It is official. The cookbook that I have been patiently awaiting arrived in my mailbox last week. Mimi Thorisson, of the lovely blog Manger, published her exquisite book A Kitchen in France; A Year of Cooking in My Farmhouse. I am totally thrilled with it. It is a large book, worthy of coffee table placement. The pages are thick and of the finest quality. It is richly photographed by her talented husband Oddur and Mimi’s prose about their lives in the Medoc region of France is spellbinding. I will stop gushing now, but I believe that anyone would be happy to own this cookbook. Click on my Favorite reads widget on the right to get the information about the book from Amazon. You have to be on my home page to see the link.
The recipes are unique and are arranged seasonally. Trying to decide which ones to try first was a pleasant dilemma. Most of the recipes are easy and familiar. But there are a few that are uniquely French and a little challenging, like squab pie with foie gras and armagnac. I am starting with recipes that are familiar to me and you can’t get any more basic than the humble potato. Mimi’s recipe for Lyonnaise potatoes is easy and delicious.
By sauteing the partially cooked sliced potatoes in several batches, you are assured that you will get evenly browned potatoes. The finished dish with the cooked onions goes into an oven for about 10 minutes at the end. This makes it possible to make the dish ahead of time before the final finish in the oven.
The potatoes are buttery and crispy. Mimi calls Lyonnaise potatoes “the little black dress of side dishes”. It goes with everything.
MIMI’S LYONNAISE POTATOES
2 pounds new potatoes, peeled
About 11 tablespoons butter
Fine sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 onions, thinly sliced
A bunch of fresh parsley, leaves removed and finely chopped
Put the potatoes in a large pot, add enough salted cold water to cover, bring to a boil, and cook until parboiled, 10 to 15 minutes. Drain in a colander and rinse under cool running water. Let cool for a few minutes, then slice the potatoes into 1/8-inch thick slices.
In a large saute pan, melt 2 tablespoons of the butter. Add about one-quarter of the potatoes and fry, seasoning them with salt and pepper, until golden, about 6 minutes. Transfer to a plate. Continue frying the potatoes, adding more butter each time (you should use about 8 tablespoons in total), until all of them are cooked.
Meanwhile, in another saute pan, heat the remaining 2 tablespoons butter over medium heat. Cook the onions until golden, about 5 minutes.
Return all of the potatoes to the pan, add the onions, and mix gently. Cook for 5 more minutes for the flavors to combine.
Transfer the potatoes and onions to a large baking dish. Bake until gently sizzling, about 10 minutes.
Sprinkle the parsley over the potatoes and serve. Serves 4 to 6.
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That looks great, Penny. For some reason I have the craving to make this with some crisped pancetta on top.
I think that would be perfect Chris.
It is such a wonderful cookbook and truly beautiful! Mimi’s potatoes look so delicious and this is the kind of potato dish I crave in the fall and winter. I’m happy to say that, after many calls, I have found the ingredients for the recipe that I want to make from the cookbook that I thankfully won from you 🙂
Susan, Would that be the duck confit Parmentier? It looks sooo good in the book.
What fun, Penny! I love Mimi’s blog and the cookbook sounds beautiful. What a pleasure it will be to read it from start to finish and choose which of her recipes to try.
The potatoes look fabulous….nice and brown and crunchy.
It has been fun reading the cookbook. I always get inspired by new ways of doing things. Thanks Barbara.
Penny, I was just about to drop you an email suggesting you take a look at this book. I got my copy and immediately planned a dinner party around her recipes. I made 6 recipes from the book, including Gambas Flambee (Jackie was thrilled I only singed the ceiling, no first responders were needed), and her AMAZINGLY BEAUTIFUL Cocoa Meringues… Everything was easy to follow and came out as expected.
Now I just need you and your David to visit so we can break out this book together So glad you have the book, thought of you when I was cooking.
Wow Dave! E-mail me and tell my what else you made. That cocoa meringue looks decadent. Wish we could cook together from her book. Best to Jackie.
I just read your blog post Dave, so know what you made. Everything sounds perfect. Here is a link if anyone else is interested in this extraordinary dinner party. http://erecipecards.blogspot.com/2014/11/onion-tart-via-kitchen-in-france-recipe.html#comment-form
What a gorgeous cookbook! And the potatoes sound wonderful.
Thank you Beth. Like you, I love my books. My husband has also written some children’s books. Yours look delightful.