Easy Cheesy Potatoes

Have you ever bought a pack of that "easy melt" cheese?  It's the stuff that comes in wrapped slices like American cheese, but it's especially made for making grilled-cheese sandwiches (aka it's probably mutant Velveeta).  It makes a fine grilled-cheese sandwich, but ever tried to eat that stuff plain?  It's nasty.  It's not real cheese.

So a year or so ago I bought a pack of the easy melt stuff, not knowing what I was getting myself into.  Several months later it was still in my fridge, and it hadn't grown any mold yet.  This could be proof that it's an orange, hydrogenated dead-zone similar to the ones found in the ocean, only it was in my fridge which is almost as disturbing.

So, getting to the point:  one day, faced with a 2 month old half-pack of undead easy melt slices and some very much alive potatoes (they always sprout eyes by the time I use them), I created this recipe:

EY's Easy Cheesy Potatoes

Need:

• washed potatoes (doesn't matter what kind they are, or if you peel them.  I buy what's on sale and keep the peels on.)
• 6-8 (or maybe 10) slices of single-slice cheese product of your choice
• water
• oven-safe casserole dish or baking pan large enough to hold everything without overflow
• aluminum foil
• knife

How to:

1. Preheat oven to 350 deg Fahrenheit (176 Celsius)
2. Cut up the potatoes into slices about 1/4 -- 1/2 inch thick.
3. Lay potatoes in bottom of dish/pan, layering to 2 slices deep.
4. Add enough water to surround but not cover the potatoes.  Tops of potatoes should be sticking out of the water.
5. Unwrap singles-slices and lay a single layer on top of potatoes like a big cheesy blanket.
6. Cover pan with aluminum foil.  Place in oven.  Place on top of cookie sheet if using a small or shallow dish.  There's a chance it will boil over.
7. Cook for about 45 minutes, or until potatoes split in half when you stick a fork in them.
8. Remove pan from oven.  Remove foil.  Serve with vegetables and/or meat of your choice.

Servings:

Creates as much as you put into it, or about 1 person per potato if we're talking russets.  Smaller potatoes and you're on your own.

Nutrition facts:

How should I know?  The nutrition info for an unpeeled potato can be found here.  Read the package on your chosen cheese product and do the math.

Earworm of the day: Can't Shut Up by Anthem Lights