Potatoes and Cheese with Gravy

potatoes, meaty gravy, and melting cheese. The potatoes are fried from scratch in lard for authenticity. Several variations of this dish include an Italian variation, which uses spaghetti sauce. A similar dish called disco fries, which consists of French fries topped with gravy and cheese, is also eaten in the northeastern United States.

21⁄2 cups squeaky cheese (very fresh cheese, or substitute white cheddar cheese or Monterey Jack), diced

2 cups lard or oil

5 boiling potatoes, peeled, cut into thick, chunky sticks, rinsed and patted dry

2 cups prepared very thick beef or chicken gravy, kept hot 4 bowls

• Into each bowl, place 1⁄3 cup cheese. Set aside.
• In a deep skillet, heat the lard or oil at medium heat. Fry the potatoes until brown.
• Distribute the hot potatoes over the cheese in the bowls. Top with the remaining cheese.
• Pour hot gravy over the cheese. Serve at once.