Subject: Help with a recipe for "ranch potatoes"?
Newsgroups: rec.food.cooking

---

From: malan6 at qwest.net (Alan)
Date: Tue, 20 Feb 2001 21:31:13 -0600
--------
The deli at my local grocery store has something called "ranch potatoes" which is cooked, refrigerated, and you buy it to reheat at home. (Microwave or regular oven, whichever you prefer.)

It's wonderful! The potatoes are hash brown style, and there is lots of cheese, a bit of black pepper, salt, in it.

I've tried to make it at home twice, with potatoes, cheddar cheese, pepper and salt, and it comes out bad -- boring, not tasting right, and dry.

Any ideas and/or recipes?

Thanks for your kind attention,
Alan

---

From: Dog3 (dog3 at mindspring.com)
Date: Tue, 20 Feb 2001 23:47:49 -0600
--------
I haven't tried these yet but they sound good. I'm guessing the cream cheese could be substituted with a mild cheddar or american cheese. If you try them, let us know how they turned out.

Michael

Hidden Valley Ranch Potatoes

2 bags [24oz ea] of frozen hash browns, semi-thawed
2 8oz pkg. cream cheese
2 envelopes Hidden Valley Ranch dressing mix
2 cans cream of potato soup

Put potatoes in crock pot. Mix remaining ingredients in a bowl and add to potatoes. Stir well. Cook on low 7-9 hours. Stir before serving.
posted by Shannon Ellis
Note: makes a lot - may halve the recipe.

---

From: malan6 at qwest.net (Alan)
Date: Wed, 21 Feb 2001 08:50:59 -0600
--------
Thanks, I'll have to try that. But I have to say that the actual potatoes in "ranch potatoes" don't seem to have anything to do with Ranch Dressing. Everything is golden and cheesy, and I would guess that word "ranch" refers to them being "hearty" or something like that!

---

From: pattee at spot.colorado.edu (Donna Pattee)
Date: 21 Feb 2001 14:53:04 GMT
--------
Alan wrote:
>Thanks, I'll have to try that. But I have to say that the actual
>potatoes in "ranch potatoes" don't seem to have anything to do with
>Ranch Dressing. Everything is golden and cheesy, and I would guess
>that word "ranch" refers to them being "hearty" or something like
>that!

It could be that the potatoes have msg or some flavored salt in them. If you don't have a sensitivity to msg, you might give that a try. Or try one of the seasoned salts like Lowry's.

---

From: britas5118 at aol.com (BritaS5118)
Date: 22 Feb 2001 04:01:31 GMT
--------
I found this through Google. Sound right?

Ranch Gratin Potatoes

Quickly assembled from convenience foods, this dish requires no additional effort, except baking.

2 lb frozen hash brown potatoes, partially defrosted
1 cup Ranch dressing (not diet or fat-free!)
1 cup milk
8 oz cheddar cheese, shredded

In a large bowl, toss the potatoes with ranch dressing, milk and cheese. Place in a greased 9" x 12" baking dish. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour and 15 minutes, stirring once or twice.

Yield: 8 servings.

---

From: malan6 at qwest.net (Alan)
Date: Fri, 23 Feb 2001 08:02:32 -0600
--------
I found out what the mystery ingredient is!

Whipping cream!!!!

The ingredients list is:

hash brown potatoes
mild cheddar cheese
whipping cream
salt
pepper

Funny, I never thought it was a low-fat kinda food, but when I read that list, I could feel my arteries clogging!