Friday, 2 June 2023

The Coconuts Recipe Corner: Cheesy Mini Potato Gratin Stacks

 

Cheesy Mini Potato Gratin Stacks 

(Muffin Tin)


These adorable Potato Gratin Stacks are the mini version of Potatoes au Gratin (Dauphinoise). Layers of thinly sliced potato baked in a muffin tin with cream, cheese, garlic and thyme, the best bit are the crusty caramelised cheesy edges!

Serve as a potato side for dinner. Breakfast with eggs. Party food bites. So many possibilities!

Close up photo of Mini Potato Dauphinoise - Gratin Stacks

Mini Potato Gratin Stacks (Dauphinoise)

All you need to know is that these Mini Potato Gratin Stacks are cheesy, creamy and ridiculously irresistible. I mean, let’s be blunt. Potatoes + cheese + cream + garlic + butter. BAM! That’s a home run right there!

Actually, they’re a mini version of French Potato Gratin / Dauphinoise. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again – everything is better in mini form, not just because it’s cute. But because you get the whole thing to yourself.

Right? 🤷🏻‍♀️

Mini Potato Dauphinoise - Gratin Stacks in a muffin tin

Close up of Mini Potato Dauphinoise - Gratin Stacks

Besides not having to share, making these in mini form means you get nice golden cheesy edges on each piece which might be my favourite part. No golden edges when you make Dauphinoise the usual way!

What you need to make Mini Potato Gratin Stacks

Here’s what you need to make these:

Ingredients in Mini Potato Dauphinoise - Gratin Stacks
  • Potatoes – Use starchy or all-rounder ones so they become fluffy when cooked and absorb flavour. Sebago (the common dirt brushed potatoes in Australia), Russet (US), Dutch creams, King Edwards and red delight are all ideal.

    If you use waxy potatoes, the layers sort of slip apart when you cut into them.

    Shape – Opt for long thin ones so you have less offcuts when trimmed into a cylinder shape to cut slices that fit the muffin thin.

  • Cheese – Gruyere and Swiss cheese are my favourites here, for their melting quality and flavour. Any cheese that melts will work just fine – cheddar, Colby, tasty cheese. I tend not to use mozzarella because it doesn’t have as much salt / flavour as other cheese but you can if you wish.

    Shredded and sliced – I find it best to use slices of cheese between the potato layers and shredded cheese on top.

  • Cream – Thickened / heavy cream works best because it’s thicker so it pools on the layers better.

  • Garlic – For flavour, to infuse the cream sauce.

  • Thyme – Classic herb flavouring for Dauphinoise.

Ingredients

  • Oil spray
  • 1.2 kg / 2.4 lb starchy potatoes , large long ones (Note 1)
  • 30g /2 tbsp butter , unsalted
  • 2 garlic cloves , finely minced
  • 1/2 cup heavy / thickened cream
  • 1 tsp fresh thyme leaves (or 3/4 tsp dried)
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • Black pepper
  • 75g / 2.5 oz gruyere cheese sliced into 12 squares to fit into muffin tin (or other melting cheese, Note 2)
  • 3/4 cup gruyere cheese (or other melting cheese), shredded

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350°F/180°C (all oven types).
  • Brush muffin tin with butter: Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat then use what you need to lightly brush the muffin tin holes with butter. (Remaining butter is for the cream sauce)
  • Cream sauce: Into the remaining butter, add garlic and cook for 20 seconds. Add cream and salt then bring to a simmer. Simmer for 30 seconds, then remove from stove and keep warm.
  • Slice potato: Peel potatoes. Trim base so it stands upright. Then cut into cylinder shapes that fit tge muffi tin. Cut into 2mm/ 1/10" slices using a mandolin or sharp knife.
  • Assemble stacks: Place potato slices into the muffin tin so they go halfway up the muffin tin holes. Try to match by size to make them into neat stacks.
  • Cream: Drizzle each potato stack with 1 tsp of cream mixture – use 1/2 of the mixture.
  • Cheese slice: Top with cheese slice.
  • Top with potato, cream then thyme: Top each stack with remaining potato slices so the height is about 1cm / 1/3" above the rim of the muffin tin (they sink once baked). Drizzle with remaining cream mixture and sprinkle with most of the thyme (reserve some for topping).
  • Baked 40 minutes: Cover loosely with foil and bake for 40 minutes or until potato is cooked through. A small sharp knife should go through without any resistance.
  • Top with cheese, bake 10 minutes: Remove from oven, sprinkle with shredded cheese and bake without foil for 10 minutes or until golden.
  • Garnish with thyme: Sprinkle with remaining thyme.
  • Stand 5 minutes then remove to serve. Use a tablespoon or butter knife to help scope them out. (Note 3)
  • To Serve: Dinner – serve as a side. Finger food – serve warm as is. Breakfast – serve with eggs and bacon.

Recipe Notes:

1. Potatoes – You need to use starchy or all rounder potatoes as they breakdown when cooked, becoming nice and fluffy on the inside. The layers won’t stick if you use waxy potatoes. Best to use are Sebago (dirt brushed potatoes in Australia), Russet (US), Dutch creams, King Edwards, golden delight, coliban and red rascal all work great.
Shape – Get long large ones that are suitable to cut into cylinder shapes.
2. Cheese – Any melting cheese works just fine here, though gruyere is my favourite for flavour and melting qualities. Swiss follows as a close second, followed by Colby and Monterey Jack, then cheddar and tasty cheese. I tend to give mozzarella a miss because it doesn’t have as much flavour as the other cheese.
3. Make ahead – Fantastic for making ahead! Bake per recipe then either freeze them (defrost before reheating) or keep them in the refrigerator. Them pop them in a 180C/350F oven for 10 minutes just to heat through.
Watch How To Make It


ENJOY!


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Biden Admin Tries to Extradite Witness Against Hunter: Chance of Fair Trial = Zero

'The chances of a fair trial are zero': Israeli professor whose claims about Hunter Biden are being investigated by House corruption probe reveals he is now living as a fugitive after being extradited to USA by Biden Admin for 'trafficking weapons to China'

  • Gal Luft is alive but living as a fugitive in a secret location after skipping bail
  • Mr Luft is accused of conspiring to sell Chinese products to the UAE and Libya

A 'missing' witness in the House Oversight Committee's investigation into the Biden family's alleged corruption is reportedly alive but living as a fugitive in a secret location.

Gal Luft, a former Israeli Defense Force colonel, vanished last month while he was on bail in Cyrus waiting extradition to the U.S. on seven charges.

Mr Luft is accused of conspiring to sell Chinese products to the United Arab Emirates, Libya, and Kenya. He is charged in connection to the Arms Export Control Act and Foreign Agents Registration Act. Mr Luft has denied the allegations made against him.

Mr Luft is claiming that he was left with no option but to flee his bail as he believes his chances of getting a fair trial are 'virtually zero'. He claims he is a victim of political persecution by the US in an effort to protect President Joe Biden, his son Hunter, and his brother Jim.

The House Oversight Committee was preparing to interview Mr Luft as part of their investigation into the Biden family before he fled his extradition.

Gal Luft (pictured), a former Israeli Defense Force colonel, vanished last month while he was on bail in Cyrus waiting extradition to the U.S. on seven charges

Gal Luft (pictured), a former Israeli Defense Force colonel, vanished last month while he was on bail in Cyrus waiting extradition to the U.S. on seven charges

President Joe Biden and his son, Hunter Biden, step off Air Force One, February 4, 2023

President Joe Biden and his son, Hunter Biden, step off Air Force One, February 4, 2023

'The chances of me getting a fair trial in Washington are virtually zero,' he told The New York Post in a phone call from an undisclosed location in a foreign jail.

'I had to do what I had to do,' Mr Luft told the publication, explaining his decision to skip bail. 'I don't want to get people in trouble,' he added.

Cypriot police realized he had skipped bail after finding Mr Luft's car abandoned near the airport. He told the publication he was in a different country now.

The former Israeli Defense Force colonel claims he was 'charged for a thought crime' amid his weapons trafficking allegations

The accusations date from an email with an associate five years ago.

Mr Luft told The New York Post: 'I was asked by a bona fide arms dealer, an Israeli friend, to inquire with a company I knew if they had an item and what would be the price of an item.

'This is where the conspiracy ended. No follow-up, no money, no brokering activity,' he claimed.

Mr Luft also said there was sinister intent behind his extraction order which was issued on November 1, 2002 - seven days before the midterms. He claims that this was processed shortly before Democrats were expected to lose control of the House to Republicans who were wanting to investigate the Biden family over alleged corruption and abuse of foreign influence.

Mr Luft is claiming that he was left with no option but to flee his bail as he believes his chances of getting a fair trial are 'virtually zero'

Mr Luft is claiming that he was left with no option but to flee his bail as he believes his chances of getting a fair trial are 'virtually zero'

'When it was clear the Republicans are going to win the House or the Senate, all of a sudden comes [Republican Rep. James] Comer and [Republican Rep. Jim] Jordan and the game is changing,' Mr Luft told The New York Post'.

'There will be questions and subpoenas and investigations [so] they [the administration] have to discredit me. I never thought of coming forward. Through 2020 I sat quiet like a fish.' 

He added: I didn't want to get caught up in this game, but when they arrested me I had no choice but to blow it up.'

Mr Luft made his claim earlier this year after he was detained at the Cyprus airport.

'I've been arrested in Cyprus on a politically motivated extradition request by the US,' he tweeted on February 19, 2023.

'The US, claiming I'm an arms dealer. It would be funny if it weren't tragic. I've never been an arms dealer.

'DOJ [Department Of Justice] is trying to bury me to protect Joe, Jim & Hunter Biden. Shall I name names?,' he wrote.

The tweet was brought to the attention of House investigators...

Mr Luft previously met with FBI officials and DOJ prosecutors in 2019, The New York Post reported, at the U.S. Embassy in Brussels.

He met with the officials to provide information that Chinese a state-controlled energy company CEFC paid $100,000 a month to Hunter Biden and $65,000 a month to his uncle Jim. He claimed it was due to their FBI connections and Biden name that would help promote Chinese business ventures around the world.

Then-Vice President Joe Biden, left, with his son Hunter, right, at the Duke Georgetown NCAA college basketball game in Washington, January 30, 2010

Then-Vice President Joe Biden, left, with his son Hunter, right, at the Duke Georgetown NCAA college basketball game in Washington, January 30, 2010

Joe Biden and brother Jim Biden (right) choose their flavor at Ellen's Homemade Ice Cream in Charleston, West Virginia, October 24, 2008

Joe Biden and brother Jim Biden (right) choose their flavor at Ellen's Homemade Ice Cream in Charleston, West Virginia, October 24, 2008

It comes after emails revealed earlier this year that Hunter Biden had been asked to use contacts in the FBI to help his Chinese business partner who was arrested for bribery and money laundering.

It was also claimed that Hunter Biden used a top FBI official code-named 'One Eye' to funnel secret bureau information to his Chinese business partners.

Patrick Ho – convicted of bribery and money laundering in 2018 – was secretary general of CEFC, the Chinese oil giant Hunter partnered with, and which sent the Biden family more than $5million.

Hunter Biden described Ho as the 'f***ing spy chief of China' in a May 2018 recorded conversation on his abandoned laptop, and court documents show Ho was under surveillance by federal law enforcement in an espionage-related investigation.

Hunter took a $1million wire payment to represent Ho as his attorney before he was arrested in November 2017. He also agreed to speak to FBI agents to glean information on the case against his Chinese Communist Party-connected client.

On September 18, 2017, Ho retained Hunter with a $1million contract.

The agreement, obtained by DailyMail.com earlier this year in March from Hunter's abandoned laptop, describes Ho as 'Deputy Chairman and Secretary General of China Energy Fund Committee' (CEFC) and says Hunter would provide 'Counsel to matters related to US law and advice pertaining to the hiring and legal analysis of any US Law Firm or Lawyer'.

Two months later, Ho was cuffed by FBI agents who intercepted him at JFK Airport in New York on November 18, 2017 on charges of bribing African government officials for CEFC.

Hunter Biden
Emails obtained by DailyMail.com reveal Hunter Biden was asked for his FBI contacts while representing his now convicted CEFC partner Patrick Ho in 2017

Emails obtained by DailyMail.com reveal Hunter Biden was asked for his FBI contacts while representing his now convicted CEFC partner Patrick Ho (right) in 2017

Ho, pictured in a courtroom sketch in February 2018, was arrested and later convicted of paying bribes so a Chinese energy conglomerate could secure business advantages

Ho, pictured in a courtroom sketch in February 2018, was arrested and later convicted of paying bribes so a Chinese energy conglomerate could secure business advantages

The Chinese businessman is pictured with former Federal Reserve chairman Alan Greenspan

The Chinese businessman is pictured with former Federal Reserve chairman Alan Greenspan

Ho (circled right) is pictured speaking at a February 2017 conference run by CEFC in Hong Kong where Israeli energy expert Dr. Gal Luft (circled) is seen sitting alongside Dr. Yuan Peng, vice president of the China Institute of Contemporary Relations (center) and think tank colleague, former CIA Director James Woolsey (far left)

Ho (circled right) is pictured speaking at a February 2017 conference run by CEFC in Hong Kong where Israeli energy expert Dr. Gal Luft (circled) is seen sitting alongside Dr. Yuan Peng, vice president of the China Institute of Contemporary Relations (center) and think tank colleague, former CIA Director James Woolsey (far left)

CEFC's chairman Ye Jianming  was also arrested in China on unspecified corruption charges in 2018 but has not been seen since
His lieutenant Patrick Ho had been convicted in the US of bribery

CEFC's chairman Ye Jianming (left) was also arrested in China on unspecified corruption charges in 2018 but has not been seen since. Ho was known as Ye's lieutenant

DailyMail.com previously revealed former FBI director Louis Freeh gave $100,000 to a private trust for Joe Biden's grandchildren and discussed 'future work options' with Hunter while Biden served as VP

DailyMail.com previously revealed former FBI director Louis Freeh gave $100,000 to a private trust for Joe Biden's grandchildren and discussed 'future work options' with Hunter while Biden served as VP

Hunter Biden's attorney Abbe Lowell has allegedly represented three Chinese 'agents' and was questioned by prosecutors over potential conflicts of interest in his representations. Lowell is now representing Hunter as he battles investigations by the FBI and the House Oversight Committee into the First Son's shady dealings with China
Hunter Biden's attorney Abbe Lowell has allegedly represented three Chinese 'agents' and was questioned by prosecutors over potential conflicts of interest in his representations. Lowell is now representing Hunter as he battles investigations by the FBI and the House Oversight Committee into the First Son's shady dealings with China

Hunter Biden's attorney Abbe Lowell has allegedly represented three Chinese 'agents' and was questioned by prosecutors over potential conflicts of interest in his representations. Lowell is now representing Hunter as he battles investigations by the FBI and the House Oversight Committee into the First Son's shady dealings with China 

Lowell represented Nickie Lum Davis, a Hawaiian businesswoman sentenced in January to two years in prison for secretly lobbying for China in an illicit multi-million-dollar scheme

Lowell represented Nickie Lum Davis, a Hawaiian businesswoman sentenced in January to two years in prison for secretly lobbying for China in an illicit multi-million-dollar scheme 

Lowell also allegedly represented Ng Lap Seng, a billionaire Macau casino tycoon who was a member of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference. He was convicted in 2017 of bribing the United Nations General Assembly President John Ashe with $500,000

Lowell also allegedly represented Ng Lap Seng, a billionaire Macau casino tycoon who was a member of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference. He was convicted in 2017 of bribing the United Nations General Assembly President John Ashe with $500,000

Ng's close links to the Chinese government were known as early as 1998, when a Senate report identified him as the source of hundreds of thousands of dollars illegally channeled to the Democratic National Convention under the Clinton Administration. Ng and the Clintons are pictured in the late 90s

Ng's close links to the Chinese government were known as early as 1998, when a Senate report identified him as the source of hundreds of thousands of dollars illegally channeled to the Democratic National Convention under the Clinton Administration. Ng and the Clintons are pictured in the late 90s 

Former Trump advisor Steve Bannon said of Lowell: 'You couldn't get a guy who was more dialed into that D.C.-D.O.J. revolving door and the Democratic establishment'

Former Trump advisor Steve Bannon said of Lowell: 'You couldn't get a guy who was more dialed into that D.C.-D.O.J. revolving door and the Democratic establishment'