Potatoes Au Gratin Casserole ( Recipe )

               Hello and welcome back here today on Garden The Easy Way, this is Ken and Marilou, and today we would like to talk about Potatoes Au Gratin Casserole, truly one of America's favorite ways to eat potatoes. It is so delicious, and if you grow your own garden and have your very own fresh potatoes, the taste will even be better.  

              Potatoes are so easy to grow and does not take a lot of room, some people even grow potatoes in their backyard, 2 or 4 short rows will make a lot of potatoes, see our blog on how to plant potatoes.

              Today we would like to share a very good recipe with you all, on How To Make Potatoes Au Gratin Casserole.  

Things You'll Need:  

2 lbs. potatoes
Chef's knife or mandolin
Onion
Glass baking dish and cover  
Non-stick spray
1/2 cup butter
2 cups cheddar cheese, shredded
Saucepan  
1/4 cup flour
1 tsp. salt  
1 tsp. pepper
1.5 cup milk
1/2 cup cream    

Instructions:  

Preparation*  

1. Wash and peel 2 lbs. of potatoes.  

2.  Cut the potatoes into 1/8-inch thick slices using a chef's knife or mandolin.

3.  Cut one large onion into 1/4-inch thick slices. Separate the layers of the slices and set aside.  

4.  Coat the inside of a glass baking dish with non-stick spray.

5.  Layer the sliced potatoes and onions in the baking dish so that the vegetables are evenly distributed throughout the dish.

6.  Cut 1/4 cup butter into cubes. Scatter the butter over the top of the potato and onion evenly.

7.  Sprinkle 1/2 cup cheddar cheese on top of the potatoes.    

Sauce*

1.  Melt 1/4 cup butter in a saucepan.  

2.  Add 1/4 cup flour, 1 tsp. salt and 1 tsp. pepper to the butter, and mix well.  

3.  Pour 1.5 cup milk and 1/2 cup cream into the saucepan.  

4.  Add 1.5 cup cheddar cheese to the saucepan. Stir continuously until the cheese and milk are incorporated and the sauce is smooth.

5.  Pour the sauce into the baking dish, spreading it evenly over the layered potatoes, onions, and cheese.  

Baking*

1.  Cover the baking dish, and bake at 375 F for 30 minutes.

2.  Remove the cover, and check the tenderness of the potato with a fork.  

3.  Bake uncovered for an additional 30 minutes, or until the potatoes are tender and the top forms a golden brown crust.          

Tips & Warning*  

   *Omit the onions from the recipe, if desired.  

   *Substitute a 1/2 cup of half-n-half for the cream to make a lighter version of the dish.  

   *Use caution when removing the baking dish from the oven.    

              Well that's it for today, we hope to talk here again tomorrow on Garden The Easy Way, until then this is Ken & Marilou wishing you all Happy Gardening Always.