Autumn Vegetables Au Gratin Recipes

Steps:

• Place an oven rack in the upper third of the oven and preheat to 400 degrees F.
• Combine the shallots, garlic, 2 tablespoons olive oil and 1 teaspoon thyme in a baking dish. Bake, stirring halfway through, until lightly caramelized, 15 to 20 minutes. Let cool.
• Line 2 baking sheets with cooling racks. Divide the eggplant, yellow squash and zucchini between the 2 sheets. Season the vegetables with 1 1/2 teaspoons salt. Let stand 30 minutes.
• Firmly press the vegetables with a kitchen towel to remove excess water. Lift the racks from the baking sheets and brush off any excess water and salt. Transfer the vegetables onto the sheet trays. Add the tomatoes to one of the sheet trays. Toss each type of vegetable with 1 tablespoon olive oil, 1 teaspoon thyme and salt and pepper to taste.
• Make one stack of vegetables on a baking sheet. Start with 1 tomato slice, top it with 1 to 2 slices of zucchini, depending on the size, 1 to 2 slices of yellow squash, and then top with 1 slice of eggplant. (The zucchini and yellow squash slices should fill the same amount of space as the tomato and eggplant; if they are smaller slices, use two.) Place the stack on its side in the baking dish, on top of the caramelized shallots. Repeat making stacks and adding them into the baking dish in a spiral, working from the outside inward. If there are extra vegetables, add them to the center of the dish at the end. Sprinkle with the fontina and Parmesan. Bake until the vegetables are tender and the cheese is melted and golden brown, 35 minutes. Let cool 15 minutes.
• Garnish with the basil and serve with crusty bread.

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter a 13-by-10-by-2 1/2-inch baking dish.
• Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a large (12-inch) saute pan over medium heat, add the onion and fennel and cook for 10 minutes, tossing occasionally, until lightly browned and tender. Add the garlic and cook for one minute.
• Meanwhile, in a large bowl, combine the onion mixture, sweet potatoes, celery root, Yukon Gold potatoes, cream, chicken stock, Gruyere, thyme, 1 tablespoon salt and 1 1/2 teaspoons pepper. Pour the mixture into the prepared baking dish and press lightly so the vegetables lie flat all the way to the edge. Combine the bread crumbs and 2 tablespoons of olive oil and distribute evenly on top. Bake uncovered for 1 1/2 hours, until the vegetables are very tender when tested with a small knife and the top is browned and bubbly. Allow to set for 15 minutes and serve hot.
• Make ahead: Bake in advance and reheat while the turkey rests, or assemble the dish, cover and refrigerate for up to 24 hours, then bake before serving.

Steps:

• Steam carrots, cauliflower and green beans until fork tender.
• In a separate, large saucepan, melt margarine. Add onion and cook over medium high heat, stirring occasionally until tender.
• Whisk in flour, celery salt and oregano. Cook and stir one minute. Add milk, broth and lemon juice.
• Cook and whisk until thickened and bubbly all over.
• Stir in shredded cheddar until melted. Add hot, drained vegetables to saucepan, stirring to coat evenly with the sauce.
• Pour vegetables and sauce into deep one quart casserole dish.
• In a small bowl, combine bread crumbs with romano cheese, olive oil and parsley. Mix well.
• Sprinkle bread crumb mixture over the top of vegetables.
• Bake uncovered in 350 F oven for 25 - 30 minutes, until heated through and crumbs are golden brown.