So, whether we’re ready or not, the holidays are upon us!! Christmas trees and lights are out everywhere (even though we still have Thanksgiving coming up) and sometimes, if you listen closely, you’ll hear holiday music in the stores. Seriously.
I’ve officially moved my “Halloween” Pinterest board to the bottom of my page and now “Thanksgiving” is reigning towards the top! Do you have your Thanksgiving menu set?
Recently, I attended the Cooking Experience weekend in Des Moines, Iowa, hosted by Better Homes and Gardens at their headquarters. It was fabulous. Not only did we get to meet a lot of the editors, and Gayle Butler!, but we also attended sessions on how to set a Thanksgiving Day table, great slow cooker recipes, desserts for the holidays and there was even a quick knife skills 101 class.
While we were there, we got to tour the offices, the test kitchens, walk through the amazing prop room. . (and it’s gigantic), and we also walked down a hallway that had all of the covers of every Better Homes and Gardens cookbook.
Did you know there’s a new edition out? The 16th edition, folks! Since 1930, the Better Homes and Gardens New Cook Book has been the go-to cookbook in millions of homes across America. Now completely updated and revised, the 16th edition includes everything from beloved classics to hot new recipes!
This book covers everything from Cooking Basics to Appetizers and drinks, Beans Rice and Grains, Breads, Cakes and frosting, Candies, canning and freezing, casseroles, cookies and bars, holiday favorites, meat, pasta, pie and tarts and more!! This is 658 pages of delicious.
And one of you get a chance to WIN this fabulous cookbook. . But before I get to the giveaway, I have to share the Autumn Potato Gratin recipe I made from here, page. 362. You guys, this gratin is SO good!!! The secret? There are thinly sliced potatoes, butternut squash, leeks and fontina cheese inside. oh yeah.
This Autumn Potato Gratin needs to be on every Thanksgiving table this year . . seriously. Don’t miss this recipe!
- 4 medium yellow-flesh potatoes, unpeeled and thinly sliced (about 5 cups)
- 1 small butternut squash, peeled, halved and seeded and thinly sliced crosswise
- ½ cup thinly sliced leek (1 large)
- 1 tablespoon snipped fresh sage
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 8 ounces Fontina cheese, freshly grated (about 2 cups)
- 1½ cups heavy whipping cream
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 3-quart baking dish or gratin dish. Layer half each of the sliced potatoes, butternut squash, and leeks in prepared dish. Sprinkle with half each of the sage, garlic, salt, nutmeg and pepper. Sprinkle with half the cheese and repeat layers. Pour the heavy whipping cream over the top. Cover tightly with foil.
- Bake, covered, for about 80 minutes. Uncover and bake for about 30 more minutes or until potatoes are tender when pierced with a fork and top is golden brown. Let stand for 15 minutes.
Recipe re-published here with permission.
THE GIVEAWAY!!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Also, check out this awesome post from I Am Baker on the Better Homes and Gardens Cooking Experience weekend:
And this one from Grandbaby Cakes!
And this fabulous recap from Julianne from Beyond Frosting! If Better Homes and Gardens hosts another Cooking Experience next year, I’m going again!!!
Disclosure: This is not a paid sponsored post. I did receive a copy of the cookbook to review and test recipes. This giveaway is sponsored by the cookbook’s publisher.
It is sad the holidays is here! SO not ready but I am so ready for all the holiday foods!! This gratin looks delicious. Need to try! I love hot cocoa with peppermint (is that a food?)
oh hot cocoa is totally a food!!! 😛
This potato gratin is definitely in order for Thanksgiving this year!
I’m a traditionalist! I love dressing during the holidays!
My favorite holiday foods and dishes are roasted brussels sprouts, roasted sweet potatoes, roasted chicken… love the roasted goodness. And of course some baked goods, like blondies or a traditional pumpkin pie.
O.M.G. You did NOT go to the BHG headquarters!! All of those props!!! I could live there and be quite happy. That cookbook sounds amazing….I’m pretty sure it contains every recipe you’d ever need ever. Plus I love that it’s in a binder so the pages lie flat AND you can take out whatever recipe you’re cooking from!
This gratin…wow. It has everything I love about fall in it!
Thanks so much Joanne. . I love this cookbook for exactly all the reasons you mentioned. . the binder is freaking awesome!
Love that picture of you and all the props! This gratin looks to die for!
haha, thanks Jeanette!! it was fun being in there!!
Gorgeous recipe and that book is fabulous!!!
Amanda, thank you again for the hook-up!!
Homemade cranberry sauce
Oh my GOSH. You got to go in the prop room at BHG?!! By the looks of it, I think I would just have to live there. And I’m definitely gonna have to get my hands on that new book! Love anything BHG. 😀
And this gratin sounds so so good! I am in total comfort-food right now, so all that cheesy goodness is calling my name! Pinned.
I just got a copy of this cookbook and CANNOT wait to dive in! BHG is one of my favs. And this looks SO good!!
You will love this cookbook, Deborah!!!
Gratin looks amazing. Love the autumn spin you’ve put on it.
Great giveaway too!
Have a fab weekend!
Where to begin?! The BH&G binder cookbook was my first cookbook ever and is still a go-to for the basics. + I’m swooning over that prop room! + So making this gratin – love everything about it! + Cranberry Cherry Chutney is always on our holiday table!
Marissa, Cranberry Cherry Chutney sounds fabulous!!
What a stunner! I’m in love with gratins of all kinds!
Oh my gosh, I want to LIVE in that prop room! Ok, maybe not, but I would like to borrow a few things from there! I’m LOVING all that cheese in this gratin!
Thank you, Lisa!
I love making gratins — they’re so special! I love the leeks and fontina cheese that you used. Delicious! And the cookbook looks amazing!
I love roasted sweet potatoes.
I feel so behind because I’m just now starting my Thanksgiving menu planning… I’m usually working on this MONTHS in advance! Maybe this gratin needs to go on the list – everyone would love it!
Oh, such memories…as this was the cookbook I used to teach myself to cook! The recipes were always foolproof and easy enough for a teen to use and the recipes good enough for the adults to enjoy. I love making the desserts, but sampling the special salads!
My favorite holiday dish is cornbread. I only make it for the holidays because it is so rich, it is filled with honey and butter and I can only eat it once a year.
Oh I’m ready for the holidays!!! Potato gratins are like the holy grail of potato dishes to me, I can’t get enough of them, especially around the holidays!! Yum!
THAT is one heck of a huge prop room! WOW! What an amazing weekend this was!
So glad you enjoyed your trip, Alice and hope I can join in next year. And happy that holidays is just around the corner 🙂
Mmmmm! I can’t wait for Thanksgiving…this will be on my table this weekend…I already have the squash! 🙂
Mac and Cheese….Yum!
That cookbook is a definite must have – a classic for every kitchen! For me, I want my brussels sprouts with apple and bacon for the holidays. Just can’t get enough!
And your gratin looks delicious!
I love baking a variety of cookies and giving them as gifts.
I’ve had a couple of different versions of the BHG cookbook over the years. My current one is a small fat paperback, which I would love to replace with this updated binder version!
As for holiday foods, I’d have to say that I love them so much that I don’t limit them to the holidays! I cooked a turkey dinner last week, and this weekend I’ll be making the obligatory turkey stock and turkey soup. I didn’t make dressing this time, though; I thought I’d hold off and make a big batch to go with the turkey I’ll be making for Thanksgiving, just to make the holiday special.
Yummy girl! This looks beyond my wildest dreams delicious. I can’t wait to try this recipe seriously!
What a fun adventure and a tasty recipe! Thanks and enjoy a wonderful weekend, Alice 🙂
My favorite holiday dishes are cornbread stuffing, green rice, and pumpkin chiffon pie
Yay, the BHG event sounded like so much fun, love that pic of you in the proper room! 🙂 This gratin looks so delicious! I have no self control when it comes to cheesy potatoes and butternut squash – so comforting and perfect for the holidays!
This looks delicious. I am looking forward to turkey and dressing. And trying a new side or two. Not looking forward to the dishes.
My favorites are southern macaroni and cheese, green bean casserole, garlic cheese biscuits, mashed potatoes, and herb stuffing.
Looks amazing!! I’m a huge sucker for cheesy potatoes in any form they may take, and gratin is one of the best! As for holiday foods, I’m (surprisingly) totally all about the savory foods. Side dishes (like this potato gratin!) are definitely my favorite part of holiday meals.
Sounds like you had a great time at the event! And this potatoes look amazing! Such a perfect dish for Thanksgiving, especially with all that cheese!
OMG, the prop room is awesome! It’s a dream and far far away! Wish I can go to the fancy event too some day in the future, sounds so cool.
Love the potato gratin. It’s one of my favorite dishes and your photo looks awesome 🙂
I love that picture of you from the prop room! I just got a copy of the cookbook in the mail and spent and hour flipping through it, I didn’t even get halfway yet!
All of these recipes look OUTSTANDING, but what really has me blown away is all those food photography props! It’s like heaven!
Everyone should have that cookbook! It should be issued to people when they leave home 🙂 OMG, that prop room – I have most of my props shoved on to one big shelving unit in a spare room but it is overflowing. I think I could almost fill a room! It’s got to stop.
These potatoes look amazing. I’ve never tried combining potatoes with butternut squash but it sounds fabulous!
Love the look of the new cover! We’ve had different versions of this book in my family for years and years. Love the butternut in this gratin!!
I love making desserts especially peppermint desserts like cakes, pies and cookies. My favorite would be peppermint cheesecake!
I love making cookies. So many cookies for the holidays 🙂
Cornbread and sweet potato pudding!
At our house, Thanksgiving is all about the stuffing. But I’m really loving your potato gratin. Usually we have mashed potatoes but I may have to cook a gratin this year.
What a fun event. I am so jealous of those shelves of food props!
This looks incredible Alice, such a warming and delicious Autumn/fall dish!!! We don’t celebrate Thanksgiving in Australia (as you probably know) but I do enjoy reading everyone’s thanksgiving recipes when they come along. I hope that you and the family have a wonderful celebration full of love, thankfulness and delicious food! Sending you hugs xxx
P.S those prop shelves?!!!
Looks like you had so much fun. The recipe sounds delicious and I would love that cookbook! My fave holiday foods are the desserts!
My favourite holiday foods are the sweets! I was just washing out a bunch of holiday tins this morning so I can fill them with cookies for my family and friends. I know, I’m a bit of a keener seeing as it is still early November 🙂
i love pumpkin pie!
Love it all!
Alice, a great read here and the Autumn Potato Gratin is completely swoon-worthy. The cheese…and the butternut squash…oh my! Loved the pics of you and the gang enjoying the premises at BHG. BTW, I have a hand-me-down BHG cookbook with the classic cover from the early 50s―a classic.
I love anything pumpkin and my family favorite is pumpkin trifle
Your autumn gratin looks so yummy ! Your meeting looks so fun ! I’m not ready for Christmas 😉
What a treasure of terrific recipes, to accompany your amazing experience no less! I have a friend who is completely nuts about BHG here in Australia, I know she’d get pretty excited by a tour like that to the home land one day!!! Looks fab and yes, to cheesy gratin potato anything!!!
Some of my favorite holiday dishes are Cranberry Chutney, Pumpkin Pie, and Cornbread Dressing.
I love this au gratin recipe and plan on making it soon. Thanks for sharing it with us.
My favorite recipes is all about deserts and sweets.
I love Sweet Potato Pie and Homemade Cranberry-Orange Sauce.
How many days ahead could you make this? Would this dish freeze well?
Hi Hannah, I would try to make this only 1-2 days prior. You can totally freeze this. In fact, I have one in the freezer now! My only comment, unless you have a huge freezer is – I have to cut mine up to wrap and freeze so aesthetically, it won’t be the same. But taste-wise, it’s still good! let me know if you try this! 🙂