skillet potatoes with eggs ~ and we're going camping..

happy valentines day.. i wanted to post a recipe i love and about something i enjoy doing..

 

 

i love camping.. we try and do it several times a year.. and camping food is the best!! the first time i had these potatoes and eggs was fourth of july 1986.. your thinking why in the world do you remember the date? i can't answer that but my mind works that way and the stuff i remember is sometimes pretty looney.. ha..

my mom used to make what she called "german" fried potatoes which is basically potatoes sliced and cooked in a little oil.. when she would make these i would cringe.. i couldn't stand them.. and some would get burned and my dad and brother would fight over who got the "crispy critters" but.. on that fateful day in july while camping at panguitch lake.. pete's work buddy made us breakfast and while they are essentially the same "german fried" potatoes my mom made all those times i was growing up except for the addition of the peppers, onions, cheese, paprika and crushed red peppers.. i loved them {in my moms defense once i declared i "hated" something nothing was going to get me to change my mind}.. why i loved his so much? i don't really know, but it might have been i was starving that day and freezing.. it was fourth of july so i packed shorts and summery type clothing.. i had however packed one pair of light weight pajama pants.. thinking it might get cold at night.. well guess what it was cold the entire time we were there which was 4 days.. i was freezing and had to wear the same pants every day.. i wasn't a happy camper well until i had these potatoes i wasn't.. then of course throw a egg on it and well you have perfection and that meal transformed my weekend..

i had not made these in a long time.. not sure why but they kinda fell out of my routine until i saw this recipe here.. and while mine are not really anything like hers and she uses a lot of pans.. it got me thinking about these camping potatoes.. {they don't necessarily have to made while camping..} i made them last weekend and they were perfectly wonderful consumed at my breakfast counter with a glass of pulpy oj.. but we are going camping for presidents day and these will be made.. and enjoyed sitting by a fire, sipping on hot cocoa, watching the duners race by our campsite.. {camping at the dunes is not for someone who want's peace and quiet.. it's loud.. it's dusty and it doesn't stop.. people are riding, racing and rebel rousing all day and night.. and i can't imagine a better place to spend a 3 day wekeend}

skillet potatoes & eggs

prep time: 15 minutes
cooking time: 30-45 minutes
servings: 4

ingredients:

olive oil {or canola oil-or while camping bacon grease would be perfect}
4-5 russet potatoes, sliced into rounds
1 small white onion, sliced
1 bell pepper, any color, cored, seeded and sliced
1 tsp. smokey paprika
salt and pepper
1 tsp. crushed red pepper
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
8 eggs

wash and pat dry your potatoes, then slice them into rounds or disks.. in a cast iron skillet heat two~three twirls around the pan with olive oil over medium heat until hot.. add potatoes, onion and bell pepper.. crank heat up to medium high.. add seasoning.. {salt, pepper and paprika} and stir around to make sure everything is covered in your oil or bacon grease.. leave alone uncovered and without stirring for about 5 minutes.. you want the underside to get brown.. then stir around and cook the other side of potatoes.. another 3-4 minutes.. then stir around and continue to do so until potatoes are tender and starting to get to the level of browning you like.. reduce heat.. add cheese and allow to melt. another 3-5 minutes.. once cheese is melted add crushed red pepper.. meanwhile make your eggs any ole you like them.. we like ours a cross between sunny side up and over easy.. divide potatoes between 4 plates.. top each dish with 2 eggs cooked the way you like them.. add salt and pepper.. maybe a dash of tobasco and enjoy.. it's so simple.. so basic.. yet so good.. {one favorite is to cook my bacon.. remove and set aside cook the potatoes just like above in the bacon grease and before the cheese is added crumble the bacon on top of the potatoes..}

enjoy and get cook'n!

 

{and i hope you have a wonderful 3 day weekend..doing what makes you happy}