Gratin Dauphinois Inspired By Julia Child Recipes

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
• Bring 2 cups of the heavy cream to a simmer in a medium saucepan. Add the potatoes, salt and pepper and cook for 3 minutes.
• Rub the cut side of the garlic clove on the bottom and sides of an 8-inch casserole or baking dish. Add the potatoes and cream and top with the remaining cream and Gruyere cheese. Sprinkle chives over top, if using. Bake on a baking sheet until potatoes are tender and cheese is golden brown and bubbly, about 30 minutes. Remove from oven and let rest 10 minutes before serving.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees F and adjust oven rack to top third of oven.
• Rub the baking dish with cut garlic to impart a hint of flavor. (I use a large, shallow corningware dish that I can place both on the stovetop and in the oven.).
• Grease the baking dish with a bit of vegetable oil.
• Slice the potatoes about 1/8 inch thick and spread half of the slices in the bottom of the dish.
• Top with half of the salt, pepper, cheese and dots of butter.
• Repeat with the remaining slices and topping.
• Pour on the boiling milk. The amount of milk depends on the size of the baking dish and how full of potatoes it is. You just want to almost cover the potatoes with the milk.
• Set the baking dish over heat (on the stove is OK if you're using Corningware or the equivalent).
• When the milk starts to simmer, transfer the baking dish to the oven.
• Bake 20-30 minutes until potatoes are tender, milk has been absorbed, and top is brown.

Steps:

• Cook onion in butter over low heat about 5 min or so - do not brown. Add flour, cook 2 minutes without coloring.
• Off heat, beat in boiling milk, wine (if using), salmon juice (if using), and seasoning. Boil several minutes to thicken. Thin to medium consistency with 4-6 T. additional milk. Taste for seasoning. Fold salmon (and mushrooms, if using) into sauce, check seasoning.
• Spread in 8" shallow baking dish or cooked pastry shell. Sprinkle on the cheese.
• Bake at 425 degrees F for 15 minutes, or til top is nicely browned.
• Note: You can also add extra ingredients such as peas, diced hard boiled eggs, etc. to the casserole.

Steps:

• To partly bake the pastry shell: Bake in middle of oven at 400 degrees F. for 8-9 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Place oven rack in upper third of oven.
• Saute onions briefly in butter; set aside.
• Beat together salt, eggs, nutmeg and pepper. Gradually stir in spinach mixture. Check seasoning.
• Pour into pastry shell. Sprinkle cheese on top. Place on baking sheet.
• Bake 25-30 minutes or until puffed and browned.

Steps:

• To partly bake the pastry shell: Bake in middle of oven at 400 degrees F. for 8-9 minutes.
• To make the mushroom filling:.
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Place oven rack in upper third of oven.
• Saute mushrooms in butter until they exude their juices, the liquid evaporates and the mushrooms are starting to brown slightly.
• Mix together mushrooms, onion, salt and lemon juice; set aside.
• Beat together eggs, milk, nutmeg and pepper. Gradually stir in mushroom mixture. Check seasoning.
• Pour into pastry shell. Sprinkle cheese on top. Place on baking sheet.
• Bake 25-30 minutes or until puffed and browned.

Steps:

• Place oven rack in upper third of oven. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
• Cook onions in butter over very low heat til tender and golden, stirring occasionally (about 1 hour). Remove from heat and let cool somewhat.
• Add flour; cook over low heat for 2 or 3 minutes.
• In a bowl, combine eggs, milk or cream, salt, pepper and nutmeg. Beat til well blended.
• Gradually add onions and half cheese. Check seasoning.
• Pour into pastry shell or baking dish. Sprinkle remaining cheese on top. Place on baking sheet.
• Bake 25-30 minutes or until puffed and browned.
• NOTE: To partly bake the pastry shell: Bake in middle of oven at 400 degrees F. for 8-9 minutes.

Steps:

• Heat oven to 400 degrees and place a rack at the middle level. In a large saucepan, combine onions and 2 tablespoons olive oil and stir to coat over low heat. Sprinkle lightly with salt. At a gentle simmer, cook uncovered until onions are softened and lightly golden, 10 to 15 minutes, stirring often. Do not brown; lower the heat if necessary. When done, fold in tomatoes just until heated through. Set aside.
• In a small food processor or a mortar, add the anchovies - anywhere from 6 to 12 fillets, depending on their size and your taste. Add garlic, herbs and a dozen grinds of pepper. Add 2 tablespoons olive oil (or use the oil from the anchovy can, if you like). Crush or pulse together into a chunky paste, thinning with oil as needed to make a loose, fluid mixture.
• In a medium-size baking dish, spread a quarter of the onion-tomato mixture. On top, arrange half the potato slices, then half the anchovy mixture. Add half the remaining onion-tomato mixture. Build one more layer with remaining potato slices, anchovy mixture and onion-tomato mixture. Sprinkle cheese on top and drizzle with olive oil.
• If the dish is very full, place on a baking sheet. Transfer to oven and bake, uncovered, until potatoes are tender and have absorbed all of the juices in the bottom of the dish, 40 to 50 minutes. Test by tasting a bit of potato; it should be soft all the way through, with no raw taste. If the top is browning too fast, cover very loosely with a sheet of foil. If the top is not brown enough when the potatoes are cooked, broil briefly until deliciously glazed.
• Serve gratin hot or warm. Can be cooled and reheated later the same day, but do not refrigerate.