Tater Tots.
Or, as the kids say, "tots".
Who doesn't love these little crunchy balls of potato? They give you instant nostalgia, and, I mean, they're gosh darn tasty to boot! But the frozen kind we all buy? What kind of stuff is in there? I don't even want to know. I especially don't want to think about putting all that crap into a poor, impressionable, little future child-thing of mine (although I'm sure at some point, I will, and I was fed almost exclusively processed food as a child...and I'm OK so far. But still...why take chances?). And-they're fried. Something I generally shy away from these days. One day, I was thinking about tater tots. I don't know why. Sometimes food just pops into my head. Anywho, I was thinking, and wondering...could I make baked tater tots? There has to be a recipe for this, right?
RIGHT! :)
I was so super excited when I found this recipe, and pretty much made them right away. They are awesome! Much healthier than your normal tater tots, but still crunchy, and potato-y, and so so satisfying to the little kid in all of us. And-a plus-it makes a bunch! Michael and I had tots leftover for days! And they are just as good-just pop them under the broiler until they crisp up! Only downside? Prepare to spend some time making these, it's a surprisingly lengthy process (at least, for me it was). Totally worth it, though.
Baked Tater Tots
Ingredients:
- 8 Russet Potatoes, peeled and diced
- 1/4 cup milk
- 1 cup flour
- 3-4 eggs, beaten
- 2-4 (start with 2 and crush more as needed) cups crushed chips (preferably pop chips)
Preparation:- Boil potatoes in a large pot, just covered with water, until fork tender (about 20 minutes).
- Drain potatoes and return to pot.
- Gradually add milk and mash-you want it to be a little dry and lumpy.
- Put eggs, flour, and crushed chips in 3 separate bowls.
- Form potatoes into 1 in. balls and place on parchment or wax paper.
- Roll each ball in flour, then eggs, then chips. Form with hands into tot shapes.
- Place on a baking sheet, sprayed with non-stick spray.
- Bake in an oven, preheated to 400 degrees, for 12-15 minutes.
- Place under broiler for a couple minutes to crisp up. (You can also do this to reheat leftover tots.)
