Root Vegetable Gratin

Welcome Back from the Holidays!  Here's to a new year filled with lot of delicious and healthy recipes!

Photo Courtesy of Life's Ambrosia

Ingredients

3 pounds assorted root vegetables (turnip, rutabaga, celery root, potato, sweet potato, parsnip, carrot)

1 tablespoon vegetable oil

1 cup diced onion

1 1/3 cups low-fat milk, divided

3 tablespoons all-purpose flour

1 cup finely shredded Swiss or Gruyère cheese

1 cup cooked ham, diced (optional)

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper

Directions

Preheat oven to 400°F. Coat a 9-by-13-inch baking dish with cooking spray.  Peel root vegetables and cut into 1/8-inch slices using a mandolin slicer (if you don’t have a mandolin slicer, a knife works just as well).  If using parsnips, quarter lengthwise and remove the woody core before cutting into 1/8-inch thick slices. Cook vegetables in a large pot of boiling water until barely tender, about 5 minutes. Drain.

Heat oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until light brown, 3 to 4 minutes. Add 1 cup milk and bring to a simmer. Combine flour and the remaining 1/3 cup milk in a small bowl to make a smooth paste; stir into the hot milk and cook, whisking constantly, until the sauce bubbles and thickens, 1 to 2 minutes. Remove from the heat. Stir in 3/4 cup cheese, salt and pepper.  Layer the vegetable slices and ham in the prepared baking dish. Pour the cheese sauce over the top and top with the remaining ¼ cup of cheese.  Bake the gratin until it is bubbling and the top is golden, 30 to 40 minutes. Let cool for 10 minutes before serving.

Grocery Item	Weekly Sale at Econo Foods (1/6/13-1/12/13)
Potatoes	Tasteful Selections 2-Bite Potatoes (28 oz.) on sale for $2.99
Carrots	Baby peeled carrots (1 lb. bag) on sale for $1.29

Grocery Item	Weekly Sale at Cub Foods (1/6/13-1/12/13)
Cheese	Essential Everyday Cheese (8 oz.) on sale 2 for $5.00
Potatoes	Farm Stand Russet Potatoes (5 lb. bag) on sale 2 for $4.00
Ham	Cub Spiral Natural Juice Half Ham on sale for $2.29/lb. Frick’s Natural Juice Boneless Quarter Sliced Ham on sale for $4.49/lb Signature Ham Steaks or Slices (12 oz. package) on sale for $2.99