Gratin Of Potatoes Ham Eggs Onions Julia Child Food

JULIA CHILD'S PROVENçAL POTATO GRATIN

Steps:

• Heat oven to 400 degrees and place a rack at the middle level. In a large saucepan, combine onions and 2 tablespoons olive oil and stir to coat over low heat. Sprinkle lightly with salt. At a gentle simmer, cook uncovered until onions are softened and lightly golden, 10 to 15 minutes, stirring often. Do not brown; lower the heat if necessary. When done, fold in tomatoes just until heated through. Set aside.
• In a small food processor or a mortar, add the anchovies - anywhere from 6 to 12 fillets, depending on their size and your taste. Add garlic, herbs and a dozen grinds of pepper. Add 2 tablespoons olive oil (or use the oil from the anchovy can, if you like). Crush or pulse together into a chunky paste, thinning with oil as needed to make a loose, fluid mixture.
• In a medium-size baking dish, spread a quarter of the onion-tomato mixture. On top, arrange half the potato slices, then half the anchovy mixture. Add half the remaining onion-tomato mixture. Build one more layer with remaining potato slices, anchovy mixture and onion-tomato mixture. Sprinkle cheese on top and drizzle with olive oil.
• If the dish is very full, place on a baking sheet. Transfer to oven and bake, uncovered, until potatoes are tender and have absorbed all of the juices in the bottom of the dish, 40 to 50 minutes. Test by tasting a bit of potato; it should be soft all the way through, with no raw taste. If the top is browning too fast, cover very loosely with a sheet of foil. If the top is not brown enough when the potatoes are cooked, broil briefly until deliciously glazed.
• Serve gratin hot or warm. Can be cooled and reheated later the same day, but do not refrigerate.

GRATIN OF POTATOES, HAM, EGGS & ONIONS (JULIA CHILD)

Steps:

• Adjust oven rack to upper third of oven and preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
• Cook the onions in the oil and butter over low heat for about 5 minutes, til tender but not browned.
• Raise heat slightly, stir in ham, and cook a moment longer.
• Beat eggs in a mixing bowl with garlic, herbs, cheese, cream or milk, and seasonings.
• Add in the ham and onions; mix.
• Peel and coarsely grate potatoes. Squeeze the water out of the grated potatoes, a handful at a time.
• Stir potatoes into egg mixture. Check seasoning. (May be prepared in advance up to this point.).
• Heat the butter in the baking dish. When it foams, add potato and egg mixture. Place dots of butter on top.
• Bake 30-40 minutes, or until top is nicely browned. Serve directly from the baking dish or skillet.

HAM, POTATO, ONION GRATIN JULIA CHILD

Steps:

• Directions: 1 Adjust oven rack to upper third of oven and preheat oven to 375 degrees F. 2 Cook the onions in the oil and butter over low heat for about 5 minutes, til tender but not browned. 3 Raise heat slightly, stir in ham, and cook a moment longer. 4 Beat eggs in a mixing bowl with garlic, herbs, cheese, cream or milk, and seasonings. 5 Add in the ham and onions; mix. 6 Peel and coarsely grate potatoes. Squeeze the water out of the grated potatoes, a handful at a time. 7 Stir potatoes into egg mixture. Check seasoning. (May be prepared in advance up to this point.). 8 Heat the butter in the baking dish. When it foams, add potato and egg mixture. Place dots of butter on top. 9 Bake 30-40 minutes, or until top is nicely browned. Serve directly from the baking dish or skillet.

FRENCH SCRAMBLED EGGS, ADAPTED FROM JULIA CHILD

Steps:

• Place eggs, salt and pepper, and liquid in a mixing bowl and beat for 20-30 seconds.
• Smear bottom and sides of pan with butter. Pour in the eggs.
• Cook over moderately low heat, stirring slowly and continuously, reaching all over bottom of pan. Nothing will seem to happen for the first 2-3 minutes. Suddenly the eggs will begin to thicken into a custard. Stir rapidly, moving pan on and off heat, until they have almost thickened to your desired consistency.
• Remove from heat immediately - the eggs will continue to cook slightly.
• As soon as they have reached the desired consistency, add the enrichment (butter or cream), which will stop the cooking. Season to taste, arrange on plates and garnish with parsley.
• Variations:.
• Aux Fines Herbes: Beat a tablespoon of minced fresh herbs such as parsley, chervil, chives and tarragon into eggs at the beginning. Sprinkle on more herbs just before serving.
• Au Fromage: Stir 4-6 T. grated Swiss cheese into eggs along with the enrichment butter at the end.
• Aux Truffes: Stir 1 or 2 diced truffles into eggs before scrambling. Sprinkle a bit of chopped truffle over eggs before serving.
• Garnishings: ham, bacon, sausages, broiled or sauteed mushrooms, kidneys, chicken livers, sauteed eggplant or zucchini, broiled tomatoes, piperade, diced sauteed potatoes, buttered peas, asparagus tips, artichoke hearts.