday. Not really. That's dinner tonight. Yum...
But I wonder what everybody else is going to eat. lol
7 people like this
17 responses
@jennybianca (12912)
• Australia
15 Dec 09
Your Mum sounds like my late Nana.Whenever she came to our home for a meal, she would bring us a supply of food.
Potatoes are great. There is so much you can do with them. As you mentioned, scalloped potatoes, but there is also potato & pumpkin soup, potato pie, shephards pie, etc. Many of these you can freeze, if you children arent going to want a pile of potatoes every day for the next few days.
What about your dog? Would he eat mashed potato mixed with something?
@GardenGerty (169449)
• United States
15 Dec 09
I want to know about potato and pumpkin soup. Can you send me a recipe?
1 person likes this
@dawnald (85137)
• Shingle Springs, California
16 Dec 09
We baked the seeds. Naomi especially likes them. We were going to bake the rest of them (which I had stached in the refrigerator) but Mr. Clean tossed them. "Nobody's using them". Ha! 5 minutes before I went down to bake them. Grrr.... I have never made anything else with pumpkin though.
@rosepedal64 (4188)
• United States
14 Dec 09
Yeah those MIL have a tendence to over kill on some things. Oh well dawn just smile and go with it. Just think you have christmas to deal with now. I wish the best and have a great week.
Keep smiling.
2 people like this
@rosepedal64 (4188)
• United States
15 Dec 09
What..I can take any kind of food that is free...LOL
Have a great week girl.
Keep smiling.
You never know when you are on camera...LOL
1 person likes this
@cher913 (25781)
• Canada
14 Dec 09
well since my hubby is out of work right now my mother in law has been giving us food now and then. i dont mind and if we dont want to eat it right away, we throw it into the freezer.
for supper tonight we are having pork chops, mashed potatoes and veggies. its not that cold but its damp outside so it calls for some warm foods.
2 people like this
@dawnald (85137)
• Shingle Springs, California
14 Dec 09
The funny thing about it is that my mother-in-law really can't afford to be giving us food. She's on a fixed income and usually runs short on money at the end of the month. But oh well, we take the food and my husband slips her some money every so often...
1 person likes this
@dawnald (85137)
• Shingle Springs, California
14 Dec 09
Yeah except we can afford the food easier than the MIL can...
@leenie50 (3992)
• United States
14 Dec 09
Hey Dawn,
I wish she had dropped it off at my house, I definately would have found a use for it. How funny your MIL is. They do in general feel a need to make sure their children are well fed. Potatoes are a very substancial food. You can always make potatoe salad. Yummy!!!
Leenie
1 person likes this
@dawnald (85137)
• Shingle Springs, California
14 Dec 09
Potato salad is not on my repertoire, but I really should learn.
@cynthiann (18612)
• Jamaica
14 Dec 09
Potato salad needs a bite to stop it being blah. I usually add grapes to mine or pieces of apple. Pineapple just doesn't cut it.
He who thinks that he is God called me at 6:50 this morning and gave me a lecture on how successful people begin working early in the morning. I went int the kitchen and picked up the machete and handled it quite lovingly. 
1 person likes this
@purplealabaster (22085)
• United States
14 Dec 09
Oh I am SO hungry right now thinking about scalloped potatoes!
That was one thing that we used to have all the time when I was growing up, because we were poor and it did not cost a lot to make. I am not sure when we had the pig shortage in this country, but somehow over the years the price of ham has increased so much that we can only have scalloped potatoes once in a while as a "luxury". We used to look forward to the times that we could have steak, because that was way too expensive to have except on a special occasion. Now, we reserve ham for special occasions but can have steak at least once a week, since the price of steak is almost three dollars per pound less than ham, and that is even after the whole "mad cow" epidemic several years back.
That was one thing that we used to have all the time when I was growing up, because we were poor and it did not cost a lot to make. I am not sure when we had the pig shortage in this country, but somehow over the years the price of ham has increased so much that we can only have scalloped potatoes once in a while as a "luxury". We used to look forward to the times that we could have steak, because that was way too expensive to have except on a special occasion. Now, we reserve ham for special occasions but can have steak at least once a week, since the price of steak is almost three dollars per pound less than ham, and that is even after the whole "mad cow" epidemic several years back.1 person likes this
@dawnald (85137)
• Shingle Springs, California
14 Dec 09
What's pigs got to do with scalloped potatoes? 
We used to have "glop" which consisted of browned hamburger meat mixed with noodles. My kids would probably like it actually...
We used to have "glop" which consisted of browned hamburger meat mixed with noodles. My kids would probably like it actually...@dawnald (85137)
• Shingle Springs, California
14 Dec 09
The gerenic version is just potatoes and a white sauce, ie butter, flour, milk and a little salt. I like to put cheese in mine though and make them 'au gratin'. I have known people who put ham in theirs though. I guess that and some veggies would make it a meal!
@purplealabaster (22085)
• United States
14 Dec 09
How do you make scalloped potatoes? We used potatoes, ham, peas, onions and sometimes even corn, although the corn was usually only when it needed to be used up so it didn't go to waste. Although you shouldn't waste food any time, you definitely can't afford to waste food when you are poor. What is in your scalloped potatoes?
We used potatoes, ham, peas, onions and sometimes even corn, although the corn was usually only when it needed to be used up so it didn't go to waste. Although you shouldn't waste food any time, you definitely can't afford to waste food when you are poor. What is in your scalloped potatoes?1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (169449)
• United States
15 Dec 09
Hubby cooked a new chicken recipe for us. I do not remember what it is called Cajun Chicken in Cream Sauce or something like that. Actually a Campbell's soup recipe. It was heavenly. Meals like that are enough to make you forget the idea of ever eating out again. When you can have food that good, for under six dollars for four servings, you never want to go to a restaurant again. This was boneless skinless chicken pieces. Used lime juice, cajun seasoning, cream of chicken soup, and sour cream, and canned green chiles. We had seasoned curly fries with this, and small green peas. Put extra sauce over the fries. We would eat the potatoes in a heart beat. Microwaved potato topped with something is my ultimate fast food.
1 person likes this
@cloudwatcher (6861)
• Australia
14 Dec 09
There was a time when it was thought to be obligatory to have potato in every dinner. If there was no potato, there was something missing. Now, I very seldom cook potato, the exception being roasted. Hubby loves roast potato but potato and tomato are excluded from my diet.
What are we having tonight? Well, since it is now 5.00am I haven't even thought about it. We'll be having chook because a couple of br_east fillets is all I have left (shopping day tomorrow). I'll probably crumb them in cornflake crumbs. Maybe I'll marinate them in ginger before crumbing them. I haven't yet decided what veges to have with them.
1 person likes this
@cloudwatcher (6861)
• Australia
14 Dec 09
I don't think there is anything I don't PREFER with ginger.
See my response in box 2.
Now here's something funny: a naturopath told me last week that I should try eating ginger because it would be good for me. I laughed and then had to explain why.
1 person likes this
@dawnald (85137)
• Shingle Springs, California
14 Dec 09
I can just see that. 
Wish I had been a fly on that wall!
Wish I had been a fly on that wall!@dawnald (85137)
• Shingle Springs, California
14 Dec 09
I had to look that up (chook). lol
Is there anything you don't cook with ginger?
@ANTIQUELADY (36440)
• United States
14 Dec 09
SOUNDS LIKE U DID GOOD. Bet your potatoes were good & enjoyed by all. Your supper tonight sounds good to & lucky u , u want have to cook. I'd have to make me some cornbread to go w/that cabbage, lol. I made a sheperd's pie a few days ago & have enough left for my supper tonight. It was good but i am tired of it. Have a good one.
@dawnald (85137)
• Shingle Springs, California
14 Dec 09
Lunch in an hour, so nobody's enjoyed my potatoes yet! Yep, no cooking tonight other than the sausages. Hm, cornbread goes with cabbage, but German red cabbage? idk And if you're tired of the Shepherd's pie send it on over. Yum and double yum.
1 person likes this
@ANTIQUELADY (36440)
• United States
15 Dec 09
i BET THEY DID. i REALLY DON'T KNOW IF CORNBREAD IS GOOD W/RED CABBAGE OR NOT. i HAVE NEVER COOKED RED CABBAGE. i WISH I COULD HAVE SHARED MY PIE W/YOU. I get tired of eating the same things for days, lol.
1 person likes this
@paula27661 (15811)
• Australia
15 Dec 09
That makes a good life quote
“When somebody dumps potatoes on you, make scalloped potatoes” It‘s like the “When life hands you lemons, make lemonade”...Anyway bless your dear MIL she thinks you are all very hungry (LOL)!
I love scalloped potatoes so you’ve made the most of the excess, good on you! Dinner sounds delicious, yum!
1 person likes this
@Orea15 (281)
• United States
16 Dec 09
Somehow I doubt you all look ill! LOL
As for using potatoes, I like to make oven french fries. Toss the potato pieces with oil like you would a salad and spread them out on a baking sheet sprayed with nonstick spray. Bake at around 450 degrees Fahrenheit until golden brown. Stir them once or twice. The time will vary depending on the size you cut the fries and how full the pan is. When they are done the way I like them, I can hear them "sing". Season and serve. Delicious and fairly low cal considering they are french fries. I like these better than the fast food kind.
2 people like this
@cynthiann (18612)
• Jamaica
14 Dec 09
German sausage and potato dumplings? Dear God in heaven - please send me an invite - puhlease
1 person likes this
@dawnald (85137)
• Shingle Springs, California
14 Dec 09
Dinner's in about 5 hours. Can you make it by then?
@cynthiann (18612)
• Jamaica
14 Dec 09
Skakes head sorrowfully: 
There isn't a direct flight from here so I would have to change in Miami or New York or somewhere. Just cannot make it tonight. Walks off muttering....I love German sausage.......
There isn't a direct flight from here so I would have to change in Miami or New York or somewhere. Just cannot make it tonight. Walks off muttering....I love German sausage.......1 person likes this
@dawnald (85137)
• Shingle Springs, California
14 Dec 09
Well I suppose I could have pizza and save it for tomorrow. You and Gabs will have to coordinate arrival times though!
@dawnald (85137)
• Shingle Springs, California
14 Dec 09
The good news is, I LOVE scalloped potatoes! 
@purplealabaster (22085)
• United States
14 Dec 09
And seeing a discussion about potatoes, I immediately thought of the rabbit and was quite surprised when I opened the discussion and realized that Dawn is the one that started it. I was not surprised that Thea was the first one to respond, however, since I know how much she has been missing the rabbit and this must have cheered her up at least a little.
1 person likes this
@dawnald (85137)
• Shingle Springs, California
15 Dec 09
She's all right. :-)
And nice to meet you too!
@Hatley (163772)
• Garden Grove, California
14 Dec 09
hi dawnald would you believe I read the Gold Crest menu for dinner tonight and plumb forgot it as I was in shock. let me explain. I had just got a letter from the ambulance company asking me to call my insurance and ask why their bill for three hundred forty two dollars and some cents had not been paid as it was for March 1st of this year.so I was really shaking with fear, how was I going to pay out this kind of money as I did not have it at all. So I call my insurance co. and a very kind young man went to a lot of trouble right at noon to call my doctor's medical group and find out if the bill had been presented to them and had they paid it. well after waiting for long periods of time he got through to the medical group, found out it was already paid then even connected me with the ambulance co spokeswoman who told me oh we got the payment first of Dec. guess that bill was automated sorry about that, just disregard that. boy was I thrilled, it was paid. So now I dont have a heck of a notion what is on for dinner tonight and wish i did. but I am a happy camper. Your dinner sounds really yummy, I like everything on your menu. lol lol.
1 person likes this
@dawnald (85137)
• Shingle Springs, California
14 Dec 09
It does sound pretty good. We had most of the same yesterday for lunch, except with duck instead of sausage.
Good that your bill is paid. I hate scares like that!!!
@Maggiepie (7816)
• United States
15 Dec 09
Well, if you run out of ideas, I'll take whatever you can't figure out what to do with!
(Argh...I just heard my old grammar teacher spin in her grave! )
Tell you what: send me a PM if you'd like to have my personal, fantastic potato soup recipe--milkless! Yours for the asking. I never have any leftovers when it's made!
Maggiepie
WHERE'S THE REAL BIRTH CERTIFICATE?@dawnald (85137)
• Shingle Springs, California
15 Dec 09
Potato soup, hmmmm....
I'm the only one who will eat it, everybody else is too picky, but sure.....
@dawnald (85137)
• Shingle Springs, California
14 Dec 09
Oh I don't mind letter her help (mostly). I think it is funny. Used to be I'd say no, but now I just mentally roll my eyes and say OK (unless she's trying to give us something we absolutely can't use).
