Potatoes Old French Style Food

CLASSIC PARSLEY POTATOES

Steps:

• Place the potatoes in a saucepan with salted water to cover. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to a simmer and cook about 20 minutes, until the potatoes are tender. Drain them and return to the saucepan.
• Add the butter and roll the potatoes in it until it melts. Gently toss the potatoes in the parsley, season with salt and pepper and serve at once.

CLASSIC BISTRO STYLE GRATIN DAUPHINOIS - FRENCH GRATIN POTATOES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 300F/150C/gas mark 2.
• Take a heavy-bottomed dish or an ovenproof gratin dish (a Le Creuset is ideal - the potatoes tend not to catch), and grease it will with some of the butter.
• Layer the potato slices in the dish, slightly overlapping each other, seasoning lightly with the salt and pepper, and sprinkling a liberal amount of cheese on each layer.
• Sprinkle cheese on the top of the last layer.
• Put the double cream, garlic and sprigs of thyme in a pan and bring to them gently to the boil, then remove the thyme and pour hot cream over the potatoes.
• Dot the top of the gratin with the remaining butter and some extra cheese if you wish, and bake for about 1 hr to 1 1/2 hrs, or until the potatoes are soft, and the top is crispy and golden brown.
• Serve bubbling hot as a main meal or as an accompaniment.