Papas Can You Hear Me? Day 2 of Leftover Makeovers: Mashed Potato Latkes

Let me just start this off by saying I really hope this doesn't offend anyone of the Jewish faith. If anything, you should be flattered. The reason I'm saying this is because I have a confession. Although I was raised a Hispanic Catholic girl from the south, I have this unnatural obsession with being a Jewish New Yorker. I'm not sure where this obsession came from other than my upbringing where "Funny Girl" was shown alongside "Sesame Street" and "Don't Rain on My Parade" was just another lullaby. Once I grew up it became marathons of "The Nanny" and I was obsessed with the glamorous stereotype.In second grade one of the teachers was a lovely woman named Mrs. Weizmann  During the holidays she taught us all about Hanukkah  the traditions and the food. Three things happened that day. One, I begged my mother to become Jewish so I could have 8 Christmases (yeah, I know that's not quite right now). Two, I went home with my own dreidel and learned the dreidel song. Three, I tasted Potato Latkes for the first time and was hooked.

It's day two of Leftover Makeovers and dinner was one of my family's absolute favorites; breakfast for dinner buffet. The menu consisted of their choice of leftover ham, bacon, eggs, pancakes and Potato Latkes made of leftover mashed potatoes. It was heavenly. So heavenly in fact that I forgot to take a picture and by the time I remembered, they were all eaten up.

This is not my picture but it looks like it could be. That's all that matter's, right? Screw copyrights! I'm a Google rebel.

Mashed Potato Latkes

2 cups mashed potatoes 
1 large egg, beaten lightly 
6 tablespoons all-purpose flour 
3 TBS onion powder  
Salt and pepper 
Vegetable oil, for frying

Preheat oven to 250 degrees. 

In a bowl combine well the potatoes and the egg, stir in the flour thoroughly, and stir in the onion powder salt and pepper, to taste. 

In a large heavy skillet, heat 1/8-inch of the oil over moderately high heat until it is hot but not smoking. Fry heaping tablespoons of the potato mixture, flattening them slightly with the back of the spoon, for 1 minute on each side, or until they are golden brown. Transfer the pancakes as they are cooked to paper towels to drain and if desired, keep them warm on a rack set on a baking sheet in a preheated 250 degree oven. 

Dinner Challenge!

A few weeks ago I had a friend of mine post two recipes, an entree and a side dish, and I had to cook them and post pictures. At the time I was living with someone that did not like onions or mushrooms. That made it even more challenging for my friend to find a recipe for me. In the end she came up with Jamie Oliver's Chicken in Milk and a recipe for Potato, Spinach and Red Bell Pepper Salad with Warm Bacon Vinaigrette. I was happy about the warm potato salad but I was a bit apprehensive when it came to chicken in milk. It just didn't sound appetizing. I accepted the challenge anyway and I'm so glad I did. I made a few alterations to the recipes to suit my tastes such as adding 5 strips of bacon to the salad instead of the suggested one, and I used chicken breasts instead of a roasting chicken in the chicken in milk recipe.

I was so surprised to taste how amazingly flavorful the chicken in milk was. It was tender and lemony and the perfect springtime meal. I have made it three times since. The potato salad was sweet, salty, tangy and bacony. I even made it for Mother's Day.

Why does this matter? Because I want to do this again. I need everyone to suggest recipes for me and on the 1st and 15th of each month I will pick one entree and one or two entrees to cook, feature on this blog and on the Facebook page along with your name, pictures of the meal and the recipes.

• Recipes can be from other sites, cookbooks, family recipes, concoctions you've made, whatever! 
• I enjoy making both easy and complicated dishes. Overnight recipes are welcome too. 
• I enjoy food from different cultures. I'm very familiar with Italian, French, Indian, Chinese, Mexican and Spanish cuisine.
• Vegetarian dishes are welcome too.
• Diet friendly recipes are even okay. Low calorie, fat free, diabetic, gluten free; all fine.
• My family does not have any restrictions on what they won't eat. Onions, veggies, all proteins, etc. They're all welcome.
• Desserts are fine too.
• Keep in mind that I live by the Gulf so fresh seafood is easy to come by.
•  All I ask is that they at least be somewhat budget friendly. Meaning I can't make dishes featuring white truffles, but I can probably make something featuring Portobellos.

I can't wait to try some of the things you guys dare me to make. 

Chicken in Milk on a bed of fresh spinach with a side of Potato, Spinach and Red Bell Pepper Salad with Warm Bacon Vinaigrette