Potatoes Au Gratin

[sidherose]

You can make these for Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner - especially if you are having a ham!


INGREDIENTS

3 tablespoons butter
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1-1/2 teaspoons salt (or to taste)
1/8 teaspoon pepper
2 cups 2% milk, cream or half 'n' half (your choice)
1 cup (4 ounces) shredded cheddar cheese
5 cups thinly sliced peeled potatoes (about 6 medium)
1/2 cup chopped onion


STOVE-TOP PART

Preheat oven to 350° while you are in preparation.

In a large saucepan or deep skillet (in you don't think they'll fit in the sauce pan), melt butter over low heat.
 
Stir in flour, salt and pepper until smooth. Gradually add milk.
Bring to a boil; cook and stir 2 minutes or until thickened.

Remove from heat; stir in cheese until melted.

Add potatoes and onion.
 

BAKING

Transfer to a greased 2-qt. baking dish or 9x9 Pyrex casserole.

Cover and bake 1 hour.

Uncover; bake 30-40 minutes or until the potatoes are tender.

Bake until browned on top IF you are going to eat them directly.


Yield: 6-8 servings.


NOTE:

If you are not going to eat them right away:

Let them cool a bit on the stove, then put them into the fridge to continue cooling. Remember, they have milk in them!

After they have cooled, you can put them in freezer-safe storage containers and freeze them. They will keep that way for about two weeks.

But before you cover them with the lid or foil, place a piece of wax-paper over them to keep them from getting freezer burn.

When ready to use thaw in refrigerator (milk!) or bake frozen in Pyrex casserole dish until browned a bit more on top, at 350 degrees long enough to heat them thoroughly and brown them. Unfrozen, maybe 15-20 minutes. Frozen - keep an eye on them. I don't know how long yet on this.

Enjoy...they're really yummy!!


SUBSTITUTIONS

I used ground pink Tibetan sea-salt rather than normal salt, and organic golden potatoes rather than russets.

[Jherrith]

Oh hell yes it has been so long since we have made Au Gratin potatoes

[sidherose]

They really do taste wonderful!