Potato Sausage Tart and a spider (or any other irrational fear) update

Let me just state, for the record:  I smooshed a spider this morning in my canvas tote bag.  (scroll down and read yesterday's post if you are confused about the spider talk) He was running across some papers I had shoved in there, so now there is a big spider smoosh stain on some papers I need to keep for a while.  He was  little guy, but this just goes to show, our irrational fear of high places, fluttering things, hopping grasshoppers and peacock feathers is never really irrational.
Hang in there friends....I don't think you irrational.  I support your right to fear--anything.  We are a Band of.... ???   (sigh)  GEEZ.  Band of Brothers has a cool ring to it... Band of Broads sounds stupid (because I hate that word) and  even tho young, edgy women will use the bit** word,  I WON'T.  (because again, I hate that word)

Let me tell ya---I have a long list of words I hate.    But that's a blog post for another time.

Hmmmm....
a League of Ladies?
a Pack of Pretties?
a Gang of Girls?
a Formation of Females?

Whatever we are--we are united in our 'not-so' (as has been proven today by my spider in the bag) irrational fears.
Carry on!

But wait!  I have a recipe to share with you.

A potato sausage tart.  I found it in  the Better Homes and Gardens premier issue of "hometown cooking", which I don't even think they make anymore  (the magazine, not the tart), and I miss it!  It was a collection of hometown recipes from church and club cookbooks. Each month they would feature a couple of different cities/towns across the United States that had produced a club cookbook.    The Potato Sausage Tart (which was really good, by the way)   comes to us from Boise, Idaho.  Just a few short hours from my home in Winnemucca, NV.  The Junior League of Boise, produced  "Beyond Burlap" a potatoes only cookbook.   Since Idaho is  known for their spuds, it's only fitting.

Speaking of the Idaho Spud,  who has ever heard of this old candy bar, The Idaho Spud?

They are good and marshmallowy.  I ate them when I was a kid.  They are now very  hard to find, because Idaho Spud didn't sell out to a big candy company, ie:  Mars or Hershey.  They are produced by the Owyhee Idaho Candy Company.

Back to the Potato Sausage Tart.  We really liked it.  I think you will too.

Potato Sausage Tart

1 recipe for your favorite pie crust, or a ready made brand such as Pillsbury.  Single crust.
2 large baking potatoes  (about 1 lb)
1/4 tsp salt
1/8 tsp pepper
1 lb mild Italian sausage or turkey Italian sausage
2 cups cream style cottage cheese  ( couldn't find this so I used small curd)
2 eggs
1/2 cup sour cream
1 tsp  dried oregano, crushed
2 Tbsp butter, melted
3/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Prepare pastry for a 10-inch deep-dish pie plate.  Line unpricked pastry shell with double thickness of foil. Bake in a 450 oven for 8 minutes.  Remove foil.  Bake 4-5 minutes more or until dry.  Set aside and reduce oven temperature to  350F.
Meanwhile, peel and quarter the potatoes. Cook in boiling, lightly salted water for  20-25 minutes or until tender; drain.   Mash with a potato masher until smooth.  Stir in salt and pepper.  (do not use instant mashed potatoes)
Remove sausage casing, if present.  In a large skillet, cook sausage until no longer pink.  Drain off fat.  In a blender container or food processor bowl, combine cottage cheese and eggs. Cover and blend until smooth.  Transfer to a large bowl.  Using electric mixer, beat in mashed potatoes, sour cream and oregano.
Place sausage in the bottom of pastry shell. Spoon potato mixture over sausage. Drizzle with melted butter. Sprinkle cheese on top.
Bake in 350F oven for  40 to 45 minutes or until heated through.  Let stand 10 minutes before serving. 
Makes 8 servings.

This is even better the 2nd day as leftovers!