Small Batch Au Gratin Potatoes

Small Batch Au Gratin Potatoes

1 1/2 T butter

1 1/12 T all-purpose flour

1/2 tsp salt

1/8 teaspoon pepper

1/8 tsp garlic powder

1 C 2% milk

1/2 C shredded cheddar cheese

2 1/2 C thinly sliced peeled potatoes (about 3-4 medium)

1/4 C chopped onion

Preheat oven to 350°. In a large saucepan, melt butter over low heat. Stir in flour, salt and pepper until smooth. Gradually add milk. Bring to a boil; cook and stir 2 minutes or until thickened. Remove from heat; stir in cheese until melted. Add potatoes and onion.

Transfer to a greased 1 quart baking dish. Cover and bake 45 minutes. Uncover; bake 15 minutes or until the potatoes are tender.

Add more cheese at the end if desired.  Turn up the heat to 400* at the end if potatoes aren’t tender enough.  Also helps with browning.

Sprinkle with chopped fresh or dried parsley if desired.

Omit the cheese for scalloped potatoes.

Gingerbread

It's that time of year again that fresh, scratch made gingerbread is in order.

This version is made gluten free by using your favorite gluten free flour mix.  If the mix already has xanthan gum in it, omit the xanthan from the recipe. The lemon juice or white vinegar helps the leavening rise to its best potential. 

Bar-cookie-ish in appearance and wonderful cut into squares and topped with whipped cream.  You can ice it with vanilla frosting or a simple vanilla or maple glaze before cutting if so desired and it makes a nice addition to Christmas cookie plates. 

This is a delightful dessert to eat while watching A Charlie Brown Christmas ; ) 

Enjoy!

 

Gingerbread

1 1/4 C gluten free flour mix
1 T ground Ginger
1 tsp ground Cinnamon
1/4 tsp baking soda

1 tsp baking powder

1 tsp xanthan gum
1/4 tsp salt
3/4 C (1 1/2 sticks) butter, softened
3/4 C sugar
1 egg
dash lemon juice or white vinegar

1/3 C molasses (good old fashioned black-strap molasses is the best!)

3 T water

Preheat oven to 350°F.  Line 13×9-inch baking pan with foil.  Spray foil with no stick cooking spray.  Place a piece of parchment paper on the bottom and grease it too, if desired.  Mix flour, ginger, cinnamon, baking soda, baking powder, xanthan gum and salt; set aside.
Beat butter and sugar in large bowl with electric mixer until light and fluffy.  Beat in egg until well blended.  Add lemon juice or vinegar.  Gradually beat in flour mixture until well mixed.  Stir in molasses and water just until blended. Spread evenly in prepared pan.

Bake 30 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.  Cool in pan 15 minutes.  Lift out of pan using foil.  Cool completely on wire rack.  Invert and peel off foil.  Cut into bars.  Serve with whipped cream.  Store in refrigerator.