Tater Tots for the tots...

I've never really even thought about this recipe or heard of it until someone had posted it on my website a long time ago that it's one of their favorite comfort food dishes... Then last night I asked the same question on my facebook page, as I always like to know what foods people are into... in any case, someone mentioned this tater tot casserole dish again... so I just had to check it out and see what it was about!  


Tater tots... what's not to love?  It's like a mix between a french fry and a mashed potato or hash brown.  Crispy little rectangle oval looking thingies on the outside... soft and delicious on the inside.  


This recipe came courtesy of Green Eggs & Dirt... which is another website that I think is just really cool... it's all about organic, healthy, green living... which although I might not be able to do or is realistic for me in every aspect of my life... I try to sometimes... but this delicious recipe is adapted from theirs. 


Here's some comfort food for ya!

Tater Tot Casserole 

1 pound ground beef

1 package tater tots (Trader Joes has some Organic ones) 

2 tablespoons flour

2 tablespoons butter

1 cup whole milk or half and half

1/2 cup chicken broth

1/2 onion, chopped

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

1/2 teaspoon onion powder

1/2 teaspoon paprika

1 tablespoon worcestershire sauce

Handful of frozen  peas or green beans

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

In a skillet, brown the ground beef with the chopped onion.

In a separate small saucepan, heat the butter over medium high heat until it’s melted.  Then whisk in the flour and let the butter/flour mixture (technically called a roux) cook for about 30 seconds, whisking as it cooks.  Then whisk in the milk and let this come to a simmer. It should thicken up as it heats.

When the meat is browned, stir in the chicken broth, spices, worcestershire sauce, and the butter/flour/milk mixture.  Let it simmer for a minute and add salt and pepper to taste.  Stir in the peas/green beans, whichever you like or have on hand.

Pour the meat into a casserole dish and top with frozen tots.  Bake for 35 minutes, or until the tots on top are golden and toasty.