Introducing - Prep Steps!

As I've spent more and more time cooking for my family, I've discovered that most of my time is spent on prep work. Actually cooking the meal? That's easy! It's the prep that takes the time. That's why all those TV chefs make everything look so effortless and "dinner in under 10 minutes" and all of that. They have everything cleaned, chopped, pre-measured and ready to throw in the pan!

I've started a category here at DBITK called "Prep Steps" - and hopefully the posts in that folder will help you think about the ways you can capitalize on the amount of time you spend in the kitchen actually preparing a meal. The more steps you have completed ahead of time, the more enjoyable cooking could be, would you agree? It also means more time to spend doing other things you love.

If you've thought about subscribing to DBITK, now's a good time. Learn to be a happier chef and let Prep Steps be a new habit for 2012!

Who's with me?

Mashed Potato Cakes

I've been wanting to do something creative with leftover mashed potatoes for a while now. The hubs is great with leftovers, but if there's no gravy, who wants to eat plain leftover mashed potatoes? I do freeze them and mix them in with fresh ones later on - but why not make a potato pancake out of them and mix in some fun ingredients to make something interesting?

After scouring the internet yesterday for ideas, I came across this recipe on AllRecipes.com. My cheese-loving family needed something more, so I changed it up a bit and this is what came up a winner at last night's dinner!

3 cups leftover mashed potatoes
2 tbsp butter
1/2 onion (or to taste) finely chopped
1 cup shredded Mexican cheese blend
2 eggs
1/4 cup flour
salt & pepper to taste
Optional: hot sauce (I used Crystal) - a dash, or lots more if you like a bit of spice.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Saute the onions in butter on med-low heat until soft. Beat 1 egg in a large bowl, then add potatoes, flour, cheese, onions w/the butter they were cooked in, salt, pepper and hot sauce. Mix well, and form into 6 patties. Place patties on a lightly sprayed baking sheet. Beat the second egg in a small bowl with a little bit of water to make and egg wash for the patties. Brush each patty with a thin layer of egg wash, and then bake for 20-25 minutes, or until cooked through.

This makes a great side dish - we served it with chicken wings!

What are some ways you can make this idea work for your family? Comment below and let me know what you came up with!