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Ingredients
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3 cups leeks, washed very well and then thinly sliced (about 6 large, white and pale green parts only)
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1/2 cup unsalted butter
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3 1/2 cups whole milk
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6 tablespoons all-purpose flour
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1 1/2 lbs potatoes (about 4 large)
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1 lb butternut squash, peeled, seeded, quartered and cut into 1/8 inch slices
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1 1/2 cups gruyere cheese, coarsley grated (about 4 ounces)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
- Generously butter a 3 quart baking dish (at least 2 inches deep).
- In a skillet, cook leeks in 3 tablespoons butter over medium low heat, stirring, until very soft.
- In a saucepan, bring the milk just to boil (don't scald.just keep warm).
- In another heavy saucepan, melt the remaining 5 tablespoons of butter over medium low heat and whisk in flour - cooking and constantly whisking for about 3 minutes.
- Add heated milk in a stream, whisking, and bring to a boil.
- Simmer this sauce, whisking, for 1 minute - or until thickened - and season with salt and pepper.
- Peel potatoes and slice 1/8 inch thick.
- Spread about 1/3 sauce in baking dish and cover with 1/3 potato and squash slices, overlapping them slightly.
- Cover slices with 1/3 leeks and sprinkle with 1/3 Gruyere.
- Make 2 more layers with sauce, potatoes and squash, leeks and Gruyere in the same manner.
- Bake, covered with foil, in middle of the oven for about 20 minutes.
- Remove foil and bake 30 minutes more, or until top is golden and vegetables are tender. Yum!
- *If you prepare this in advance you may need to bake it a little bit longer*.