Recipe: Red Potatoes au Gratin

Red Potatoes Au Gratin

2 lbs red potatoes, unpeeled and thinly sliced
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp crushed fennel seeds
1/4 tspground pepper
2 crushed garlic cloves
2 tb olive oil
1/4 cup dried bread-crumbs
1/2 cup grated parmesan
1/8 tsp dried thyme
1 medium tomato, seeded and cut into matchstick-thin strips, for garnish

Grease an 8 by 8 microwave safe and oven safe baking dish or shallow 2 quart casserole. In large bowl, toss potatoes with salt, fennel seeds, pepper, garlic and oil until well coated. Spoon potato mixture into dish; cover and microwave on High for 15 minutes. Meanwhile, preheat oven to 400F. In small bowl, mix bread-crumbs, Parmesan and thyme with remaining oil until moistened. At this point I added to this mixture cup heavy cream. Sprinkle the bread crumb mixture over the potatoes and bake in the oven, uncovered for 10 to 12 minutes, until the crumbs are lightly browned. Serve sprinkled with tomato strips.