cheesy ranch potato bake

Let me introduce you to the second dish of the week: The Cheesy Ranch Potato Bake

I cooked this dish without thinking it would probably best be served as a side dish. I don't even know why I didn't think a bunch of potatoes with cheese and ranch dressing might not be the best thing to eat in hearty helpings. Oh well... I ate it in hearty helpings anyway.

You can find the recipe listed here.

Ingredients

4 lbs of russet potatoes, cut into 1/4 inch squares
2 tsp of chili powder
1 tsp of salt
1/2 tsp of ground black pepper
6 tbs of butter, cubed
1 8 oz package of shredded colby-jack/Monteray cheese blend
1 8 oz bottle of ranch dressing

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Lightly grease a 9x13x3 inch baking dish. 
2. Place potatoes in the baking dish. Sprinkle with salt, pepper, and chili powder.

3. Evenly distribute the butter of the potatoes.

5. Cover dish with foil and bake for one hour, until potatoes are tender. Remove from oven and mix in cheese and ranch dressing. Cook for an additional 10 minutes or until cheese is bubbly.

I wish I had gotten a better picture of the finished product because this just doesn't do it justice. When I pulled that baby out of the oven, I thought to myself... "Dear God, I've hit a home run with this one!"

As it was quite tasty, it wasn't the best thing I have ever eaten. It was very greasy. I would probably use less butter next time. I also couldn't help but feel the need to vomit after eating it... being that I ate it as an entree and not a side dish. When eaten in small doses, I highly recommend!

Side note: The preparation of the cubed potatoes may alter my opinion of this dish. It was far too much work for me. I obviously did not take extra steps to ensure the potatoes were cut in 1/4 inch cubes, as the recipe instructs you to do. However, cutting potatoes with a butter knife is hard work. Don't even ask me why the sharpest knife I own is a butter knife because I do not know the answer to that question myself. I will say that I don't suggest you take the time to try it. It took me nearly 45 minutes to cut up those bad boys. At least you can't tell me I don't finish what I start!