Tater Essentials Twice Baked Locked Loaded Food

MINI LOADED TATER TOTS® APPETIZERS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 450ºF.
• Place 2 TATER TOTS in each of 24 mini muffin pan cups sprayed with cooking spray; place on bottom oven rack. Bake 10 min.
• Spray bottom of shot glass with cooking spray. Use (in twisting motion) to press TATER TOTS in each muffin cup to make potato cup. Return to oven; bake additional 15 min. or until deep golden brown.
• Add cheese to potato cups; bake 1 min. or until melted. Transfer to platter; fill with remaining ingredients.

LOADED TATER TOTS®

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C). Arrange potato nuggets in a single layer on a baking sheet.
• Bake in the preheated oven until lightly golden, 20 to 25 minutes.
• Place bacon in a large skillet and cook over medium-high heat, turning occasionally, until evenly browned, about 10 minutes. Drain bacon slices on paper towels and chop coarsely.
• Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat; add shallot and cook until fragrant. Stir in flour and cook until light golden, about 2 minutes. Whisk in milk and 2 tablespoons sour cream; stir until smooth and thick, about 5 minutes. Season with black pepper and nutmeg. Stir in 1 cup Cheddar cheese until fully melted.
• Transfer potatoes to a 9x13-inch baking dish. Sprinkle bacon on top. Pour cheese sauce over the potatoes. Sprinkle remaining 1/2 cup Cheddar cheese on top.
• Bake in the preheated oven just until cheese melts, about 7 minutes. Remove from the oven; top with green onions and 2 tablespoons sour cream.

LOADED TATER TOT BAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. In a large skillet, heat oil over medium heat. Add onion; cook and stir until tender, 2-3 minutes. Add Canadian bacon; cook until lightly browned, 1-2 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat. , Line bottom of a greased 11x7-in. baking dish with Tater Tots; top with Canadian bacon mixture. In a large bowl, whisk eggs, sour cream, cream and seasonings until blended. Stir in cheese; pour over top. Bake, uncovered, until golden brown, 35-40 minutes.

LOADED SMASHED TATERS

Steps:

• Place potatoes in a large saucepan; add water to cover. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cook, uncovered, 15-20 minutes or until tender., Drain; return to pan. Lightly mash potatoes, gradually adding milk, cream cheese and butter to reach desired consistency. Stir in bacon, cheeses, green onions, tomatoes, parsley, salt and pepper.

LOADED BAKED TATER TOT CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Cut each tater tot in half.
• In large mixing bowl, combine tots, soup, onion, bacon, and 1 cup cheese.
• Mix well.
• Spread in a 9 x 13" baking pan.
• Cover with remaining cup cheese, then cornflakes, then pour butter evenly over all.
• Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes or until bubbly.

LOADED CHICKEN AND TATER TOTS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 450˚. Spread the Tater Tots on a rimmed baking sheet and bake until crisp and golden, about 25 minutes. Meanwhile, toss the broccoli with the olive oil on a second baking sheet; season with salt and pepper. After the tots have baked about 5 minutes, put the broccoli in the oven and roast, switching the pans halfway through, until charred and tender, about 20 minutes. The tots and broccoli should be finished around the same time.
• Meanwhile, cook the bacon in a large cast-iron skillet over medium heat, turning, until crisp, 7 to 8 minutes. Drain on paper towels and break into pieces. Pour off all but 2 tablespoons bacon fat from the pan.
• Toss the chicken in a large bowl with the smoked paprika and garlic powder. Season with salt and pepper.
• Heat the bacon fat in the skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and cook until browned, 1 to 2 minutes per side. (It doesn't need to be cooked through-it'll finish cooking in the oven.)
• Combine the tots and broccoli on one baking sheet, spreading them in an even layer. Arrange the chicken on top and sprinkle with the cheddar. Bake until the cheese is browned and bubbly and the chicken is cooked through, 3 to 5 minutes. Top with the bacon and chives and serve with sour cream.

TATER TOTS

Steps:

• If necessary, cook the bacon according to one of my easy methods listed below. Once cool, dice into small pieces.
• Increase the oven temperature to 425 degrees F. Scrub and peel the potatoes. Place potatoes in a large pot and cover with 1 inch of cold water. Bring to a simmer over medium heat and cook for 6 minutes (the potatoes should be about halfway cooked). Drain and let cool for 15 minutes.
• Once cooled, grate the potatoes into a large bowl.
• Add the olive oil, flour, salt, garlic powder, and black pepper. Gently combine by hand so that the ingredients are as evenly distributed as possible.
• Add the bacon, cheese, and chives.
• Stir to combine.
• Generously coat two 24-cup mini muffin tins with nonstick spray, or make the tots in two batches. With a spoon, scoop about one heaping tablespoon of the potato mixture into each muffin cavity, then with your fingers, press each scoop flat.
• Bake until the potatoes are brown at the edges, about 15 minutes, then remove from the oven and coat the tops with cooking spray. With a small offset spatula or table knife, flip each tot. Coat tops with nonstick spray once more, then return the pan to the oven and bake until browned, 12 to 15 additional minutes until golden brown. Let cool in the pan for 2 minutes, then serve with Greek yogurt or sour cream.

TATER TOT SIDE DISH

Steps:

• Cook tots in oven as directed. Don't turn off oven.
• Take off cookie sheet and place in a casserole dish. Sprinkle cheese on top of tots. Crumble bacon on top of cheese.
• Place uncovered back into preheated oven 10-15 minutes, or until cheese is nicely melted. Sprinkle chives over the top. Serve with sour cream on the side for dipping, also ketchup works well for the kids.

TACO TATER TOT CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
• In a large pan, brown the ground beef until cooked through. Remove beef from skillet and drain any excess grease.
• Add the onions and bell peppers to the pan, saute on medium high heat for 2-3 minutes, until vegetables are softened.
• Transfer the ground beef back to the pan, along with the salsa, green chiles, taco seasoning, black beans, salt and pepper. Mix well. Add the softened cream cheese and stir until well combined.
• Spread the meat mixture evenly into the bottom of a 9x13 casserole dish. Pour the shredded cheese evenly across the top. Line tater tots in rows on top of the cheese until completely covered.
• Bake in the oven at 375 degrees for 25-30 minutes, or until tater tots are cooked through and slightly crispy on top. Top with the sliced green onions. Serve hot as is or garnish with toppings. Enjoy!

TATER ESSENTIALS: TWICE BAKED / LOCKED & LOADED

Steps:

• 1. PREP/PREPARE
• 2. You will need a sauté pan and a parchment-lined baking sheet to make this recipe.
• 3. Baked Garlic I love what baking does to garlic... it mellows the flavor and creates an awesome ingredient that enhances so many diverse dishes. I use it so much in catering that I usually bake 15 or more heads of garlic at a time, and then save them for when needed. If you do not wish to use baked garlic, you can use regular minced cloves, but cut the amount in half. Here is the recipe that I use... it is easy/peasy: https://www.justapinch.com/recipes/sauce-spread/seasoning-mix/cooking-essentials-baked-garlic.html?r=4
• 4. Cooking Times All the times listed in this or any other recipe are relative to the equipment you are using. For example, if I instruct you to put the item into a preheated 375f (190c) for 50 minutes, or until golden brown, in your oven it might only take 45 minutes, or it could be 60 minutes. The problem is that household ovens can be off by 20 degrees or more. I am using Wolf ovens that get professionally calibrated once a year. So, if your oven display is displaying an accurate temperature, then the times I give will probably work for you. And the same holds true for a stovetop. Medium on one stovetop might be seriously different on another. I guess what I am trying to say is that do not blindly trust the temperature suggestions of any recipe. Watch your food as it cooks or bakes, and stop when it is ready, regardless of the time. Oh, and another must have thing to have in the kitchen is an instant-read thermometer. My favorite is the Thermapen instant read thermometer.
• 5. Gather your ingredients (mise en place).
• 6. Cook the bacon in a sauté pan over medium heat, until crispy and brown, about 8 - 10 minutes.
• 7. Drain on paper towels and reserve the bacon grease (optional).
• 8. Chop up the bacon and reserve.
• 9. Place a rack in the lower position and preheat the oven to 400f (205c).
• 10. Pierce the skin of the potatoes with a fork or paring knife.
• 11. Brush with some reserved bacon grease, and sprinkle with a bit of salt.
• 12. If you do not wish to use bacon grease, just brush with a bit of non-flavored oil, like grapeseed oil.
• 13. Place the taters onto a parchment-lined baking sheet and bake until a paring knife, inserted into the potatoes, goes in with little-to-no resistance, about 55 - 60 minutes.
• 14. About halfway through the baking process, turn the potatoes over. That will give the skin on both sides a chance to evenly crisp.
• 15. When the potatoes are cool enough, cut them in half, scoop the insides into a bowl, mix in the filling ingredients, and any optional items. Then add a bit of salt and pepper, to taste. Finally, add milk, a tablespoon or two at a time, until the mixture is creamy smooth.
• 16. Then distribute the filling into the potato shells, sprinkle them with the additional cheese and place back onto the parchment-lined baking sheet.
• 17. Some chefs put the bacon bits on now; however, I prefer to wait until they are out of the oven... Up to you.
• 18. Bake in the oven (same temp), until warmed through, and the cheese is beginning to get bubbly. Then remove from the oven and sprinkle bacon bits on top, about 10 - 12 minutes.
• 19. PLATE/PRESENT
• 20. Serve while nice and yummy. Enjoy.
• 21. Keep the faith, and keep cooking.