Baked Tater Tots

Okay. So first it was ketchup. And now I have this slammin’, simple, delicious, eat it from the spoon ketchup, it really needs something equal … fingers in ears, folks, Ernie is about to start shrieking again … I know! I’ll make TATER TOTS! The Tot is truly one of the world’s most perfect foods.

I have been told that perhaps I have gone round the proverbial bend  … too much time on my hands … the best I can tell you is that I was, perhaps, dropped on my head as a child.

But Tater Tots! Come on! Why wouldn’t you make them from scratch if you possibly could!? And they’re baked! And, much to the chagrin of he-who-won’t-be-mentioned the shaping of the Tot is not a tightly-held industrial secret.

These were fabulously simple and yummy beyond belief.  You may never buy a frozen Tater Tot again. This is a mishmash of a bunch of different recipe I found. One said to roll them in panko crumbs. I may try that next time, but don’t think it’s necessary. Would like a more even brown on them. But, hey, this was the first time out of the gate and they were inhaled in seconds!

• 4 russet potatoes, peeled
• 1 1/2 tablespoons salt, plus more for seasoning
• 1 teaspoon cracked black pepper, plus more for seasoning
• 1 egg, beaten
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• Ketchup, for serving

NOTE: Adjust the cayenne, smoked paprika and garlic powder to taste. 

Preheat oven to 425 degrees, with oven rack in center position. Place a rimmed baking sheet in oven.

Peel and grate potatoes and transfer to a large bowl.

NOTE: I started off using a box grater. UGH! Suddenly my Cuisinart started beckoning to me and the shredding disk started waving at me. Hello? Remember us? Well, that turned this into something even easier!

Cover the grated potatoes with boiling water, by about 2 inches. Steep for 10 minutes. Drain potatoes in a colander and rinse thoroughly with cold water. Squeeze potatoes with hands to remove excess moisture and transfer back to large bowl.

NOTE: I put the potatoes in a clean, white kitchen towel and squeezed them. The drier they are the better off you are.

Add flour, salt, pepper, spices and beaten egg to bowl and fold into potatoes.

Shape into Tots.

Carefully remove hot baking sheet from oven and coat with 2 tablespoons olive oil. Quickly transfer Tots to baking sheet, drizzle with olive oil, and bake for 30 minutes, flipping once, until golden brown and crispy. Sprinkle with salt. Serve with ketchup.

NOTE: Next time I think I’ll add some grated onion. Maybe a little bit of fresh garlic instead of powder.

Baked Mashed Potatoes with Parmesan Cheese &Bread Crumbs

It’s that time of month again – Secret Recipe Club time! I have to tell you, I am amazed at how much fun this is and how much I look forward to being paired with amazing food bloggers!

This month I was assigned to a wonderful blog called SteakNPotatoesKindaGurl. Desi has so many wonderful recipes over there that it was really difficult for me to choose just one! And then I came across it! Giada de Laurentiis’  Mashed Potatoes with Parmigiano and Bread Crumbs from Giada’s Family Dinners.

Mashed potatoes are one of those dishes that you serve and everyone feels like they’re home.

My darling had been away all summer working. I keep asking what he’d like to have for dinner. “Food. Food you’ve cooked, Mom. Other than that, I don’t care.”

Sigh. Just once I would like to say – “Hey, what would you like for dinner?” and actually get a response. Well, a response besides “I don’t know.” I don’t have a recipe for “I don’t know” and since they seem to request it so often, I am afraid of repeating myself too often by making it!

My son’s favorite cold any weather comfort food is meatloaf, mashed potatoes and string beans.

So we have a trifecta – the Secret Recipe Club, the triumphant return of the half-starved prodigal son, AND cold, stinky, rainy, summer-is-over, weather!

This recipe is really very simple and delicious. My guys are mashed potato purists, but that didn’t stop them from gobbling this up!

• 1 T butter
• 2 lbs russet potatoes, cut into 1-inch pieces
• 1/2 C milk, room temperature
• 1/4 C (1/2 stick) butter, melted AND 1 T butter
• 3/4 C grated mozzarella cheese
• 1/2 C grated Parmesan cheese
• salt and pepper
• 1 T plain bread crumbs

Preheat oven to 400°. Coat a 13×9 inch baking dish with 1 tablespoon of butter.

Cook the potatoes in a large pot of boiling salted water until tender, about 15 minutes. Drain potatoes and return potatoes to the same pot. Mash well.

Mix in the milk and melted butter. Mix in the mozzarella and 3/4 of the Parmesan. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.

Transfer the potato mixture to the prepared baking dish.

Stir the bread crumbs and remaining Parmesan in a small bowl to blend. Sprinkle the bread crumb mixture over the mashed potatoes. Bake, uncovered, until the topping is golden brown, about 20 minutes.

NOTE: This recipe can be prepared up to 6 hours ahead of time, up to the point right before you bake it. Cover and chill. This recipe is also easily halved!

Desi, thank you for sharing your wonderful recipes with me! I hope I did this one justice!

There’s still time to stop by my wonderful Giveaway ~ $100 American Express gift card! So simple – follow this link and leave a comment! Winner will be picked September 29th!

Cilantro Fries

I am now totally enamored by Marcela Valladolid. I like her style. I love all the fresh ingredients and, especially, that most of them are easily found!

On the same show that inspired me to make Burgers al Pastor, Marcela made Cilantro Fries. The recipe below is Marcela’s. I changed it a bit for what we were doing that day.  My changes are in my notes as you read through. Marcela made these in the oven using frozen fries, I made these on the grill using fresh fries. Seriously, why turn on the oven if you don’t have to!

• Nonstick cooking spray
• 1 bunch fresh cilantro
• 1 small clove garlic
• 1 (28-ounce) bag frozen potato wedges, preferably organic, thawed
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 tablespoon kosher salt

NOTE: Instead of frozen potato wedges, I cut potatoes into slices, first cutting the potatoes in half lengthwise and then into planks, lengthwise, maybe about 1/4″ thick.

Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. Grease a baking sheet with nonstick cooking spray.

NOTE: I always cook the potatoes in the microwave before putting them on the grill. This gives them an advance cooking and they don’t take forever on the grill.

Combine the cilantro and garlic in a food processor and process until combined.

NOTE: I also added the oil to the food processor.

Toss the potato wedges with the cilantro-garlic mixture and the olive oil, coating evenly.

Spread the potatoes wedges onto the prepared baking sheet and bake for 20 minutes, flipping the potatoes after 10 minutes to crisp on the other side. Season the potatoes with the salt and serve.

NOTE: After the microwave, I added the cilantro mixture to the potatoes, tossed and put the potatoes onto a sheet of foil and placed it on the grill.

WONDERFUL!