This week’s French Fridays with Dorie entry is another example of why I love Dorie’s recipes. For November, we were give four recipes to work on but were allowed to chose what we posted when so for me, it’s been a matter of figuring out what will work with our crazy busy schedule. Last weekend, I knew that I had a couple of nights alone at home for dinner ahead of me and looking at the salad greens and tomatoes I needed to use up in the fridge, I decided that the perfect accompaniment would be Pommes Dauphinois – aka Potato Gratin.
Trouble is, I only had a tiny bit of cream and cheese and two small potatoes. No worries. I am becoming an expert in “Math(s) for baking” and making very small quantities of recipes for Daring Bakers (because really, who needs a dozen doughnuts when you can have six perfect doughnut holes?) so I decided to make one individual (actually two servings) dish.
It was absolutely perfect with a green salad for a light dinner when I was coming home late from parent teacher interviews. And it took all of 10 minutes to put together and about 25 minutes to bake. It was delicious, warming and creamy and actually still pretty good the following day. And, erm, the day after. Dorie offers a number of ways in which you can customise this dish according to what you have on hand. Another reason to love this book – Dorie “gets it” that you might not always have all the exact ingredients the recipe calls for but makes it easy to work with what you have. This will be my go-to gratin from now on. Dorie, your book is becoming my kitchen bible!
A few people have asked for recipes for the French Fridays with Dorie entries. The group does not publish the recipes on our blogs, rather, we would prefer it if you would purchase the book yourselves (you definitely want this book!) which you can do here on Amazon (it’s on special right now!!!) or here on Amazon Canada (it’s also on special!)
Want to join in the fun? Join French Fridays with Dorie here and follow along on Twitter.
* Did you see my World on a Plate, Destination: Umbria video? I would love your vote to move on to Round 8 of Project Food Blog where we have to bake with pumpkin. I have some pretty fun ideas… Voting open 6AM Pacific Time on Monday, November 15th until 6PM Pacific Time on Thursday November 18th. Simply click here (note: link no longer live) to read the post and vote. Many thanks for your continued support.
** Did you know? Jamie Oliver is speaking in Toronto on November 18th. Thanks to The Art of Cooking, I am able to offer a discount to you, my readers, of $10 per ticket (more if you purchase more than 5 tickets). Click here for the special promotion code to be applied to your ticket price. Don’t miss this event – I saw Jamie speak last year and it was inspirational to say the least. It inspired me to start Les Petits Chefs, for one…
That top photo is stunning!
The gratin sounds divine… I really need to get my hands on that book. Seeing all of the Friday posts has convinced me its a must-have (Bravo on the marketing idea, Dorie ;))
Well…the focal point could have been moved back about 6mm…
True.
I still want to dig right in!
Yes it’s the best publicity ever, right? I am happy to promote such a great book.
it looks amazing!!! well done!!! 😀
Cheers 🙂
Happy, happy, happy that you’re enjoying the book and love that you made a mini gratin. My husband just saw it and now wants that for dinner!
Oh Dorie – that simply made my day when I read it on Friday and now reading it again, it is making my Sunday. Thank YOU.
Potato gratin recipes have been coming at me from all sides in the past few days…your pictures have sealed the deal! It will have to be creamy, cheesy potatoes for our dinner tonight! Theresa
It’s so perfect for the fall.
how fun is that – Dorie actually comments on your blog! awesome!
her cookbook is officially on my Christmas Wish list thanks to your amazing French Friday posts!
I know – that’s one of the reasons I love Dorie – she is really into FFWD!
Okay I’ve been out every night this past week, so sorry I missed this!
Kudos to you Mardi for encouraging people to purchase the book, as well. I get worried in these internet days that artists (music, writers, photographers) rarely receive credit – let alone compensation – for their work.
(I’m sure all you bloggers have been following the huge brouhaha over at Cooks Source…)
Don’t worry – I will be making it again!
Ohh this looks so amazingly perfect and your photos are incredible.
Thanks. It’s so simple yet so satisfying.
Your top photograph is like one from a national food magazine cover…wow! I can’t wait to make this recipe and I really can’t wait to eat it! Great work.
Thanks so much even though my better half is right and I needed to shift the focal point slightly.
Boy, that cheesy crust looks extra delicious! Beautiful photos!
Thanks. I was pretty happy with it.
Yours looks lovely! I had to adjust the size of mine a little for the same reason.
S.
Yes, it’s good to know the recipes work so well in smaller portions too.
sometimes dinner alone is great… and I usually downsize the portions as there are only 2 of us too
Yes and this makes dinner for one really special with not much effort.
This looks like it should leap off the screen and into my mouth! Love the mini idea!!
Sometimes smaller is better 🙂
Yum your PG looks so good! I made it this week too and fell in love! It’s such a cheesy and tasty dish! Your picture is wonderful!
I had two friends ask for the recipe..I don’t want to be rude and say buy the book but I don’t want to copy that sucker down either..her recipes are loongggg!:)) So I may be buying some books for people for Chistmas gifts this year!!
Yes – I think anyone who loves cooking would be thrilled with that as a Christmas gift.
You know that I am advertising once a month the Year of Monastery Soups…you are making me consider Dorie’s book for 2011!
I am overeas and need a copy!
I’m really enjoying this French Friday series! I’m so inspired to cook! I am thinking about buying Dorie’s cookbook now – thanks to you!
It really is well worth it – especially at the price it is right now.
Hooray, Maths for Baking does it again! (Yeah I guess you may have had something to do with this success as well. And possibly Dorie too. But mainly MATHS)
Go Maths nerds!
Yes, I’m with Jen and also thinking about buying the cookbook even though I never crack them, just look longingly at the pictures. But ten minutes you say? That seems well worth the time to eat that browned, lovely cheesy thing. And man, Mr. Neil might be right, but a quiet whisper in your ear would’ve done the trick, right? What is this, crack on Mardi week?
I’m ok with that. I need the guidance with my photos. He’s right too 😉 If you buy this book, I guarantee you will use this often.
Okay, I DID have a *wink* with my 6mm comment! 🙂
This gratin looks wonderful! I joined French Fridays because of you Mardi. I am so happy I did:) I hope you have a peaceful weekend Mardi.
So glad you did too!
Mmm… That gratin looks fabulous! I have some potatoes from our CSA hanging out in my kitchen. I think I might have to make some gratin of my own now!
Well and you can just make lovely little ones like this..
Potato Gratin and salad for dinner sounds awesome to me, so creamy & yummy, this is one of my little standby’s Mardi 🙂
Between my CSA vegie deliveries and my gardening adventures there must be about 100 potatoes hanging around in the deep dark depths of my pantry.
Thank goodness for the longevity of the good ole spud because by the time Dorie arrives from the US, I figure Potato Gratin will need to be on the menu every night for the rest of the year till I get thru the stash!!
You are going to love Dorie’s book!
This was my daughters favourite so far. In fact – she requested it tonight as part of her birthday dinner. Can’t give a better compliment than that!
Oh that’s wonderful to hear Karin!
Yum! I made this the other night and we all loved it. I added in a layer ofsome fresh spinach that I wilted with some evoo and garlic and it was wonderful! I love your picture. You can almost see how amazing it tastes. 🙂
That’s a wonderful add in to make this a tad healthier!
Who cares about the book marketing? That’s potato gratin marketing. I could just hoover that whole dish up!
Seriously. In fact, I almost wish we weren’t going to the neighbours’ for dinner tonight so that I had an excuse to make this.
Mmm nothing better than a cheesy potato gratin! I have a delicious recipe for a sweet potato gratin you should try. Check it out on my blog: http://bit.ly/sweetpotgratin
Thanks!
Mmm – sweet potato sounds good too!