SERVES 12
2 large russet potatoes (about 1 ½ pounds), peeled
1 large golden beet (about 1 pound), peeled
1 large fennel bulb (about 12 ounces), trimmed
2 large parsnips (about 10 ounces), peeled
2 teaspoons kosher salt
1 ½ cups heavy cream
1 ½ cups shredded Parmesan cheese (about 6 ounces)
Freshly ground black pepper
1. Preheat the oven to 400°F. Lightly grease a 13- x 9-inch baking dish. Using a mandoline or sharp knife, cut the potatoes, beet, fennel bulb and parsnips into ⅛-inch-thick slices. Toss together the vegetable slices, salt and ¾ cup of the cream in a large bowl.
2. Spread half of the mixture evenly in the prepared baking dish. Top with 1 cup of the Parmesan. Top evenly with the remaining vegetable mixture. Pour the remaining ¾ cup cream over the vegetables, and top with the remaining ½ cup Parmesan. Cover loosely with aluminum foil. Bake for 1 hour and 10 minutes.
3. Uncover and bake until the vegetables are tender and the cheese is golden brown, 20 to 25 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack; cool for 15 minutes before serving with some black pepper ground over the top.
Valerie Bertinelli is the host of the Emmy- and Daytime Emmy-award winning show Valerie’s Home Cooking on the Food Network, as well as the host of a number of other Food Network series, including Kids Baking Championship as well as Family Restaurant Rivals, which debuted this summer. A New York Times bestselling author, Bertinelli is also a Golden-Globe winning actor and entrepreneur.
Let’s Talk Thanksgiving
What’s your number one tip for using leftovers?
Be inventive! If you have leftover stuffing, pour it in a waffle maker and enjoy some savory waffles.
How do you prepare your turkey?
I like to experiment so we do something different every year (deep fried, bagged, grilled, etc)…no matter what, we always make two turkeys so we have leftovers for gumbo the next day!
Potluck or host preps all?
I would usually answer host preps all, but with my work schedule these days that potluck is sounding awfully good.
What’s your family’s favorite Thanksgiving tradition?
Football! Football! Football! We turn the games on first thing in the morning…I guess you could say it’s how we “kick-off” the holiday!
