what the day after thanksgiving means to me, instead of psychotic 4am shopping, is potato pancakes.
i know, i know, i usually post about baking...but listen, this food is for serious.
ok, so i realize that the reason these are so amazing is that i got my mother to give me her step by step instructions for the best mashed potatoes ever last night for thanksgiving...which involved some adamant insistence on IDAHO POATOES...[yelled]. someday, if you're really nice, i'll give you instructions, blog followers. maybe. but anyway, your mashed potatoes should do nicely as well...
btw: i spent thanksgiving with these two amazing women right here ------> and the rest of their family (husband/father and two precious twin baby boys not pictured.) aren't they the cutest? i'm thankful for a lovely couple of friends who let me spend thanksgiving with their family, while mine is far away.
Anyway, on to this morning. So, you drag your rusty bottom out of bed and stumble downstairs. get some caffeine in you, and get ready for deliciousness.
first, form the mashed potatoes from last night into patties. this is easiest when they are right out of the fridge, but that's cold...don't worry, your coffee mug will warm you back up! heat a tablespoon (or 1 1/2) of butter (salted...mmmmm) in a non-stick skillet over medium-medium-high until it's all bubbly and then add the patties.
here comes the tricky part: wait.
wait...
wait a long time. if you try to flip them too early, they'll just fall apart. and then you'll have even butterier mashed potatoes, scrambled...which, i have totally eaten before, but even they are not as good as these. have patience. wait about 5 minutes.
keep waiting until they smell all toasty and you can see the browned edges just under the patty.
now flip. ok, this is totally hard, because the potatoes really want to escape from their new
toasty brown outside. but you have to show them who is boss. get your spatula all the way under one and lift, slowly flip.now don't get all cocky after you've successfully flipped one. or they'll know. and then they'll punish you.
now, you'll notice that you've got some potato on your spatula and you are welcome to reward yourself for a flipping job well done by eating it. like i do. and possibly burning your fingers and tongue. like i do.
ok, now you have to wait some more. not quite as long as the first time, but you still have to wait. maybe 3 minutes? you'll see the browned bits at the bottom if you looks closely enough. oila! effing delicious black friday breakfast.
i'm totally obsessed with organic, aromatic flat-leaf parsley these days (which is hilarious because i hated it THE MOST when i was a child!) and so i chopped a little and served it on the side.
and then, as a bonus, i made this beautiful little sip of heaven right here: apple cider, guava nectar, cranberry juice and a slice of lemon (whose zest was sarcrificed to a bechamel yesterday.)
be jealous. then make it yourself. and be thankful.
my holiday tradition. in living color. love you, mom.
