Three Potato Gratin Recipes

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Grease a porcelain souffle dish with the butter. In a sauce pot, bring the garlic and cream up to a simmer. Season with salt and white pepper. Simmer the cream for 15 minutes, or until the cream has reduced by 1/4 and has slightly thickened. Season the potatoes with salt and white pepper. Alternate layering the white potatoes, sweet potatoes, red potatoes, and cheese in the prepared dish. You should have a total of six layers. Remove the garlic from the cream and pour over the potatoes.
• Cover the souffle dish with aluminum foil. Place in the oven and bake for 30 to 35 minutes. Remove the foil and continue cooking for 10 minutes or until the top is golden brown. Cool the gratin for 10 minutes before serving. Place a piece of the gratin on a plate and garnish with Essence, cheese, and chives.
• Combine all ingredients thoroughly and store in an airtight jar or container.
• Yield: about 2/3 cup
• Recipe from "New New Orleans Cooking", by Emeril Lagasse and Jessie Tirsch. Published by William and Morrow, 1993.

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Add the cream and milk to a large saucepan over medium-low heat and bring to a gentle simmer. Add the nutmeg, a big pinch of salt and some pepper. Meanwhile, slice the potatoes on a mandoline to 1/8-inch thick. Place the potatoes in the warm cream mixture and simmer gently until the potatoes are two-thirds of the way cooked and the cream has thickened, about 15 minutes.
• Place a 9-by-12-inch flameproof gratin dish on the stove over low heat. Brush the bottom and the sides with the melted butter. Spread the garlic around the bottom of the dish. Cook just long enough to toast the garlic in the butter, 3 to 4 minutes. Add a layer of the potato mixture. Combine the Gruyere and Parmesan in a bowl, then sprinkle a third of the cheese over the potatoes. Repeat the layering 2 more times, finishing with the remaining cheese. Pick the thyme leaves and sprinkle over the top, mixing with last layer of cheese. Place the gratin dish on a rimmed baking sheet and bake until bubbly and golden, 45 to 50 minutes (see Cook's Note).

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Thoroughly grease 2 quart casserole dish.
• In a saucepan melt the butter and whisk in flour to make a roux. Cook for about one minute. Add salt, pepper, sour cream and milk. Gradually stir over medium heat to keep the mixture from burning. Stir until thick, about 2-3 minutes, then add parmesan cheese.
• Arrange half of potatoes in casserole dish, making sure they overlap. Pour half of the cheese mixture over potatoes, then repeat the process.
• Bake covered for 35 to 40 minutes, then uncover and bake additional 15 minutes.
• Top with shredded cheddar and cook another 5 - 10 minutes until cheese is melted and bubbly. Make sure potatoes are cooked through. Test by inserting knife - it it goes in and comes out easily and cleanly casserole is done.