The 5-minute potato "gratin"

How many times have you opened your fridge to find long-forgotten items ? No lying, plenty of times ! It's so easy to over shop at the grocery store, especially when you are hungry ! I am no exception, I pile up the cart with fruits and vegetables at the local market. Prices are good, especially in the summer when so many fruits/veggies are in season. Cheap and fresh, my favorites ! The ultimate consequence: veggies stuck in the back get forgotten. In the trash they go, followed by a mental whipping: no more compulsive shopping !

And sometimes I can rescue the veggies. That's what I did this evening for dinner. I had 4 ancient red-skinned tomatoes going soft on me. I hate to waste, so I gathered what I could to make a potato "gratin", a bastardized version of the famous "gratin dauphinois" de Lyon. Five minutes to prepare, an hour and a half to cook.

Ready to cook

Warm and ready to eat !

Directions:

1. Wash the potatoes and slice them thin (the thinner the faster they cook)
   
2. Lay down two layers, sprinkle a dry mix of garlic/salt/pepper (it comes in a ready mix)


3. Lay down a few slices of onions and several pieces of sliced cheese


4. Add two more layers of potatoes


5. Add milk (I used fat free, that's what in the fridge) to cover the first two layers, then half and half to cover the rest (half and half only is much tastier, but it really depends on your age...grin)


6. Sprinkle more of the garlic/salt/pepper mix


7. Grate some cheese on top for the "gratin" crust


8. Cook in oven (preheated at 400C) for 1.5 hour

This was served with ribeye steak. No diet at this table tonight !