With Easter just around the corner, you’ll want to be dinner ready for family and friends. Hopefully, with some luck, the Covid-19 gathering restrictions will ease in my area and a modest gathering can take place. I do miss my family and friends, and I miss cooking for them. It’s the best part of any gathering, in my opinion. You’re gonna love this easy and delicious Potato and Mushroom Gratin. It feeds 8 people, it’s easy to assemble and bakes up golden and creamy every time. There’s no messing around with cooking a white sauce, there’s no boilovers and no pre-cooking potatoes. It’s a no-fuss casserole, loaded with earthy mushrooms and Gruyere cheese, and has become my favourite to serve with ham. It’s also fantastic served with roast chicken, pork or grilled steak.
What makes this potato casserole a winner in my books is the simplicity of the sauce. The mixture of cream and sour cream makes it extra creamy and the sour cream gives a little tang. The sauce is whisked together cold and poured over the potato slices. I find there’s no need to be fussy with the potato arrangement either. Simply toss the slices into the casserole dish and spread them around evenly instead of trying to layer them ever so carefully. If you don’t have a mandolin for thinly slicing the potatoes, that’s no problem, simply slice as thin as you can by hand and cook for the longest time suggested in the recipe. Remember, dinner doesn’t need to be fussy. This simple casserole is not only delicious, but it also feeds a small crowd and is worthy of your family gathering. Enjoy!
Preheat oven to 375°F and butter a large 3-quart casserole dish.
Melt butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat until starting to foam. Add mushroom and cook until lightly browned and the moisture has evaporated. Add minced garlic and continue to cook, stirring often for 1-2 minutes. Set aside.
While mushrooms are cooking, whisk together cream, sour cream, salt, pepper and nutmeg. In a separate bowl whisk together milk and flour until smooth. Add to the sour cream and cream and whisk until incorporated. Grate the cheese and set it aside.
Peel and thinly slice potatoes. Spread half of the potato slices evenly in the bottom of the prepared casserole dish. Scatter half of the sauteed mushroom and half of the cheese evenly over the potatoes. Repeat with remaining potatoes, mushrooms and cheese.
Pour cream mixture evenly over potatoes. Give the pan a gentle shake to help flatten everything out. Cover and bake for 45-60 minutes (this will depend on how thin you've sliced the potatoes) Start checking at 45 minutes. The potatoes should be almost tender in the center. Remove cover and bake for an additional 20 minutes until the top is golden.
Remove from oven and allow to rest for 10 minutes before serving. Garnish with chopped fresh parsley or sliced green onions if desired.
Notes
-Russet potatoes work well for this recipe, however, I've also used red potatoes with equally good results.-The covered cooking time will vary slightly depending on how thin you've sliced the potatoes. I find cutting them by hand instead of using a mandolin requires closer to 60 minutes covered.-I like using cremini mushrooms for this recipe as they have a little more earthiness than regular white mushrooms, however, either work well as does a mix of mushrooms.
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Hungarian Mushroom Soup is such a nice take on regular mushroom soup. I find it more flavourful yet still creamy and loaded with mushrooms as you would expect from a mushroom soup. This soup gets its name mainly from the addition of paprika to the soup. Paprika is made in many parts of the world, however, it is considered the national spice of Hungary. Hungary is not only well known for the paprika it produces, it is also one of the largest producers in the world. When shopping for paprika, you will notice most grocery stores sell paprika with no indication of origin. This means it may come from anywhere, such as Hungary, Spain or Mexico. This common paprika will work fine for this recipe, so there’s no need to hunt for anything out of the ordinary. If you can find Hungarian paprika, consider it a bonus! You’re guaranteed to get the rich, red pepper flavour that it is known for. But even Hungarian paprika has a wide range of grades and variances. Whichever you choose to use, I do recommend using good quality paprika.
The other ingredient that sets this soup apart is sour cream. It is a welcome change from heavy cream and adds richness along with a little tang to the soup. I also prefer to blend a portion of the soup to give it a luscious, creamy texture. Hungarian Mushroom Soup is a simple soup with great flavour and body. It makes a lovely appetizer soup, but I like to eat it as a main course soup served with crusty bread or a chicken salad sandwich. Either way, it is perfect for the chilly months ahead. Enjoy!
Stir in sour cream, lemon juice and additional salt to taste. Serve garnished with reserved mushrooms, fresh dill or parsley if desired.
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Even though I’m not a vegetarian, that doesn’t mean I don’t enjoy a meatless meal on regular occasion. In fact, I think it’s very important to eat legumes and plant-based proteins for a good overall balance of one’s diet.My thoughts on the matter also play nicely with the new Canada Food Guide, so I see it as a win-win. But eating a meatless meal doesn’t have to be complicated, and that’s why I love these Mushroom and Arugula Quinoa Bowls.
Why do I love quinoa?
It’s neutral in taste and can take on a wide variety of flavours.
Quick and easy to prepare with no special equipment or longer soaking periods required.
Great as a main dish or side dish and is gluten-free.
It contains plant-based protein and essential amino acids, making it a complete protein. This is important because essential amino acids are the ones that the body cannot produce on its own and must get from food.
Not only a source of protein but fibre, magnesium, manganese and folate to name only a few.
It has a pleasant texture and holds up well on its own or in combination with other foods.
If you love quinoa too or simply want to find out for yourself what all the fuss is about, here are a couple of other great recipes that include this amazing food.
Heat broth to a simmer in a small pot. Stir in quinoa, reduce heat to a steady simmer, cover and cook for about 18 minutes (I find cooking quinoa in broth takes a few minutes longer than just water). Remove from heat and allow to rest for 5 minutes.
In a small bowl whisk together 1 tbsp olive oil, lemon juice, mustard, half of the thyme, salt and pepper. Set aside.
In a medium skillet, heat 1 tbsp of olive oil. Once hot, add mushrooms and cook on medium highfor 3-4 minutes until starting to turn golden. Stir and continue to cook for about 2 minutes. Add garlic, shallots and half of the thyme. Cook, stirring often until garlic and shallots have softened, another 2-3 minutes.
Fluff quinoa with a fork and add to mushrooms, stirring to combine. Season lightly with salt and pepper.
I used pine nuts here, but cashews are also wonderful. Â To quickly toast nuts, heat 1 tsp of olive oil in a small pan over medium heat. Add nuts and toss or stir occasionally until golden.
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