Delia Smiths Gratin Of Celery With Stilton Recipes

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
• Lightly butter a small gratin dish.
• Put a pot that can fit a steamer basket on to boil (you can also use an electric steamer for this step later on if you prefer).
• Start off by trimming the celery stalks and cutting them into 3 to 5 inch lengths so they fit snugly into the gratin dish.
• Peel them to get rid of any stringy bits.
• Put them into the steamer basket or in an electric steamer and steam for 7 minutes.
• Arrange the celery over the base of the gratin dish and add some seasoning.
• Crumble the Stilton all over the celery, tucking it into any gaps as well.
• Spoon the creme fraiche over the celery, using a spatula to spread it evenly all over the surface.
• Toss the breadcrumbs in the melted butter, then sprinkle them evenly over the top and give them a light sprinkling of celery salt.
• Put the dish in the centre of the preheated oven and bake for 25 minutes, until the top has browned nicely and the celery stalks are tender.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375°. In a large saucepan, melt 6 tablespoons butter over medium heat. Stir in flour until smooth; gradually whisk in milk and cream. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly; cook and stir until thickened, 3-4 minutes. Stir in cheese, salt, pepper and nutmeg until combined. Stir in celery and leaves; transfer to a greased 13x9-in. baking dish., Tear bread into pieces and place in a food processor or blender. Cover and pulse until crumbs form. Transfer to a large bowl. Melt remaining 2 tablespoons butter. Drizzle over bread crumbs; toss to coat. Sprinkle over celery mixture., Bake until bubbly and topping is golden brown, 25-30 minutes. If desired, sprinkle with additional celery leaves.

Steps:

• seperate stalks of celery from base and trim, reserve leaves for garnish- trimmed stalks should weigh 450g, trim outer stringy bits. scrub rest in cold water and drain, slcie across in thinnish slices.
• in medium saucepan melt butter, stir in celery, potato and onion, stir everyting around to coat with butter put on lid turn heat low and sweat for 10 minutes.
• uncover add stock and bring to simmering point cover again and cook for 30 minutes test veg for tendereness if not recover and cook until they are.
• whilst this is going on prepare croutons heat olive oil in large frying pan and add cubes of bread keep them moving turning around and upside down until they have turned a deep golden brown colour and have become very crunchy and crispy, drain on kitchen paper.
• remove saucepan from heat stir in cream then liquidise soup with crumbed stilton until quite smooth, retunr soup to rinsed out pan and reheat very gently taking care not to boil.
• taste and season serve with croutons and celery leaves.