Skip to main content

08-09 Gratin Pomme du Terre (du Pauline)

"Pauline's* Potato Gratin"

Remember when we were choosing our hypothetical last meal? This is Pauline's favorite dish that her mother makes her on her birthday and the one she chose.
I think Bri had 4 helpings!


Rub butter to grease the bottom of the 9x13 dish you are using.
Spread evenly in the dish, half of:
2 lbs yellow potatoes, sliced very thin
Dot with
3 T unsalted butter, in small pieces
Spread potatoes with
1/3 c (of 2/3 total) crème fraiche
1/2 c (of 1c total) Gruyère cheese, shredded
Layer the rest of potatoes on top and repeat.
The more creme and cheese you add, the creamier the dish so experiment with what amounts you like best.
Sprinkle generously with
salt
and bake in 425 degree oven, uncovered for 1 hour or so until the potatoes are soft but not mushy.
Pauline said sometimes her mom pours 2 egg yolks over the layers as well.

*our exchange student from Paris

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Tuna bean salad

Mix together: 1/3 c olive oil 3 T red wine vinegar Freshly & finely chopped chives or 1/4 t onion powder  Salt and pepper to taste Set aside. Combine:  6 oz tuna packed without liquid (if packed in oil, add less oil; if packed in water, drain) 1 can/15 oz cannellini beans, drained & rinsed 1 T capers 3/4 c cherry tomatoes, halved 1/2 T freshly chopped basil Pour dressing over and gently combine. Serve alone,  as a salad on a bead of spinach or open face sandwich on a crusty bread -both need an extra drizzle of olive oil.

Nordic curry

This is a mild anytime curry.  Takes 10-15 minutes. The original (dairy) sauce is from Magnus Nilsson. I double the sauce so there's plenty. Especially because I like to add vegetables and proteins. I always add the apples, sometimes skip the onion. Leftover roasted root vegetables tasted great. Regular supermarket yellow curry powder is perfect. Serve it over rice or with naan. Be generous with the salt and pepper.  Melt 4 T butter over medium heat in a sauté pan (wide, shallow).  Sprinkle in 4 T yellow curry powder and stir to combine.  Add 1-2 tart apple (Granny Smith), cored and chopped or cubed & 1 onion, finely chopped. When apples and onion are softened, sprinkle them with 2 T flour . Stir to evenly coat all.  Add 1 1/2 c heavy cream OR coconut cream , slowly, a bit at a time, whisking constantly to keep lumps at bay. When smooth, add in 1 1/2 c milk OR coconut milk in the same manner. Allow to begin to bubble and thicken before serving. Season gen...

Pasta al limone

 Basically it's Lemon Spaghetti. I needed a side dish for a friend's seafood lunch and this was perfect. When I served at cousins beach week, it also got rave reviews (and competition for the leftovers) so it's worth sharing here. I found the recipe by Michelle Doll at Delish.com. What I love about this recipe is it is quick and easy but really it's the technique. Its similar to an Alfredo sauce but because of the way you put it together, it is very evenly distributed and doesn't feel heavy. Tastes great with fish and chicken, so far.  Cook  12 oz. spaghetti in generously salted boiling water.  While waiting for the pasta, slice of a couple thin strips from a lemon for garnish (if desired)  Zest  1 lemon into a large sauce pan (the spaghetti will go into it later)  and juice the lemon , setting the juice aside. Add 1/2 c. heavy cream and  4 Tbsp. unsalted butter to the lemon zest   and let it melt over low hea...