Receta Bacon-Wrapped Tater Tots...
Look up! I no longer have a navigation bar - it's gone. I'm back to the basics...having a separate page for quilts and sewing projects seemed like a good idea, that way I would never get any food on my quilts, haha, but it only proved to take more time and that's something I'm a little short on these days. Having two pages was the same as having two blogs - and I decided it was better to do one poorly than two. Now, instead of clicking over to see my latest quilt or sewing disaster, you can just stay here. It's easier for both of us...and for those of you who liked seeing only food or only fabrics, well, you can always scroll down fast or pop in another day - as nothing stays the same around here for long.
After Monday's tease, I'm sure you've been waiting for this recipe - and I'm sure you die-hards already clicked over to Nibble Me This to get it for yourself. I really try not to post recipes found on other people's blogs when I can just give you a link but this appetizer is so unique and fun and tasty and horrifically fattening that I just had to give it to you here...think of it as a gift. And after you make and eat these, be sure to blame Chris at Nibble Me This, not me, when you get on the bathroom scales!
Five ingredients. Sugar, seasoned salt, Cayenne pepper, tater tots and bacon...five ingredients that will have you smackin' your lips and lickin' your fingers. (Defibrillator is optional.) The boy was raised on tater tots, fish sticks and Happy Meals...do not judge me...he lived. When he saw the tater tots in the freezer he actually walked over and gave me a hug. Tater tots make his world go round!
Please make sure you cover your baking sheet with foil...I did not...and it took two days of soaking and scrubbing to remove the burned on sugar. But it was still worth it. I served these on game day with Sweet Baby Ray's BBQ Sauce and they were gone before the kick-off. Thanks Chris, for another great recipe!! As a disclaimer, you need to know that I do not personally know Chris, I am not related to him nor am I having his child. (I just look this way because I eat bacon-wrapped tater tots!) Out of all the Barbecue blogs out there, Chris is my "go-to-guy" for anything that is grilled, or for when I want spicy-down-home-greatness...his food is mind-blasting (better than mind-blowing) and his step-by-step directions are easy enough for anyone to follow so you should get to know him, too, but not personally, he's married!
Bacon-Wrapped Tater Tots - Adapted From Chris at Nibble Me This
(I made Chris's recipe exactly as he'd written it the first time, but the second time I made these I used brown sugar instead of Turbinado sugar. I liked the way the brown sugar mixed with the cayenne and salt and it was easier to spread onto the bacon. Turbinado sugar is crystallized so it didn't blend as easily and when sprinkled on top it tended to fall off...still, it was excellent! Also, the second time I made these I made twice as many because 16 was just not enough so you might want to double up, too!)
16 frozen Tater Tots (I used Ore-Ida's Extra Crispy)
- 8 slices of thin bacon, cut in half
- 2 tablespoons of Turbinado sugar or brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon seasoned salt
- 1/4 teaspoon Cayenne pepper or more if you want more of a kick
Preheat oven to 450 degrees. In a small bowl combine the sugar, salt and Cayenne pepper. Line a rimmed baking sheet with foil. Place a rack on top of the lined sheet. Sprinkle the sugar mixture over the bacon strips. Place one tater tot on each half bacon strip and roll up. Place seam side down on the raised rack.
Chris had these tips: "If you have a more fatty end, start on the leaner end so the fat will be on the outside and can render easier. The raised rack works better because it lets the hot air circulate around all edges. Also, it keeps the tot from sitting in oil once the bacon fat starts to render down."
See, I told you he knew his stuff! Sprinkle any remaining sugar mixture over assembled tater tots. Bake in 450 degree oven for 20 minutes, or until bacon turns crispy, checking after about 15 minutes to turn tater tots if needed.
Serve these with your favorite BBQ sauce or ketchup - they are dang good! Five dangs on the ol' meter...and if you're watching your weight, you can always serve some plain tater tots along side the bacon-wrapped ones!! Seriously, these are dang, dang, dang, dang, dang good!