Christmas Scalloped Potatoes

This is REALLY GENIUS - not to brag. We have had Costco's Main Street Bistro's scalloped potatoes before - quite a bit. My kids really love them. They are delicious and can be made in 8 minutes in the microwave - how can you go wrong?

A couple of the kids asked to have them for Christmas dinner but since Christmas dinner is a special occasion I wanted to do something to kick them up - and it was SO EASY!! These potatoes are getting a permanent spot on our Christmas dinner plate from now on!

This year we did 4 trays - but we definitely could get away with just doing 2 next year. To make sure they are warmed all the way through, we followed the package directions and microwaved them for 8 minutes. When they were done warming through, we put them in a nice 9 x 13 casserole dish. You have to manipulate them to lay in an even layer. Do as many trays as needed and add them to the dish once warmed. 

The KICK IT UP part? We shredded gruyere cheese and sprinkled it in an even layer over the top. I put it in a 400 degree oven with the carrots for about 30 minutes and they were heated through and had that golden cheese moment on top! Seriously so good!!

 

Chopped Wedge Salad

I've been doing this salad for years and I'm making it again for New Years Day - but with so much going on right now - I decided to look it up on this blog to make sure I don't forget anything and what do you know? I've never posted it! What? 

This is seriously one of my best crowd pleasers. I made it a few years ago for a family get together and my brother in law who is a man of few words came over and gushed and gushed about how much he loved it.

To be honest, I came up with it because I love a good wedge salad - but it's so hard to eat! Especially when serving a crowd that includes a million kids!!

I'm not going to include measurements bc it really depends on how many you are serving.

CHOPPED WEDGE SALAD
Iceberg lettuce
Bacon, cooked and crumbled
Tomatoes, diced
Red onion, thinly sliced
Blue cheese, crumbled
Blue cheese dressing
Balsamic glaze (I love Nonna's)

*For the kids - I don't dress the salad. I put the blue cheese on the side and also offer shredded cheddar. I also offer Ranch and Poppy seed dressing (my kids fave)

I'll take a picture when I make it!!