Mashed Potato Cassarole

This is something I came up with for a pot luck dinner. I was and still am desperate to use up the bushel and a half of potatoes I bought last fall. Now that the weather has started to warm up they are beginning to sprout. I only need a few to seed the garden.

I originally mixed the bacon in with the potatoes but I found the bacon got lost in the rest of the potato. So, I suggest the bacon be kept to the side and served with the cassarole

The amount of potato is realy what ever it takes to fill the pan.

Potatoes to fill the pan

Item	Calories	Protein
500g bacon, cooked yeilds 125g	689	46.3
2.3kg potato with skins	1774	46.5
2c cheddar, 235g	1018	62.6
1c asiago, 97g	346	24.3
1/2c parmesan, 48g	188	17.2
500ml sour cream, 14%mf	833	16.6
1 tbsp peppercorn
1 tbsp salt
1 tsp granulated garlic

Total for dish: 4848 calories, 213.5g protein
Per 12 servings: 404 calories, 17.79g protein

1. Cook bacon until crisp and set aside

2. Cut the potato into pieces and boil in salted water until done

Boiled Potatoes

3. Grind the peppercorns, salt and garlic in a spice mill/coffee grinder.

4. In a stand mixer begin mashing the potato. Add the sour cream, 1/3-1/2 of the cheeses and the salt/pepper/garlic mixture. Continue mashing until all the ingredients have combined.

5. Spread the potato mixture into your baking pan and top with the remaining cheeses.

6. Bake at 375F for 45 minute to melt and brown the cheese.

Serve with the reserved bacon on the side.

Boudin Sausage Ravioli with Pumkin Sauce

This dish was years in the making. I can't remember when I made the ravioli but I discovered them during an archaeological expedition into the fridge freezer. They were left because the ravioli did not meet with general approval.

I still have the recipe for the boudin sausage meat. This is based on a recipe from Emeril Live

Boudin Sausage Meat
3lb pork shoulder roast - cubed
3/4 lb pork liver
2 litre water
2 onions
1 celery
1 red pepper
4 cloves of garlic
2 tsp salt
1 tsp pepper
1 tsp cayenne
1 cup rice

Put the pork, liver, onions, celery, bell pepper and garlic with 1 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp pepper, into a pot with the water and bring to a boil and simmer for 1 1/2 hours

Cook the rice.

When the meat is done drain and let cool. When it is cool feed it all through a grinder. Combine with remaining spices and rice. Of course, season as you like. Since everything is already cooked you can taste the mixture.

If you like you can now use this to make sausages or use it to make ravioli.
I used a standard pasta recipe and put about 1 tbsp of sausage in one ravioli. They are quite large. Remember to seal the ravioli with an egg wash. Now freeze for 2 years before making the sauce.

Pumkin Sauce
2 cups pumpkin - (freeze for 2 years - optional)
1 litre chicken stock
4 cloves of garlic
1 onion
1/4 tsp cayenne
salt & pepper
1 tsp oil
1 tbsp dried thyme
1 tbsp dried parsley

Finely chop the onion & garlic. Fry in a large pan with the oil until it becomes translucent. Add the pumpkin, stock, thyme and parsley, cayenne, salt & pepper. Simmer until it thickens to your desired consistency.

Boil the ravioli for 5 minutes. Remove the ravioli and allow to drain. Combine with sauce. Grate some asiago cheese over top.

It is pretty good. You could probably cut the time down by a couple of years if you don't do the freezing step.