My neighbor took one bite and rushed over to me, seeking the recipe

Prepare Potatoes: Peel and chop 2 pounds of potatoes. Boil them in salted water until soft, then drain and mash until smooth. Let them cool slightly.
Cook Beef Mixture: Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a skillet. Add chopped onions and minced garlic, cook until soft. Add 1 pound of ground beef, cook until browned. Season with 1 teaspoon paprika, salt, and pepper. Remove from heat, let cool, then mix in 1 cup of grated sharp cheddar cheese.

Combine Beef and Potatoes: Fold the cooled beef and cheese mixture into the mashed potatoes until well combined.
Form Patties: Shape the mixture into patties, about ¾-inch thick.

Fry Potato Cakes: Heat olive oil in a large non-stick skillet over medium heat. Fry the potato cakes in batches until golden brown and crispy, about 4 minutes per side. Add more oil between batches if needed.
Optional Topping: If desired, sprinkle additional cheddar cheese on top of each cake and cover the pan for a minute to melt the cheese.
Serve: Serve the potato cakes hot and enjoy!