The Auberge of the Flowering Hearth

One of my favorite cookbooks is "The Auberge of the Flowering Hearth" by Roy Andries de Groot. I heard it was one of Alice Waters favorites...so I had to check it out. On the front cover it reads " This cookbook is a whole way of life. What care, love and work have gone into it. I find it fascinating. I think people would just love it, as it is not like anything else around." - Julia Child

Inside in Chapter 3 it reads" On the floor of the valley,in the ring of the arena, rich green pastures surrounded the now-quiet river, with miniature herds of cattle and sheep. And, in the very center of the ring, with wisps of bluish wood smoke rising from its cottage chimneys, was the tiny village of Saint-Pierre-de-Chartreuse.From the wooden gate, the flagstone path led through the roadside front garden, with lilac and rose bushes, geraniuims and hydrangea. We were met at the front door by two ladies who own and run the auberge. There was a small hand lettered sign above the door: Auberge De L'Atre Fleuri."

In the book there is a chapter called "The Glory of the Potato."

Tonight for supper I am going to cook a piece of ham and I am serving these potatoes.

Casserole Of Potatoes In Cream
(Gratin Dauphinois)

New potatoes, boiled with the skins left on and sliced about 1/2 inch thick
Sweet Butter
Cream
Sea Salt
Black cracked pepper
Gruyere Cheese

Layer the potatoes in a buttered casserole dish
Add a splash of cream, a dollop of butter,some salt and pepper and the Gruyere cheese
Make one more layer and top it off with grated Gruyere
Bake at 350 degrees for about 30 to 35 minutes or till hot and bubbly

I am serving these with the sauteed ham, pocketbook rolls and mandarin oranges