Au Gratin Potatoes

 

 

Au gratin potatoes are one of the fastest and glorious ways to have potatoes for any meal. Imagine this, thinly sliced and fluffy potatoes covered in a rich and creamy cheese sauce, baked in the oven until the casserole dish is bubbling and the potatoes are cooked to a crisp and golden brown.  

If you have a sharp knife, ability to cut a veggie, then you have the technique to make this dish. You don’t have to have special skills, or hours upon hours over a hot stove to make this dish, just this recipe with good directions and the right ingredients, and your set to make a great dish to accompany any chicken, beef or pork meal. 

For those that don’t know what Au Gratin Potatoes are let me explain it to you.

Au gratin means a casserole dish filled with thinly sliced potatoes and onions covered with cheese, butter, and cooked in the oven or broiler until potatoes are tender.

This is one of my favorite dishes to make as a side dish for chicken, beef or even pork, not just special occasions. My favorite dish to accompany any of my French specialty dishes such as a Roast Pork or Beef Wellington/Beef Tenderloin. Throw in a warm French Bread with soften butter and a green salad with walnut raspberry dressing and you have found the magic dish that will capture anyone’s heart. 

Prep: 30 mins

Cook: 1 hr 45 mins

Total: 2 hrs 15 minutes

Servings: 4

 

Ingredients

2 tablespoons butter

3 tablespoons all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon salt

¼ teaspoon ground pepper

1-1/2 cups milk

½ cup shredded cheddar cheese (Or if you’re like me make it 1 cup of cheese)

1 cup of gruyere cheese

4 -6 peeled and thinly sliced potatoes

1 thinly sliced onion divided into rings

¼ of a teaspoon of garlic powder

Directions

 

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Butter a medium casserole dish.

Layer 1/2 of the potatoes into bottom of the prepared casserole dish. Top with the onion slices, and add the remaining potatoes. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

In a medium-size saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Mix in the flour and salt, and stir constantly with a whisk for one minute. Stir in milk. Cook until mixture has thickened. Stir in cheese all at once, and continue stirring until melted, about 30 to 60 seconds. Pour cheese over the potatoes, and cover the dish with aluminum foil.

Bake 1. 45 hours in the preheated oven.

 

 Author Elizabeth Kilbride is a former political operative, author, scriptwriter, historian, journalist. business professional, and creative artist, and life coach consultant. Ms. Kilbride holds a Masters in Criminology and a BS in Business Management who stepped out of the loop for a while, but who is now back with a powerful opinion and voice in the direction of this country and our economy. As a life coach, she is available to counsel individuals to enjoy their dreams and a better life. Ms. Kilbride loves to travel, photograph her surroundings and is also a gourmet cook who loves to garden and preserve food for the winter months.