Stay Warm with Some Gratin

City Greeners, with this chilly weather and snow upon us, it's nice to warm up with a nice wintery meal. This recipe features some really cozy ingredients, and offers a great blend of warm spices. Happy cooking!

Kale and Sweet Potato Gratin

Ingredients

• 5 Tablespoons butter
• 3 garlic cloves
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
• 1 bunch kale, stemmed and roughly chopped
• 3 large sweet potatoes (about 2 1/2 pounds), peeled and sliced about 1/8" thick
• 2 cups half-and-half
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• Fresh nutmeg
• 1 cup grated white cheddar cheese

Preparation

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Rub the inside of an 8"x 8" baking dish with 1 Tablespoon of butter. Smash garlic with the side of a knife and sprinkle generously with salt. Chop and scrape the garlic into a mushy paste. 
2. Combine garlic paste, kale, potatoes, half-and-half, cinnamon, and remaining 4 Tablespoons butter (cut into 1/2" pieces) in a pot; stir. Season with salt and pepper and taste the creamy liquid - it should be seasoned generously. Grate a hint of nutmeg. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat while stirring the mixture with a wooden spoon. After 8-10 minutes the potatoes will be a little tender, and their starch will have thickened the liquid considerably.
3. Transfer the mixture to the prepared dish; smooth the top as much as possible. Cover the gratin with cheddar and bake until deeply golden brown, about 20-30 minutes. Let gratin cool and set a little before serving. 

Recipe and photo courtesy of Saveur.com