Julia Childs Garlic Mashed Potatoes Recipe 45

Steps:

• Boil garlic in 1 quart saucepan of water 2 minutes; drain and peel. Melt 4 Tbsp of butter in a 4 quart saucepan over medium heat. Cook garlic until soft, 15-20 minutes. Stir in flour; cook 2 minutes. Stir in milk; cook until thickened, 3-4 minutes. Transfer to a blender; purée into a smooth sauce. Cook potatoes in salted boiling water until tender, about 15 minutes; drain and pass through a potato ricer back into the pan. Stir in remaining butter, reserved sauce, the cream, parsley, salt, and pepper; cook 2 minutes more.

Steps:

• Peel the potatoes and slice them very thin, about 1/8-inch thick. Peel and mince the garlic, then with the flat of your chef's knife, mash it with a little salt into a paste. Work about 1 teaspoon of the butter into it and set it aside.
• Heat 1 1/2 teaspoons of the butter in a small frying pan over medium-low heat, and lay in half the potato slices, overlapping slightly, to fill the bottom of the pan. Salt and pepper them lightly, and smear the garlic paste on top. Add the remaining potatoes, season lightly and set a small cover askew on top of the pan. After about 8 minutes, turn the potatoes by setting a small, sturdy plate on top of the pan and flipping them over and onto it. They won't hold together in perfect shape, but don't worry.
• Heat the remaining butter in the pan and slide the potatoes back in. Let them cook, semicovered, for 5 minutes, then uncovered for a couple minutes more, until nicely browned. Slide them onto a warm plate, season to taste and let them mingle with whatever juicy meat you're treating yourself to for dinner.

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.