GRUYERE SCALLOPED POTATOES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F; butter a large casserole dish with 1 1/2 Tbsp of butter. If you use a casserole dish that is about 9x13, you'll have more surface area, more of the potatoes will brown, and the cooking time will be faster.
• Layer the bottom of the casserole dish with 1/3 of the potato slices.
• Sprinkle with salt and pepper.
• Layer on 1/2 of the sliced onions and 1/2 cup of the Gruyere cheese.
• Layer on 1/2 of the bacon, 1/2 of the parsley and chives.
• Sprinkle with a little Parmesan.
• Repeat by layering on 1/3 of the potato slices, sprinkle again with salt and pepper.
• Layer on the remaining sliced onions, 1/2 cup of the Gruyere cheese, the remaining bacon, parsley and chives.
• Sprinkle with a little Parmesan.
• Top the casserole with the remaining potato slices. Add the half and half. Dot the potatoes with the remaining 1 1/2 Tbsp of butter.
• Cover the casserole with aluminum foil and bake in the oven for one hour. After an hour, remove from the oven, remove the foil, sprinkle on the remaining cheese.
• Return to the oven for an additional 30-40 minutes.
• When done, the potatoes should be tender, but not mushy, and the liquid should be mostly absorbed.
• Note: For a faster cooking time, you can parboil the sliced potatoes for 8 minutes first, patting them dry, before layering them in the casserole pan. In this case the total oven cooking time is about 35-45 minutes.