You'll have to forgive the lack of picture for this one. I seem to be having trouble getting blogger to upload one.
Anyways, yes, crack potatoes. I found the original recipe here. My family loved it, so I'm sharing it with all of you!
This is incredibly simple, fairly cheap for the amount it makes, and I think would make a great thing (and quick!) item to bring along to a get together with friends. This made two 9-inch round pans, so I froze one (I double bagged it in freezer bags to try and avoid any freezer burn) and cooked up the other. It had a lot of flavor, and if you like ranch dip, this is DEFINITELY for you.
You will need a BIG bowl. I'm serious. I mixed this up in my 4 quart Pyrex dish, and it almost wasn't big enough to contain it. As it is, a little bit of mix and sour cream spilled over the side (I may have been mixing it a tad too enthusiastically with the spatula, but that's beside the point....). Oh, and it may have helped if I'd followed the recipe creators instructions. She does say to mix the first four ingredients first, THEN add the hash browns. I missed that part....
Anyway! You need:
- 2 (16oz) containers of sour cream (I used KRAFT Simply Natural. I like that taste, and I get it for a good price)
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 2 (3oz) bags real bacon bits (I get the Oscar Myer brand)
- 2 packages Ranch Dip (OR! I discovered this the other day. You can get a big container of the ranch seasoning! I've been using a lot of ranch dip lately, and it's much more cost effective for me to get the big bottle. It tells you on the back how many tablespoons equals one packet of ranch dip)
- 1 large (28 - 30oz) bag frozen shredded hash browns.
So, now you're going to grab your big bowl and trusty spatula (or favorite mixing spoon, whatever makes you happy) and be far more intelligent that I was and mix the first four ingredients first, instead of dumping them all on top of the wad of frozen hash browns. Once you've mixed those first four items together pretty well, top it with the hash browns and mix until well combined. If you plan on cooking all of it at once, place it is a 9 x 13 dish and bake at 400 degrees for about 50 minutes. If your not planning on it, break it apart into smaller portions and freeze whatever you're not using for another day. You'll need to adjust your cooking time for the smaller pans, but not by much. I believe I cooked it in the 9-inch round for about 40 minutes. Basically until it is heated through and the cheese is melted.
And there you have it! A delicious side dish that tastes like (to quote my son) "heaven". My husband absolutely loved them, and my daughter said she could eat them all day. Thanks Pinterest!
~ Lady A
