Creamed Tuna over Southwestern Potato Cakes

This old classic family recipe is one I grew up on; but today I put my own twist on it by combining creamed tuna with a southwestern potato cake. Hope Y'all Enjoy it as much as I do...

Ingredients

1 Tsp. Garlic Powder

1 Tsp. Onion Powder

1 Tsp. Fresh dill, finely chopped or you can use dry dill

1/2 Tsp. Fresh Ground Black Pepper

1/4 Tsp. Kosher Salt

2-3 cans small Tuna

2 - Large Potatoes, boiled and mashed

3 slices Bacon, ctumbled

1 Large Egg

2 c. Whole or 2% Milk

1/2 c. Frozen Peas

1/4 c. Baby Carrot, chopped

1/4 c. Onion, diced

1/4 c. Real unsalted butter

1/4 c. Flour

1/4 c. Shredded cheddar Cheese for garnishing

1 Tbsp. Red Bell Pepper, diced

1 Tbsp. Green Bell Pepper, diced

1 Tsp. Minced GarlicSteps

1. 1. Wash potatoes and vegetables.

2. 2. Boil large potatoes for

3. 3. 25 - 30 minutes; Then completely cool down potatoes, this is important!
   Otherwise potatoes will fall apart when cooking them.

4. 4. Once potatoes are completely cooled down;
   peel and mash potatoes in a large bowl very well. Set aside.

5. 5. Chop and dice vegetables, then sauté onions, garlic and bell peppers for 3 minutes. Set aside.
   Seprately, sauté frozen peas and carrots for 3 to 4 minutes. Set aside.

6. 6. Cook up the bacon until crispy, put on paper towels,
   then crumble up and set aside.

7. 7. In a large sauce pan melt butter, then add Flour and seasonings, with wire whisk
   Stir until blended well, then
   8. add milk gradually as you are whisking until mixed very well. Stir continually until sauce is thickened.
   add more milk as needed.

8. 9. Once the sauce is done, add
   10.the sautéed peas, carrots, crumbled bacon and tuna, mix well. Set aside.

9. 11. Now, take the mashed potatoes and add sautéed onions, bell peppers, egg and salt & pepper to it and blend well enough to makes patties out of it.

10. 12. Make into 8 - 1/2 inch patties. Set aside.

11. 13. Use a Large skillet, add 2 Tbsps. butter let melt and sizzle, then add 4 patties and cook 3 to 4 minutes per side. Remove set aside and repeat it again with the other 4 patties.

12. 14. Once down cooking all the potato patties. Then reheat the sauce until desired temperature.

13. 15. On a plate you set two to three patties in a row, then slowly add 1/4 cup ofsauce on top of potatoes cakes.
    Garnish with shredded cheese. Enjoy!