Salmon Gratin Adapted From Julia Child Recipes

GRATIN AUX FRUITS DE MER (JULIA CHILD)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
• In a heavy bottomed 2 quart saucepan, cook the onions in butter over low heat for 5 minutes, until onions are tender but not browned.
• Stir in the flour, and cook slowly for 2 minutes without coloring.
• Off heat, beat in the boiling milk, then the wine, salmon juice, and the seasonings.
• Now bring this sauce to a boil over moderately high heat, stirring.
• Boil several minutes to evaporate the alcohol in the wine, and allow the sauce to thicken considerably. Then, thin it out to a medium consistency with tablespoons of cream. Taste carefully for seasoning.
• Fold the salmon and optional ingredients into the sauce, and check seasoning again. Spread in baking dish or pastry shell.
• Sprinkle on the cheese and distribute the butter in pea-sized dots.
• Bake in upper third of oven for about 15 minutes, or until top is nicely browned.

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.

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.

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.

ONION QUICHE OR GRATIN (ADAPTED FROM JULIA CHILD)

Steps:

• Place oven rack in upper third of oven. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
• Cook onions in butter over very low heat til tender and golden, stirring occasionally (about 1 hour). Remove from heat and let cool somewhat.
• Add flour; cook over low heat for 2 or 3 minutes.
• In a bowl, combine eggs, milk or cream, salt, pepper and nutmeg. Beat til well blended.
• Gradually add onions and half cheese. Check seasoning.
• Pour into pastry shell or baking dish. Sprinkle remaining cheese on top. Place on baking sheet.
• Bake 25-30 minutes or until puffed and browned.
• NOTE: To partly bake the pastry shell: Bake in middle of oven at 400 degrees F. for 8-9 minutes.

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.

SALMON AU GRATIN

Steps:

• 1. Place salmon fillets in a microwave safe dish and season with lemon pepper and dill weed. Cover and microwave on HIGH for 3 minutes. Remove from microwave and shred salmon with fork.
• 2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Slice potatoes about 1/8 of an inch thick. Spray 9x11inch pyrex dish with butter flavored cooking spray.
• 3. Layer 1/3 sliced potatoes, 1/2 salmon, 1/3 cheese, 1/3 sauce and season to taste with johnny's seasoning. repeat layer. layer potatoes, remaining cheese and sauce, season with johnnys.
• 4. Cover with foil and bake for 45 minutes at 350 degrees. Remove foil and top with parmesan and romano cheese, season with dill weed and return to oven 15 minutes. Remove from oven let sit 5 minutes before serving.

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.