Pringles Thanksgiving?

As I actually haven't been able to find this in any store in my area, I will just leave these two images for y'all to ponder. More details can be found here. If anyone is able to taste test this potato crisp cornucopia, please let me know your thoughts. And Happy Thanksgiving!

French Fry Diary 685: Trader Joe's Turkey and Stuffing Seasoned Kettle Chips

When the Trader Joe's Fearless Flyer arrived at my door for November, I perused it as usual, always looking for something new and interesting, or much more rare, something I usually purchase there that's on sale. What a Thanksgiving surprise when I saw Turkey & Stuffing Kettle Potato Chips right there in the front page - touted as Thanksgiving dinner in a chip. I knew what I was getting next trip to Trader Joe's.

So after getting the Trader Joe's usuals, and being sorely disappointed they were already out of Advent calendars in mid-November, I got these unique chips home. The Flyer promised something out of science fiction, like a meal in a pill, but honestly their description sounded more like Violet's gum in Willy Wonka, right down to the gravy. This description made me a little scared to try it. No one wants to be juiced like a giant cranberry, ya know?

Much like this year's Do Us A Flavor contest entries, the ingredients include a mysterious item called 'turkey & stuffing seasoning,' but at least Trader Joe's tells us what's in that in parentheses after that. Some chemicals and fancy words, but more satisfying than just the word 'seasoning.'

Upon opening the bag (after cutting off the top, it was from Trader Joe's after all), a pleasant aroma hit me, potato chips, maybe some garlic, good stuff. As with the aforementioned contest entrants, I had The Bride try one first. She thought they were okay, getting the turkey flavor right away, with the stuffing coming cumulatively after a few more chips. No gravy running down her throat though.

I experienced much the same in this thick and crunchy kettle cooked chip. Not bad at all, these chips definitely fall into the category of other meat chips I've tried and reviewed. They're pretty good, but with that weird Jelly Belly vibe of this-shouldn't-taste-like-this. I also think, and this may be a weird reverse engineering idea, but I think they might be really good crushed up and used in stuffing. They are definitely worth a try once a year for Thanksgiving, and no Oompa Loompas in sight. Yet.

Random Tater Pic of the Day #176

These steak frites are from the Lucky Bones Backwater Grille in Cape May over the Thanksgiving weekend. This might have been my GAR! Podcast partner Ray's Thanksgiving dinner, but they saved this for Saturday night. Some folks are living the life, eh?

French Fry Diary 631: Sweet Potatoes Vs. Yams

Last week I posted some really cool pics from my friend Robin Renee of her Homemade Vegan Sweet Potato Pies. A conversation via text later indicated that Robin didn't think they were technically sweet potatoes, but yams instead. This got me thinking about what the real difference between sweet potatoes and yams actually was… and therein I discovered quite the conspiracy.

It would seem that what we think of in America as yams are really just sweet potatoes, just another variety of them. We've been calling them the wrong name for years. It's just like those French taking credit for fries from the Belgians, we've been giving yummy sweet potatoes the name yams when they are not yams at all. You can read about what's really what in the world of yams and sweet potatoes here.

And while we're sort of on the subject of Robin Renee and the holidays, you might want to check out these two YouTube videos, "Hare Krishna Christmas" and "The Yule Song." Enjoy!

Random Tater Pics of the Day #174 and 175

Homemade Vegan Sweet Potato Pies, a special pair of random holiday tater pics from my good friend and French Fry Diary contributor Robin Renee. Mmmmm...

Give Thanks, and Take Your Pick

If you're still wondering what you'll be making tomorrow for Thanksgiving beyond the turkey and the cranberry sauce, I might have something for you.

Click here for thirty-five amazing mashed potatoes recipes from the nice folks at The Cooking Channel. Enjoy!

Evan Hilton Makes Mashed Potatoes on Vine

Animator Evan Hilton made these mashed potatoes for the Food Network, and their Thanksgiving Live series.

For more of Evan's Vines, check him out here.

Happy Thanksgiving!

French Fry Diary 540: The Potato Knish Shortage

Folks shopping early for Hanukkah may have noticing a serious problem in their expeditions. There is a nationwide potato knish shortage. Yes, I'm serious.

Due to a September fire at the Gabila's Knishes Factory, the number one supplier of potato knishes in the country, there is a shortage. The machinery used to make them was damaged, thus creating the problem. Otherwise, Gabila's makes and sells more knishes worldwide (so far, well over a billion) than any other company.



According to a Facebook message from the company promises to have the famous square knishes back in stores just in time for the upcoming Thanksgivukkah. Let's hope so!

French Fry Diary 539: Get Atomic at Cool Dog Café

You get LOTS more fries and rings than pictured here, but we were sharing.

The Atomic BBQ Sauce is one of three new sauces at the Cool Dog Café in Cherry Hill, along with TNT Mustard and Garlic Aioli, mmm. We had a friend visiting who had wanted to try Cool Dog because she'd heard so much about it, so what better time to go?

I ordered my regular, The Bride got hers, (isn't it great to have a local place with such good food where we can have 'regulars?') and our friend, who's a chef, caterer, and foodie herself actually got two different dogs, and the onion rings. She was very well impressed and would definitely be back.

With my required order of Cool Dog's award winning fresh cut fries, I also got an order of the Atomic BBQ sauce. It was sweet, but hot with a little bit of a kick, I loved it. The sauce was great for dipping, it was good on the fries, and the rings, and even on the dog (hint hint, if you're looking for ideas for future dogs, this is it).

And of course, the big news - is that the Hanukkah Dog will be returning to Cool Dog Cafe the week of Thanksgiving/Hanukkah, so get your appetites ready now!

Gibble's No More

Another potato chip company bites the dust, joining the ranks of Wonder Bread and Yodels on the list of foods we wish were still around. Here's the official story.

So, "the president of Martin's is married to the daughter of Gibble's founders." That's going to make Thanksgiving and other family get togethers very very interesting.

Maybe I will be able to snag some Gibble's to review before they disappear completely. Thanks to my buddy Ray for verifying what I think we all have been suspecting for a month or more. Thanks, Martin's Famous, now we know what you're famous for.

Random Tater Pic of the Day #74

White Castle Thanksgiving?

Catching up here, I haven't said anything so far about White Castle's fairly new Sweet Potato Waffle Fries. Here's a pic, and I'll have a review up as soon as I try them.

Speaking of White Castle, I have to pick your brains out there. Does anyone have the recipe for White Castle cheeseburger stuffing? I have heard rumors there are also WC fries in there as well. Anyone got it?

Random Tater Pic of the Day #27

A few days late, but better late than never. These are the mashed potatoes from this year's Thanksgiving dinner. This year the the event I attended was at The Bride's aunt's and her partner cooked for us, the in-laws and a dozen or so of his family, a wonderful family occasion as it should be. Oh yeah, and the potatoes were good too. ;-)

Pie Fries

Wondering what to do with all those Thanksgiving leftovers? Well, the folks at Jersey Bites have an idea for at least your Thanksgiving pie leftovers. Pie fries!

Well, not really pie leftovers, but what's leftover after you've baked your pies can be made into a wonderful new pastry snack. To learn the secrets of Allison Heller's pie fries check out the blog entry at Jersey Bites from the other day here.

Mmmm... pie fries...

French Fry Diary 177: Wegman's Signature Whipped Potatoes

My mother-in-law is a wonderful cook. Unfortunately she just doesn't cook that often. Let's be honest here, cooking is a lot of work. And cooking for Thanksgiving is the most work of all in that arena. For that reason, the last few Thanksgivings have been courtesy of Wegman's. And again, honestly, the folks at Wegman's aren't bad cooks either.

This year in particular, probably because of this blog, I have been hearing a lot of folks talking about the potatoes from Wegman's at Thanksgiving. Specifically the mashed potatoes. Officially called Wegman's Signature Whipped Potatoes, these are buttery mashed potatoes, quite addictive and tasty when hot. Not mom's, or even mom-in-law's, and a bit more liquid-y than I would prefer, but darned good for Thanksgiving dinner.

Thanksgiving - Potatoes Garlic and Rosemary

Chef Hendrik of Comfycuisine cooks up a tasty treat for Thanksgiving. Check it out.

French Fry Diary 90: The Thanksgiving Surprise

A recent invite to my aunt’s surprise 95th birthday party put this memory back in my mind. Perhaps it’s a tale of enabling, but in my book it’s a great memory of a wonderful aunt.

When I was eight years old my mom spent a Thanksgiving in the hospital. She was okay, just bad timing with stomach trouble, but my immediate family was left without a proper Thanksgiving dinner that year. My Aunt Hazel came to the rescue and invited us to her house for the holiday.

We had visited about a week before and at that time, knowing that even then I was a catastrophically picky eater, she pulled me aside and asked me what my favorite food was. Three guesses what my answer was, and the first two don’t count.

Imagine my surprise a week later when Thanksgiving dinner was served, and there with all the regular holiday dishes like turkey, cranberry sauce, stuffing, etc., was a bowl of crinkle cut French fries. Yeah, my aunt is one cool lady, happy birthday!

French Fry Diary 64: Memories of Mashed Potatoes

Potatoes have always been a huge part of Thanksgiving, and for a potato connoisseur like me, especially so. There are various casseroles, and sweet potato variations (even pies) and of course yams, but what I’ll be talking about today are mashed potatoes.

Many times during the year, as a time saver, or if she just wasn’t feeling up to it, my mom would do the easy thing – instant mashed potatoes. Usually these were the Idahoan variety. They weren’t bad, but you could tell when they weren’t home made. Also, those now-long-gone gigantic cans always bring back good memories. I can remember both wooden blocks and Tinker Toys being kept in those huge cans.

My mom’s home made mashed potatoes started with white potatoes skinned and boiled, then mashed with a fork before being sent to the mixer for a good whipping. Somewhere along the way equally mashed and mixed turnips would be added as well as butter. These smooth tasty mashed potatoes were a treat at many a dinner throughout the year and especially Thanksgiving.

Happy Holidays, folks!

How to Buy Potatoes for Thanksgiving

Grocery School gives us a lesson in buying potatoes just in time for Thanksgiving. Good luck buying them, enjoy the potatoes and have a Happy Holiday!

Potato Dumplings

Another great recipe from the Just Potatoes Yahoo! group. This one's a terrific idea with Thanksgiving coming up.

Potato Dumplings

4 medium potatoes, boiled
1/2 cup sifted flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
2 T grated onion with juice
1/2 cup dried bread crumbs
1 1/2 tsp melted butter
1 egg, slightly beaten
2 quarts boiling water
1/2 tsp salt

Rice the potatoes. Sift together flour, baking powder, salt and pepper. Combine riced
potatoes, flour mixture, onion, bread crumbs, butter and egg.

Mix well. Shape into 12 small balls and dredge lightly with flour. Chill. Drop dumplings into boiling salted water. Cover and boil 15 minutes. Serve. Enjoy.