Now that we are each day coming a bit closer to Christmas...
(sorry for mentioning it so early, can't help it!), I thought it was time to share a few of the dishes we used to have more or less every year. We used to spend Christmas either at home, at my dad's parents or at my auntie (my dad's sister). Occasionally we'd have Christmas lunch at my mum's mum and dad but less often I think (or maybe I have decided so since I didn't like it as much there sadly). Moving on...We'd all contribute to the meal to make it a bit easier on whoever we went to (when I say "we" I mean my parents! Our contribution stopped at making "fruits deguises"(mainly dates or 2 walnut halves stuffed/held together with a bit of pink, green or white marzipan then either rolled in caster sugar or dipped in caramel), a Christmas log (same as the chestnut one but with whipped cream inside and coated in chocolate ganache) or "feuilletes aperetif". My auntie, Micheline, always made her signature dish:  Gratin dauphinois. To this day, it is the best gratin dauphinois I have ever tried. it's really NOT low fat, but hey, if you can't eat it at Christmas when can you?

Ready? You'll need:
(for 4 to 6 people)
Potatoes, about 1 kg 
a clove of garlic, cut in 2 halves
2 pints of cream
salt and pepper
a little knob of butter

Peel and slice the potatoes as thinly as you can (if you have a mandoline it's ideal, otherwise just...take your time)
Take a large gratin dish and rub the garlic all round the dish
then rub butter everywhere
Place a layer of potatoes, season well (mainly with freshly ground pepper and just a little salt)
do that again and again until to get to about 1cm from the top of the dish
Pour the cream on top (you might need to mix it with a little milk if you are using double cream), it should just cover the potatoes
Season one more time
Put in a medium hot oven (160) for about 1 1/2 hour until the potatoes are nice and soft

this is delicious with just about anything, including as a main course of its own with just a green salad on the side!

PS: Talking about fondue on my last post, we had lunch at The Black Horse in Findon (West Sussex) on Sunday where they serve....marvellous cheese fondues and even pierrades!