Crunchy Corn Gratin Food

CAULIFLOWER GRATIN

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• Cook the cauliflower florets in a large pot of boiling salted water for 5 to 6 minutes, until tender but still firm. Drain.
• Meanwhile, melt 2 tablespoons of the butter in a medium saucepan over low heat. Add the flour, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon for 2 minutes. Pour the hot milk into the butter-flour mixture and stir until it comes to a boil. Boil, whisking constantly, for 1 minute, or until thickened. Off the heat, add 1 teaspoon of salt, the pepper, nutmeg, 1/2 cup of the Gruyere, and the Parmesan.
• Pour 1/3 of the sauce on the bottom of an 8 by 11 by 2-inch baking dish. Place the drained cauliflower on top and then spread the rest of the sauce evenly on top. Combine the bread crumbs with the remaining 1/4 cup of Gruyere and sprinkle on top. Melt the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter and drizzle over the gratin. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, until the top is browned. Serve hot or at room temperature.

CELERY AU GRATIN

Steps:

• Trim the celery and peel each stalk using potato peeler to remove the tough strings.
• Cut the sticks into ¼” by 2½” chunks.
• Preheat the oven to 355 F.
• Roughly dice the carrot and onions.
• Place these and the herbs in a heatproof casserole.
• Put the celery on top and cover two thirds of it with water.
• Season it.
• Cover this with foil and fit the casserole lid on top of the foil.
• Cook in the oven for one hour.
• Remove the celery to a container, leaving the carrot and onion in the casserole and reduce the liquid to approx 7 fl oz.
• Strain the liquid and reserve it.
• Melt the butter in a saucepan.
• Stir in the flour and cook this mixture for a couple of minutes.
• Next, incorporate the milk and then the cream.
• Cook the sauce until it thickens.
• Stir in the reduced stock and the cheese.
• Cook the sauce for a couple of minutes and season it; it should be the thickness of heavy cream.
• Layer the sauce and the celery in an au gratin dish.
• Scatter the breadcrumbs on top.
• Bake for 40 minutes at 355 F.
• If necessary the surface can be browned under the broiler.

ZUCCHINI AND CORN GRATIN

Steps:

• Cook onions in large nonstick oven proof skillet on medium heat 3 to 4 min. or until crisp-tender. Stir in corn and peppers; cover. Cook 5 to 6 min. or until corn is tender, stirring frequently.
• Mix flour and milk until blended. Add to corn mixture; mix well. Cook 4 to 5 min. or until thickened, stirring frequently. Add zucchini; mix well. Top with cheese.
• Heat broiler. Broil vegetable mixture 3 to 4 min. or until cheese is melted.

CRUNCHY CORN GRATIN

Steps:

• In a saucepan, melt butter or oil over medium heat, cook onion, garlic, red and green peppers and thyme, stirring until onion is softened, about 3 minutes.
• Sprinkle with flour; cook stirring for 1 minute.
• Add milk; cook stirring till thick enough to coat the back of a spoon, about 3 minutes.
• Remove from heat; stir in cheese, salt and pepper.
• Mix in corn.
• Scrape all into a 4-cup casserole dish.
• Bake, covered at 400 degrees for 20 minutes.
• Meanwhile, in bowl toss together bread crumbs and butter.
• Uncover gratin and sprinkle with topping: Bake until golden and bubbly, about 20 minutes.
• MAKE AHEAD DIRECTIONS------.
• After you have put everything into the casserole dish, cool for 30 minutes, cover and refrigerate for up to 2 days.
• OR, Overwrap with heavy duty foil and freeze for up to 2 weeks.
• Thaw in the refrigerator.
• Increase the baking time by 5 to l0 minutes.

CRUNCHY CORN MEDLEY

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine the first eight ingredients. In a small bowl, combine vinegar, sugar, oil, salt and pepper; whisk until sugar is dissolved. Pour over corn mixture; toss to coat. Cover and refrigerate for at least 3 hours. Stir just before serving; serve with a slotted spoon.

CREAMED CORN GRATIN WITH FRIED ONION RINGS AND BACON

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F. Spread breadcrumbs on rimmed baking sheet. Bake until lightly toasted, about 10 minutes.
• Sauté bacon in large skillet over medium heat until crisp. Using slotted spoon, transfer bacon to paper towels. Transfer 2 tablespoons bacon drippings to heavy large pot; reserve for creamed corn. Discard remaining drippings.
• Place flour in medium bowl. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Separate red onion slices into rings and toss in flour to coat lightly. Heat 1/2 cup oil in same large skillet over medium-high heat. Working in batches, add onion rings to skillet and cook until golden brown, adding more oil as needed, about 2 minutes per side. Transfer onion rings to paper towels. Mix breadcrumbs, bacon, onion rings, and half of green onions in clean medium bowl. Sprinkle topping with salt and pepper.
• Butter 13x9x2-inch glass baking dish. Add butter to pot with reserved bacon drippings; melt over medium-high heat. Add chopped onion; sauté until light golden and beginning to soften, about 6 minutes. Add frozen corn; sauté 5 minutes. Add milk and cream; bring to boil. Gradually stir in grits and cayenne pepper. Reduce heat and simmer until mixture thickens slightly, about 3 minutes. Remove from heat. Stir in cheese and remaining green onions. Season with salt and pepper. Transfer creamed corn to prepared dish. (Topping and corn can be made 1 day ahead. Cover separately and chill.)
• Preheat oven to 350°F. Bake gratin uncovered 25 minutes. Sprinkle topping over; bake until topping is slightly crisp and creamed corn thickens and is heated through, about 20 minutes longer.