Best Onion Quiche Or Gratin Adapted From Julia Child Recipes

GRATIN DAUPHINOIS - INSPIRED BY JULIA CHILD

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees F and adjust oven rack to top third of oven.
• Rub the baking dish with cut garlic to impart a hint of flavor. (I use a large, shallow corningware dish that I can place both on the stovetop and in the oven.).
• Grease the baking dish with a bit of vegetable oil.
• Slice the potatoes about 1/8 inch thick and spread half of the slices in the bottom of the dish.
• Top with half of the salt, pepper, cheese and dots of butter.
• Repeat with the remaining slices and topping.
• Pour on the boiling milk. The amount of milk depends on the size of the baking dish and how full of potatoes it is. You just want to almost cover the potatoes with the milk.
• Set the baking dish over heat (on the stove is OK if you're using Corningware or the equivalent).
• When the milk starts to simmer, transfer the baking dish to the oven.
• Bake 20-30 minutes until potatoes are tender, milk has been absorbed, and top is brown.

SPINACH QUICHE OR GRATIN - ADAPTED FROM JULIA CHILD

Steps:

• To partly bake the pastry shell: Bake in middle of oven at 400 degrees F. for 8-9 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Place oven rack in upper third of oven.
• Saute onions briefly in butter; set aside.
• Beat together salt, eggs, nutmeg and pepper. Gradually stir in spinach mixture. Check seasoning.
• Pour into pastry shell. Sprinkle cheese on top. Place on baking sheet.
• Bake 25-30 minutes or until puffed and browned.

SWISS CHEESE QUICHE (JULIA CHILD)

Steps:

• To partly bake the pastry shell:.
• Bake in middle of oven at 400 degrees F. for 8-9 minutes.
• For filling:.
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Place oven rack in upper third of oven.
• Beat eggs.
• Add enough cream (or milk or cream-milk combination) so that eggs and cream measure 1 1/2 cups total.
• Add salt, nutmeg and pepper; mix through.
• Stir in cheese. Check seasoning.
• Pour into pastry shell and distribute butter pieces on top. Place on baking sheet.
• Bake 25-30 minutes or til puffed and browned.
• Slide quiche onto a hot platter and serve.

MUSHROOM QUICHE OR GRATIN - ADAPTED FROM JULIA CHILD

Steps:

• To partly bake the pastry shell: Bake in middle of oven at 400 degrees F. for 8-9 minutes.
• To make the mushroom filling:.
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Place oven rack in upper third of oven.
• Saute mushrooms in butter until they exude their juices, the liquid evaporates and the mushrooms are starting to brown slightly.
• Mix together mushrooms, onion, salt and lemon juice; set aside.
• Beat together eggs, milk, nutmeg and pepper. Gradually stir in mushroom mixture. Check seasoning.
• Pour into pastry shell. Sprinkle cheese on top. Place on baking sheet.
• Bake 25-30 minutes or until puffed and browned.

JULIA'S SOLE MEUNIERE

Steps:

• Season the fish with salt and pepper and turn in flour, shaking off excess.
• -Heat 1 teaspoon butter and 1 teaspoon oil in a pan until the butter foam begins to subside. Lay in the fillets and saute for about a minute on each side, just until the fish begins to take on a light springiness to the touch. -Do not overcook; if the fish flakes, it is overdone.
• -Remove to a hot platter and sprinkle minced fresh parsley over the fish. Rapidly wipe the pan clean with paper towels (so the flour residue will not speckle the butter to come - or use a fresh pan).
• -Heat remaining butter in the pan, swishing it about and letting it brown lightly. Remove the pan from heat, squeeze in the juice of half a lemon, and capers before spooning the hot butter over the fish.

SALMON GRATIN (ADAPTED FROM JULIA CHILD)

Steps:

• Cook onion in butter over low heat about 5 min or so - do not brown. Add flour, cook 2 minutes without coloring.
• Off heat, beat in boiling milk, wine (if using), salmon juice (if using), and seasoning. Boil several minutes to thicken. Thin to medium consistency with 4-6 T. additional milk. Taste for seasoning. Fold salmon (and mushrooms, if using) into sauce, check seasoning.
• Spread in 8" shallow baking dish or cooked pastry shell. Sprinkle on the cheese.
• Bake at 425 degrees F for 15 minutes, or til top is nicely browned.
• Note: You can also add extra ingredients such as peas, diced hard boiled eggs, etc. to the casserole.