Dee’s Scalloped Potatoes Al Gratin

Dee’s Scalloped Potatoes Al Gratin

My mom makes great Scalloped Potatoes Al Gratin. I recently found out that it was actually my great-grandmother’s, Dee, recipe.  When I asked for the recipe, she told me she would share it as long as I promised not to get upset or angry with her. Cautiously, I agreed.

Dee’s Scalloped Potatoes Al Gratin (verbatim)

·      Onions

·      Bacon

·      Cream of celery

·      Milk

·      Salt

·      Pepper

·      Cheese

·      Potatoes

Sauté the onions, cook and crumble the bacon.  In a saucepan heat the cream of celery and milk to the right consistency add salt and pepper to taste.   Peel and slice the potatoes.  Put one layer of 1/3 of potatoes, spread 1/3 of each the bacon, cheese, onion and cream.  Then do it again 2 more times.  Baked covered for 45 minutes and uncovered for 45 minutes.

Then came my question, I’m sure you are all thinking it. How much? She smiled and said, “I told you would be mad.  Dee did it all by eye.” Oh the good ol’ days when moms just cooked by guess and by golly.

So here is my take on my great-grandmother Dee’s recipe. With measurements

·      1 large yellow onion diced

·      1 pound of bacon

·      1 (10.5 ounce) can of cream of celery

·      ¾ cup of milk

·      Salt to taste

·      Pepper to taste

·      1 pound of grated cheese (I use sharp cheddar)

·      3 pounds of russet potatoes

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

Sauté the onions, set aside. Cook and crumble the bacon, set aside.

In a saucepan over medium heat, simmer the cream of celery and milk for about 10 minutes. Add salt and pepper to taste. Stirring occasionally.

Peel the potatoes and slice them to about 1/8 inch thick. Layer 1/3 of potatoes, spread 1/3 of each the bacon, cheese, onion, and cream.  Then do it again two more times and leave the last bit of cheese off the top – we will put that on later.  Baked covered for 45 minutes and uncovered for 35 minutes. Add the remaining cheese and cook for 10 more minutes uncovered.  Let cool for 10 minutes.

We had a guest that did not eat pork so I left out the bacon in the small pan.

Well life is great if you have 2 ovens...... I only have one at work.  My oven was full with ham and corn bread so I went outside to use the BBQ.  I started early to find the right temperature.