Scalloped Potatoes

One of the best money saving ideas I know is to cook from scratch. Buy simple ingredients and skip the processed foods. This is a simple homey recipe that is perfect for the crock pot.


Scalloped Potatoes With Broccoli


Chopped broccoli
1 onion chopped
Several potatoes sliced thin
White sauce
Grated cheddar



Use enough broccoli to cover the bottom of the crock pot. Layer the onion on top of that, then the potatoes. Season with salt and pepper and parsley. Stir in the white sauce, adjust seasonings, and cook on high for 3 hours or until potatoes are tender.
When it is finished stir in a couple of handfuls of cheddar until it is all melty.


Basic White Sauce


1 stick of butter
2 cloves of chopped garlic
1/2 C. flour
1 can of chicken broth (or homemade equivalent)
1 can of evaporated milk
salt and pepper


In a sauce pan, saute garlic in the butter. Stir in flour and cook for about a minute. Whisk in liquids and seasonings. Stir until smooth. As it heats, it will thicken. You can add more milk to thin it if you need to.

There are lots of different ways to make a good white sauce. It will replace cream-of-something soups in any recipe. Canned soup is expensive and contains preservatives and too much salt. You can add mushrooms, celery, and whatever different spices. It's quite versatile. Experiment with it until you find your perfect combo.