eve11 | cheesy potato-spinach bake

5 small-medium potatoes, sliced into thin rounds
1 cup (?) fresh baby spinach leaves

1 tsp mustard powder
1/2 tsp black pepper
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp garlic powder
3/4 cup milk
1/4 cup half and half
(or just 1 cup milk if that's what you've got-- I was improvising)
2 tbsp flour
1.5 (ish) cups shredded colby-jack cheese (more or less depending on how runny you want it and/or what you have)

Preheat oven to 375. use a glass pan with either foil or a lid

Potatoes can be "started" in the microwave by putting the sliced potatoes in the glass pan, filling with water and putting them in the microwave for 6-8 minutes (this speeds up the baking part).

Layer alternating potatoes and spinach into the glass pan.

In a small saucepan, heat milk+half/half + spices on med-low (do not boil!). Add flour a bit at a time and stir with a whisk to get any lumps out. When mixture starts to thicken a bit, start adding the cheese in handfuls, whisking to let it melt between batches. (If cheese appears to be just clumping in the milk, turn the heat up *slightly* and keep stirring!).

When cheese sauce is smooth, take it off the stove and pour it over the layered potatoes and spinach. Bake covered for 30-ish minutes -- basically until potatoes are soft and done. If you want a crust on the top, try adding bread crumbs and/or baking uncovered for a bit at the end to brown the cheese sauce.

(I think the cheese sauce recipe in here would make a good stovetop macaroni and cheese alternative to the box variety too, though I haven't tried it.)