Potato au gratin

Hello semua, writing from Vallejo California here! My daughter recently gave birth to their 2nd child, another son, Alhamdulillah. So Tok Mama (that's me!) is back in the USofA to play nurse.

The sun has been out these past few days but it is oh so chilly! I am bundled up in a jacket and socks indoor daily, even the heater's not helping. Weather report says it will be warmer next week. We'll see. Summer officially starts on 20th June. 


I have been cooking for Aisyah the past few days. Simple stuff, mostly chicken with lots of ginger, garlic, black pepper,sesame seed oil; just like my arwah mak and mother in law used to feed me. Lucky Aisyah's not fussy and will just eat whatever. 

Yesterday, she told me I need to cook the potatoes or they will go bad. So today I decided to make my favourite potato recipe - the potato au gratin. There's no cream so I just use Coconut Cream. Santan laa..Here's how I do it!

Once you're  done peeling the potatoes (i use russet), slice 

them (you can use a mandolin but I did it free-hand), wash them and soak them in cold water.

In the mean time, reheat your oven to 350degrees F ( I think about 180degree C).

I use 2 cans of coconut cream. Can agak-agaklah. Heat the cream, add 2 slices of chopped garlic, rosemary, black pepper, salt and smoked paprika. Heat the cream for a bit.

In another pan, heat a little butter and once the butter are warm, add 2.5 tablespoon of flour to make a roux. Give this a good stir till it's golden brown, after which you add the coconut cream mix to it and stir well till it boils.

Start arranging 1/3 of potato slices in a casserole. Layer with coconut cream and whatever cheese that you have ( we have Monterey Jack, some Provolone slices and Abuboo's string cheese which I slice,dice and mix). Nak guna cheddar, mozarella, parmesan pun ok ja.. continue layering the rest of the potatoes, cream and cheese. For good measure, I sprinkle more paprika :)

Once done, bake covered with foil for 45 minutes and then uncovered for 25 minutes. If you find too much coconut oil at the top when you're done, just tip them out.

Yumminess for buka puasa and left over for sahur later!!