4 california gratin Recipes

plain fine dry bread crumbs, onion, finely chopped, turkish or 1/2 california bay leaf, juniper berries (see cooks note, below), crushed, unsalted butter, sauerkraut, drained and chopped, confit duck legs at room temperature, heavy cream, whole milk, eggs, grated nutmeg

gala , empire, or golden delicious apples, firm-ripe seckel (9), forelle (6), or bartlett (3) pears, unsalted butter, calvados or cognac, light brown sugar, dried apricots (preferably california ; 5 oz), pitted prunes (dried plums; 7 oz), by 1/4-inch) strips fresh lemon zest, mascarpone cheese * (8 oz), confectioners sugar

butter or 2 tbsp margarine, divided, butter or 1 tsp margarine, divided, all-purpose flour, salt, paprika, half-and-half cream, milk, white wine or 1/4 cup chicken broth, crabmeat, drained, flaked and cartilage removed or 1 (6 oz) can chopped imitation crabmeat, mushroom stems and pieces, drained and chopped, snipped chives, shredded cheddar cheese, dry breadcrumbs, assorted cracker