French Friday with Dorie: Potato Gratin (Pommes dauphinois)

POTATO GRATIN WITH CHUNKS OF HAM

First, let me wish all of you out there in cyberspace a very Happy Thanksgiving! 

On November 30th, about one hundred ladies in my neighborhood are getting together to enjoy our much anticipated traditional Christmas dinner, relax with holiday music and a Christmas story, and return home with a small, thoughtful gift that will keep the meaning of the Christmas season in our hearts.  Almost everyone attending will contribute a food or  program item,  will bring decorations or table settings, or they will just be there to share conversation, a good meal, and friendship.  We women try hard to make Christmas and the holidays special for family, for charitable organizations, and for work associates and friends as we work  in many, many ways to make these days exceptional.  Because the next couple of months can be stressful, or for some they can be lonely, we come together each holiday season to share a wonderful and relaxing evening that is just for us.

It was time to get out the mandoline--cut very thin potato slices

My assignment for our traditional Christmas dinner is potatoes au gratin.  Today I chose to test Dorie’s recipe for Potato Gratin (Pommes Dauphinois) hoping to find a recipe with some extra special baked goodness worthy of a holiday dish.  Oh my!  It is awesome!  This simple, creamy, bubbling over, melt in your mouth gratin is just perfect!  I will definitely make this recipe for our ladies’ dinner.

        The thin slices were arranged in layers in my baking dish., topped with garlic infused cream and seasonings.                                                                                         

While shopping for a granddaughter’s birthday gift today at Costco, one of the food samples being offered was a ready-made potato gratin.  Costco was also pushing their spiral cut ham as a main-course-holiday-dinner item.  The lady at the sample booth mixed some ham chunks in with the gratin, and gave store customers samples to try.  What a nifty idea, thought I.  So, upon returning home to make my homemade “Dorie” gratin, I decided to make a second with the addition of that ham the sample lady talked me into buying.

I have fresh herbs growing in my window garden which add a delicious addition to the baked goodness of this dish.

Both versions are delicious and comforting.  I love the garlic infused cream that works its way all through the potatoes, and the fresh herbs smothered under a layer of mouth watering cheese, filling the house with a luscious aroma.  These  are new ideas for my gratin.  The potatoes were done just right and with all that creamy goodness they just melt in your mouth.  This is, by far, the most outstanding potatoes gratin recipe I have ever tried.  It will now be our house recipe.

Small ham slices were added to my 2nd gratin, everything else being the same.

This classic gratin oozes with creamy homemade comfort.

I’m happy I made two; the kids will stop in tomorrow hoping for leftovers.  And I’m happy even more as I have found a special recipe that will be a sure hit with my neighborhood lady friends.  Thanks, Dorie, for another great recipe.  And, by the way, it is sooooo much better than the Costco variety!

This slice was my taste -- YUM!