Santa’s Secret Love for Cooking
As we march toward Christmas, there is much to be done over the next several weeks. This is, without a doubt, the start of Santa’s busiest time of year. But here’s a little secret, one hasn’t quite made its way around the world on the internet so you will only hear it here: Santa not only loves to eat, but he also enjoys cooking!
When Santa Takes Over the Kitchen
Now, don’t imagine him in the kitchen every day—there’s hardly enough time for “Chef Claus” during this busy season. Plus, Santa doesn’t fuss over fancy meals. He’s a down-home, hearty, rib-sticking recipe kind of man.
To my surprise, Santa found himself with a bit of extra time the other day. While I was tidying up in the pantry, I heard a familiar sound from the kitchen. Santa had taken it upon himself to prepare dinner, knowing the garden’s end-of-season harvest had kept me quite busy. He’s thoughtful like that, always finding ways to bless me. And bless me he did—with the most delicious scalloped potatoes!
Santa’s Simple but Delicious Scalloped Potatoes
Now, Santa’s scalloped potatoes are a simple dish at heart, but they’re oh so tasty. It’s a meal on its own, though we often pair it with a fresh roll or some steamed vegetables—broccoli and carrots are our favorites. The beauty of this recipe is that you can tweak it to make something entirely different. Add cheese, and voilà, you have au gratin potatoes! Or, mix in some browned hamburger with just a touch of the drippings for a heartier meal. But today, we’re sticking to the basics.
Santa’s Tried-and-True Scalloped Potatoes Recipe
Ingredients:
- 6-8 medium potatoes (peeled and sliced 1/8″ thick)
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 stick of butter (sliced)
- 3-4 cups of milk (enough to cover potatoes about 1/2″ above potato level)
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Chives for sprinkling on top before going into oven if desired (optional)
Instructions:
- Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Prepare a 9×13 baking dish, filling it about halfway with your sliced potatoes.
- Layer the potatoes evenly in the dish.
- Sprinkle the flour over the potatoes, then distribute the butter slices on top.
- Pour enough milk over the potatoes.
- Stir the mixture gently to combine the ingredients.
- Bake for 1 hour, stirring once or twice during cooking. If the top browns before stirring, stir that in too—it adds flavor!
- Check the consistency after 1 hour. If the potatoes aren’t tender enough, continue baking, checking every 15 minutes until soft.
- If the sauce seems too thin, add 1/4 cup more flour, stir, and bake for another 15 minutes.
- If the potatoes seem too dry, add more milk, 1 cup at a time, until you achieve the creamy texture you like, be sure to stir in with each addition.
- Season with salt and pepper to taste once the potatoes are fully cooked and the sauce is creamy.
A Hearty Dish with Santa’s Love
And that’s it, my darlings! Santa’s own recipe for simple, comforting scalloped potatoes. Whether you’re enjoying them as a side dish or making them the star of the meal, they’re sure to bring warmth and love to your table.
With love and cheer from our kitchen to yours,
Mrs. Claus
PS: Hope you enjoyed these few pictures from the day’s activities in the kitchen. Where else could you see a picture of Santa cooking? But oh my, the picture does reveal how much work we have to do with putting some weight back on Santa before the big day!