How could this happen? How could a human being wake up one day and say to himself, “I’m going to go and take the lives of 20 children today. And a few adults to go with them… yeah, I’m gonna go do that…”
Blame it on mental illness, blame it on the guns, blame it on society. You know what? I don’t know who to blame. Do I blame his parents for his upbringing? Do I blame the 2nd Amendment? Where can I point my finger? I want to feel safe when I send my kids to school! They are supposed to be taken care of while they are there, away from me.
I can’t imagine what the parents and families in Newtown are going through… I just can’t.
I want to say, I am sorry… I am a parent and this is my nightmare, as it was yours as well… I don’t want my nightmares to become a reality. Nightmares are supposed to stay in the back of your mind, stashed away and to never be seen by your eyes.But, unfortunately, this nightmare became a reality for 26 families… I am so saddened. My heart is breaking.
I can’t stop hugging Ana and Aleksandra. Ana is getting frustrated with me because I keep kissing her, but I don’t care. She can scream all she wants. There’s one too many moms wishing they could do the same, but their last kiss was on Friday morning. That’s just not fair…
I chose to share this Spinach, Feta and Potato Gratin with you because when things don’t feel right, I make something that I know will bring the whole family to the dinner table. Moussaka, orМусака,is one of those meals. Usually we make it with ground beef, but this time around I wanted something a bit more cheesy. And green.
…Please hug your kids, tell them you love them, and enjoy your family today. I know I am.
God Bless.
Spinach, Feta, and Potatoes Au Gratin
Katerina | Diethood
This easy Spinach, Feta, and Potato Au Gratin recipe is my comfort food. A simple potato casserole recipe that's perfect for anytime.
5-6medium-sized red potatoes, washed, peeled, and sliced 1/8-inch thick, divided
4bags(10-ounces) fresh baby spinach OR 3 cans (13.5-ounces) spinach, washed and drained, dry with paper towel SEE NOTES FOR DIRECTIONS ON USING FRESH SPINACH
1/2cupcrumbled feta cheese
2cupsheavy cream
3eggs
salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Rub a 13×9 baking dish with butter.
Layer half of the potato slices in dish, overlapping slightly.
Spread the spinach on top of the potato slices.
Add the crumbled feta cheese over the spinach
Layer the rest of the potato slices on top.
In a separate mixing bowl, whisk together the heavy cream, eggs, and salt and pepper.
Pour the cream mixture into dish to cover potatoes; cover with foil.
Bake for 40 minutes, or until potatoes are tender when pierced with a fork.
Remove foil and continue to bake until top of gratin is golden, 35 to 40 minutes.
Let rest 15 minutes before cutting and serving.
Notes
If using fresh spinach – heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a frying pan; add spinach (you might have to do this in batches), season with salt and pepper and cook until wilted – about 2 to 3 minutes.
Nutritional info is an estimate and provided as courtesy. Values may vary according to the ingredients and tools used. Please use your preferred nutritional calculator for more detailed info.
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: Macedonian
Keyword: cheesy potato casserole, moussaka, potatoes au gratin, potatoes au gratin recipe, sweet potato casserole
The difference comes down to cheese. Scalloped potato recipes are usually baked in a basic cream sauce until soft and tender, with no cheese topping. Potatoes au gratin are a bit more decadent. They are made with lots of cheese sprinkled in between the layers of potatoes and also on top of the casserole.
High heat will cause the milk to curdle. Use milk or cream with higher fat content. Whole milk, half-and-half, or cream and full-fat cheeses are necessary. Skim milk and reduced-fat products will not be your friend in this dish.
I don't recommend soaking the potatoes in water ahead of time for our potatoes au gratin (as some recipes call for). Soaking them will cause them to lose some of their starch, which helps to keep this dish creamy. The dish will still get a nice, crisp top without soaking the potatoes.
If you stored the sliced potatoes in water to prevent discoloring, but didn't drain them well and pat them dry before adding them to the baking dish, you may have added extra water to the dish. You could have also used the wrong kind of potato, as some waxy potatoes can release more water than starchier potatoes.
If your potatoes aren't cooked properly, they will have a slightly crisp or al dente texture. You want to be sure the dish cooks evenly, so rotate the dish in your oven halfway thru cooking and be sure to test for doneness in more than one spot, in case your oven heats unevenly.
Surprisingly, aluminum foil is his secret weapon. After beautifully shingling the potatoes (he's got a genius trick for doing this quickly, too) he covers the dish in foil before hitting the oven.
The best way to prevent curdling in scalloped potatoes is to start with high starch potatoes, such as Russets, that will help to thicken the sauce, use very fresh cream or half-and-half rather than whole or low-fat milk, and thicken the cream with flour or corn starch to make a sauce rather than topping the ingredients ...
Once they have been peeled and cut, raw potatoes will turn brown quickly. This process, which is called oxidation, happens because potatoes are a naturally starchy vegetable. And when exposed to oxygen, starches turn gray, brown, or even black. An oxidized potato is completely safe to eat.
In his recipe, López-Alt shares his secret for perfectly cooked potatoes every time: Adding vinegar to the water (specifically, 1 tablespoon of vinegar per 1 quart of water) prevents overcooking.
You can also blanch sliced raw potatoes by cooking them in boiling water for 1 to 2 minutes, just until they are slightly rubbery. Remove the pan from the heat, drain the potatoes, and cool them in cold running water. Then, pat them dry and store, covered, in the refrigerator up to 2 days in advance.
Soaking potatoes in water helps remove excess starch. Excess starch can inhibit the potatoes from cooking evenly as well as creating a gummy or sticky texture on the outside of your potatoes.
I first bake the gratin covered at 350°F (177°C) for about one hour. Then, I top the gratin with cheese and continue to bake uncovered for another 20 minutes until the sauce thickens.
The Au Gratin dish is typically used for making gratins, roasting, and baking. The dish's oval base and stoneware construction ensure that ingredients are consistently exposed to the heat source. This ensures that dishes retain heat longer and maintain their flavour well after it reaches the table.
It is called "funeral" potatoes because it is commonly served as a side dish during traditional after-funeral dinners, but it is also served at potlucks, and other social gatherings, sometimes with different names.
In the US, the dish is referred to variously as funeral potatoes, potatoes au gratin, scalloped potatoes, or au gratin potatoes. In English Canada, it is called scalloped potatoes or potatoes au gratin. In French-speaking Canada, the dish is referred to as patates au gratin.
A “gratin” is any dish that is topped with cheese or breadcrumbs mixed with butter, then heated in the oven or under the broiler until brown and crispy, according to The Food Lover's Companion. The term au gratin or gratinée just refers to anything prepared in that manner.
Starchy potatoes, such as Russets or Yukon Golds, are key to thick, velvety sauce and the layered, stacked-slice structure that's the signature look of scalloped potatoes. Russet potatoes make the creamiest sauce. Yukon Golds hold their shape a little better. You won't go wrong with either choice.
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