Sunday, October 5, 2008

A Family Meal for Fall

Sometimes simple family meals are just as delicious and elegant and those with guests. Until yesterday, California was showing no signs of autumn and was hotter than anything. I am sick of the heat but a warm night and grilling is never a bad thing.

On the menu:

Grilled marinated chicken and asparagus with hollandaise sauce.*
*Really the hollandaise came out just perfectly but just as I was finishing to warm it, we had a 4-year old
melt down over clothes and it was on the stove too long and curdled. Darn it! It still tasted very nice.


Mixed green salad with slices of pear, walnuts and gorgonzola cheese
tossed in a light balsamic and lemon vinaigrette.

Fried Pancake of Grated Potatoes
(Pommes Paillasson)


I was searching around for a recipe for potato pancakes after reading Mireille Guiliano's book, French Women Don't Get Fat. What exactly was a potato pancake? And what is the difference between a potato pancake and a latke? Well I still don't know the answer to that one. Maybe there is no difference. Maybe one is just associated with Jewish tradition and then other countries have different names for it. Can you give me the answer?

At any rate, I did find a few different recipes for this fried potato patty. The one I chose was from Epicurious (Gourment Magazine- March 2001). It had a lot of positive comments and seemed very straightforward, simple and versatile. I followed the recipe just as it was except I probably did only about 1/2 the recipe. (I guestimated the quantities).

The potatoes WERE very good indeed. Crispy and tasty and similar to some hash browns. But take note, they need to be eaten right away. After they sat a while it got a little soggier and less crispy. I think they would be well paired with breakfast, eggs, soup, meatier fish, steak and more.

12 comments:

That Girl said...

1) Gorgeous
2) We are so hollandaise twins
3) Your potato pancake just looks like an overgrown latke. Latkes are usually a 2-bite kind of thing - but this pancake looks like something to be shared with a couple people. Almost like hashbrowns or a tortilla espanola

Darius T. Williams said...

Yup - any kind of crispy potato dish needs to be eaten soon. But these are great pics - I love the first one with the wine for the adults and the sippy cup for the 4 year old. Love it! I love that salad!

-DTW
www.everydaycookin.blogspot.com

Alicia Foodycat said...

That's a family meal? Man - I never produce anything that beautiful for cherished guests! Delicious.

Meg said...

What a beautiful family meal! Love the ghost in the middle of the table!

Nicole said...

Kate- Thanks! Yes. I think of latkes as small but made the same way. I need to make a tortilla espanola. This is similar but w/out the egg.

Darius- The salad was good and so fall feeling. We do love our "sippy cups" around here.

Foodycat- Welcome! I just like to do it sometimes. Trust me, some nights, the kids are thrown a quesadilla and I eat bread and cheese!

Meg- Welcome to the blog. That ghost has been around since I was a kid! My mom handed it down to me last year!

Anonymous said...

What a wonderful dinner! Thanks for visiting me Nicole :)

Anonymous said...

that pancake looks divine. i hope you ate that with applesauce. i love potato pancakes and applesauce.

Nicole said...

Maryann- Welcome! And thank you for visiting me as well. ;-)

Joanna- I didn't serve it with applesauce. I am so picky about applesauce that I only care for homemade.

Proud Italian Cook said...

I would be happy to sit down at this table and eat all this glorius food, and then finish it off with that delicios mousse up there. I love your table, sippy cup and all! :)

Nicole said...

Oh Marie, If you weren't so far away, I'd love to have you over!

L Vanel said...

That looks like a great meal, nicole. I love the potatoes.

Nicole said...

Lucy- Thanks! The potatoes were great.