Potatoes Dauphinoise

If you have never had these wonderful potatoes, you really MUST try them!  I was always a lover of AuGratin Potatoes, until I found these!!!!

What does Dauphinoise really mean?  Definition: In the culinary arts, the word Dauphinoise refers to a French recipe for potatoes in which the potatoes are sliced, layered in a baking dish and then baked au gratin with garlic, butter and cream. Variations on the Potatoes Dauphinoise recipe can include eggs and cheese.

The name Dauphinoise comes from the Dauphiné region of France, where the Potatoes Dauphinoise recipe is said to originate.

Although the names are similar, Potatoes Dauphinoise is not the same recipe as dauphine potatoes, which are balls of puréed potatoes mixed with choux pastry which are then deep-fried until light and crispy.

Water so clear a ducky would swim in it!

Water so clear the Peabody duck will swim in it!

You will need...

You will need….

Sliced thinly

Sliced very thinly

The secret to the success of these potatoes is to slice them very very thin, and rinse your sliced potatoes until the water is clear (this removes most of the potato starch).   If you have a Mandolin Kitchen Slicer, you are all set.  You will need 3-4 potatoes (I used russet), heavy cream, fresh thyme, white pepper, shallot, garlic (if desired), gruyere cheese, (I also like a little provolone), and pankos for a real crispy topping.   You will need to finely chop a ½ large shallot or 1 small shallot.  Heat a small sauce pan with 1 tablespoon of butter, and when melted, add the chopped shallot, minced garlic (if desired) and a couple of stems of fresh thyme.  Cook until soft (about 5 minutes).  Add 1/2 cup heavy cream and heat until warm (do not boil).

 

Finely chopped shallot

Finely chopped shallot

While your shallots are cooking (low and slow), you will need to slice the potatoes and place them in a single layer, overlapping each other in a circular motion.  DSC_0034

DSC_0028

Butter, shallots, white pepper and fresh thyme.

Place a handful of shredded gruyere cheese over potatoes (and any other cheese you like).  Continue layering potatoes and cheese, ending with the potatoes.  Top with a couple of tablespoons of pankos.  Pour the cream mixture over the potatoes.  Cover with foil and bake at 325 degrees 60 minutes.  Remove foil and continue baking until top is bubbling and slightly golden.

Daulphinoise Potatoes

Daulphinoise Potatoes

Potatoes Dauphinoise

Serves: 4
Prep time: 25 minutes
Bake time: 1 hour 15 minutes
4 large russet potatoes, peeled, thinly sliced,  and rinsed in cold water
2 tablespoon butter, divided
1 small shallot, finely diced
3-4 sprigs fresh thyme
½ teaspoon white pepper
8 ounces gruyere cheese, shredded
4-6 sliced provolone, torn in pieces
½ cup heavy cream
2-3 tablespoons Pankos
Preheat oven to 325°.

Heat a small sauté pan over medium low heat, add butter. When butter is melted and bubbling, add chopped shallots, fresh thyme, and white pepper. Sauté until shallots are soft, about 5-8 minutes. Add the heavy cream to the pan and heat until warm, do not boil.

While shallots are cooking, rub the remaining 1 tablespoon of butter in a gratin dish or round baking pan, and rub with garlic, if desired. Line the bottom of the dish with a single layer of potatoes, overlapping each other. Sprinkle ⅓ of the shredded cheese over potatoes and ⅓ of the provolone cheese. Continue layering potatoes and cheese; this should make 3 layers. Pour the warm cream mixture over top of potatoes, do not worry about the stems of the thyme, you can remove them after baking. Top mixture with Pankos and cover with aluminum foil.

Place potatoes in preheated oven and bake 1 hour, or until potatoes are soft. Remove foil and continue baking until potatoes are golden and bubbly, about 10-15 minutes.

Buon Appetito!

 

 


Grilled Shrimp in Galena’s Tomato Vodka Sauce

Grilled Shrimp

Grilled Shrimp

Love this warmer spring weather we are having here in Memphis.  Last night was a perfect night to do a little outdoor grilling.  However I was really in the mood for some Italian food.  What goes great with any pasta dish????  SHRIMP

How to Grill Shrimp

1 pound large shrimp
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
salt & pepper, to taste
30 6-inch skewers (soaked in water for 30 minutes prior to use)*

Peel and devein the shrimp.  In a medium sized mixing bowl, combine shrimp, oil, salt and pepper.  Insert skewer through entire body of shrimp (this prevents  shrimp from curling up when cooked – see picture above).  Preheat grill to high heat, spray grill with cooking spray.  Place prepared shrimp on grill and cook 2 minutes on each side, or until shrimp is pink and opaque.  Remove from grill, when cooled, remove skewer from shrimp.  Place in bowl until needed.

Prepare Tomato Vodka Sauce according to directions.  Add shrimp to sauce with the heavy cream.  Toss with your favorite cooked pasta.  

Grilled Shrimp in Tomato Vodka Sauce

Grilled Shrimp in Tomato Vodka Sauce

*Soak package of skewers in a large bowl of water with a small plate on top to hold down the skewers.  Remove skewers and place in a zip lock bag in the freezer.  Your skewers will be ready for use whenever you need them.

Boun Appetito!


Chocolate Mousse Cups

With Valentines Day just around the corner, time to start thinking about some chocolate delicacies.  One of my all time favorites is Chocolate Mousse….I guarantee this recipe is very easy and very quick…did I mention also very very yummy?????

Start out with a few basic ingredients….you can find the “flavorless gelatin” in the “jello” isle of your favorite grocery store.

Ingredients

Ingredients

Place mixing bowl and beaters in the freezer for at least 15 minutes.  Add chocolate, butter, expresso (or coffee), and rum (or extract) to a double boiler pan (or a small metal bowl).

Double Boiler

Double boiler

Stir until almost melted, its fine if you have a few chunks of chocolate.  Remove from heat and set aside.  Add 1 teaspoon unflavored gelatin to ¼ cup of heavy cream.  Let sit for 10 minutes.  Heat by swirling the cup over a low gas flame or a candle.

If you don't have a gas stove

If you don’t have a gas stove

You just want to heat this, do not boil it.  Stir mixture into melted chocolate and set aside.  Remove your chilled bowl and beaters from the freezer and add remaining heavy cream.  Whip cream until soft peaks form when beaters are removed from cream.

Whipped Cream

Whipped cream

Fold large dollop of cream into chocolate mixture.  Continue adding cream until incorporated into the chocolate mixture.

A dollop of cream

A dollop of cream

Spoon mouse into chocolate tulip cups or mini fillo shells.  Chill mousse for 1 hour.   Garnish with additional cream, cinnamon sticks and or fresh mint.

Chocolate Tulip Cups

Chocolate Tulip Cups

Fillo Shells

Fillo Shells

Ingredients:

2 cups whipping cream, divided
12 ounces semi-sweet chocolate chips
1/4 cup expresso (or strong coffee)
2 tablespoons dark rum, or 1 tablespoon rum extract
4 tablespoon butter
1 teaspoon flavorless granulated gelatin
1 package Athens Mini Fillo Shells or 12 Chocolate Tulip Cups

Chill metal mixing bowl and mixer beaters in freezer.

In top of a double boiler, combine chocolate chips, expresso, rum and butter over medium heat.  Stir until almost melted, remove from heat.  Let stand, whisking occasionally, until room temperature.

Pour 1/4 cup whipping cream into a metal measuring cup or small pan.  Sprinkle in the gelatin.  Let gelatin “bloom” in pan for about 10 minutes.  Heat by swirling the measuring cup or pan over a low gas flame (or candle).  Do not boil or gelatin will be broken.  Stir gelatin mixture into cooled chocolate and set aside.

Remove chilled mixing bowl and beaters from freezer.  Add remaining whipping cream (1 3/4 cups) and beat to medium peaks.  Stir 1/4 of the whipped cream into the chocolate mixture.  Fold in remaining cream.  Do not over mix the mousse, its fine if the chocolate is streaked with the cream.

Spoon mousse into chocolate tulip cups or mini fillo cup shells (cooked according to package directions).  Chill for one hour, garnish with additional whipped cream, cinnamon sticks and or fresh mint, if desired.

Yield:  15 Fillo Shells or 12 Tulip Cups


“This is all you can eat in one day cake” or Cheesecake Layered Caramel Chocolate Cake

Lol…you know its going to be great with a title like that…..I really am not a baker, but this one is a gem.  A little time consuming, but definitely worth it…taking the best cheesecake, the best cake, the best candy bar and mixing it all together with the best frosting….YUM!!!!  If you are in need of a new recipe for a summertime outing…make this, sure you be a winner!

Cheesecake Layers:

2 bars (2.05 oz. each) Snickers
1 cup butter, melted
3/4 cup sugar
4 packages (8 oz. each) cream cheese
1 package (4-serving size) vanilla pudding & pie filling (not instant)
2 teaspoons baking powder
4 eggs

Cake Layers

1 box Super Moist dark chocolate cake mix
1 8 oz. container sour cream
1/2 cup water
1/3 cup vegetable oil
2 eggs

Filling

1 jar (12 oz.) caramel topping (you can also use chocolate or butterscotch)

Frosting

1 package (4-serving size) chocolate pudding, instant
1 cup milk
1 cup heavy cream

  1. Heat oven to 325°F.  Grease 2 9 inch round cake pans with Mazola pan spray.  Line bottoms of pans with parchment paper; lightly spray paper with Mazola pan spray.  Chop 2 candy bards into small pieces and store in refrigerator for later use.
  2. In a large mixing bowl, beat butter and sugar with an electric mixer until smooth and creamy.  Beat in cream cheese until smooth.  Scrape down bowl and beat in eggs one at a time, until well combined.  Add pudding mix, baking powder and 4 eggs; beat well until smooth.  Fold in chilled candy pieces.  Evenly divide batter between 2 pans.
  3. Bake 50-60 minutes.  Cake will puff up during baking and then deflate when removed from the oven.  Cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes.  Remove cheesecake from pans and place on a cookie sheet or individual plates.  Wrap cheesecake with plastic wrap and place in freezer for 3 hours, or overnight.
  4. Heat oven to 350°F.  Grease 3 9-inch round cake pans with Mazola pan spray.
  5. In a large mixing bowl, mix chocolate cake mix, sour cream, water, vegetable oil and eggs.  Beat with an electric mixer until well combined.  Divide cake evenly into the prepared pans.  Bake 15 to 20 minutes, or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.  Cool pans on cooling rack 10-15 minutes.  Remove cake from pan and cool completely.
  6. To assemble, place 1 cake layer on serving plate or cake stand.  Spread 1/4 cup caramel topping over top of cake layer.  Place 1 frozen cheesecake layer on top of cake layer; top with 1/4 cup of caramel topping.  Repeat with remaining layers, finally top with remaining cake layer.
  7. In a small mixing bowl add instant pudding mix, milk and heavy cream.  Beat at high speed with an electric mixer until creamy.  Top cake and sides with frosting.  Top with additional candy pieces, if desired.

Cheesecake layered Chocolate CakeYou can change a lot with this one…use other flavored cake mixes, candies, instant pudding for frosting…  “You are only limited by your imagination!”

ENJOY!