Homemade Sweet Potato Tater Tots

2 large sweet potatoes

Sea Salt

1 tsp sea salt

1 tsp ground black pepper

1 tsp garlic powder

1 tsp onion powder

¼ tsp cayenne powder

½ cup flour

Vegetable Oil

In a med/large pot cover the potatoes with water by about 2 inches.  Add in about 4 tbsp sea salt.  Bring to a boil and cook for about 20 minutes or until a knife can pierce easily, but still firm.  Remove potatoes and let cool for about 5-10 minutes, then peel and roughly chop.

Add the potatoes in the food processor in batches and pulse about 5-10 times until you get a coarse chop.  Do not puree.  You want texture.  Add the potatoes into a bowl w/the sea salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder and cayenne pepper.  Stir in the ½ cup flour to combine.

In a medium saucepan heat the vegetable oil on med / high heat to about 350 degrees.  (I added a dash of garlic oil and a dash of hot pepper oil, or you could smash a garlic clove and place in the oil until browned and then removed).  Using a small cookie scoop or melon baler, scoop about a 1” ball of potato mixture into the oil and cook for about 2 minutes each side or until golden brown.  Remove onto a cooling rack or a tray lined with paper towels.

Dipping sauces are great but these should be so flavorful you won’t need any.  Enjoy.

Homemade Pretzels

1 ½ tbsp dry active yeast

1 ½ Water

1 tbsp Agave Nectar

2 ½ cups Whole Wheat Flour

2 Cups Flour (plus about ½ cup for dusting)

1 tsp sea salt

2 large Eggs

(toppings)

Mix 1 1/2 cups warm water (110 degrees F to 115 degrees F), the yeast and agave in a bowl. Set aside 5 minutes.

In a food processor fitted with the dough blade, pulse the whole-wheat flour, 2 cups all-purpose flour and the sea salt. Add 1 egg and the yeast mixture and pulse in 10-second intervals until the dough comes together, about 3 pulses. Turn out onto a floured board. Knead 10 to 12 times, adding up to 1/2 cup more flour if the dough is too sticky. Cut the dough into 4 equal portions; cover with a clean towel.

On a floured board, roll out one piece of dough into a 9 x 12-inch rectangle, 1/2 inch thick, with a shorter side facing you.

Cut the dough into three 12 x 3-inch strips.

Roll each strip into a rope. Transfer the rope to a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Grab the ends and twist them 3x and fold over to make a pretzel shape. Space the pretzels 1 inch apart. Set aside for 10 to 15 minutes; preheat the oven to 475 degrees F.

Beat the remaining egg in a bowl. Brush the pretzels with the egg; sprinkle with salt or other toppings. Bake until browned, 16 to 18 minutes.