Potato Pancakes

Ever since I saw Julia and Julia, I've wanted to try out some of Child's French recipes. I borrowed a DVD from the library of her television show called, "The French Chef." The television episodes are a hoot. Her voice! No wonder she was mimicked on Saturday Night Live. She uses butter, cream, butter, cream, and a little more butter. She had one recipe for bouillabaisse. Oh, my God. The cod head she threw into that pot was larger than some beef heads I have seen. I preferred her episode on potatoes. Yesterday I used her recipe for potato pancakes, adapting it a little for the ingredients I had on hand.

Ingredients: enough fresh Yukon gold potatoes from the garden to equal 2 cups, shredded, 2 very small chicken eggs-fresh from the coop, 3 tablespoons of diced onion, 4 ounces of cream cheese, 1 pat of butter, salt and pepper to taste.

It is good to remember that raw shredded potatoes turn brown fast so have everything organized and ready to go before you start. Have the cream cheese setting out at room temperature for a while before you begin. Put the butter in the pan and turn the heat on medium. Shred the potatoes. Julia says the potatoes have to be dry to brown well. Set a small amount of shredded potatoes into a clean thin towel and wring the water out over the sink. I was surprised how much water came out! Put the dry potatoes in a bowl and repeat with the rest of the shredded potatoes. Add the onion, eggs, cream cheese, salt, and the pepper. Mix well. Put the potato mixture into the hot butter and even the mixture out with a spoon until the pancake is evenly thick. Let the bottom of the mixture cook on the stove until the crust turns brown. On the television show, Julia Child attempts to flip the pancake into the air. This scene is repeated in the movie version. She says one must have the "courage on one's convictions" to do this properly. Julia slides the pancake back in forth across the pan a few times, warming up. She throws the pancake into the air where it breaks apart. Some of it lands in the pan and some of it lands on the burner where it burns and smoke rises into her face. She says she didn't have the courage of her convictions that time. What a hoot. Personally, I don't believe that "courage of convictions" baloney. I broke the pancake in half with my spatula and turned the pancake over a half at a time. That works too. Cook the other side until it is evenly brown. Bon Appetit!