It’s a fact: Americans love tots, and last year consumed 3.5 billion of them. And not just at home. From fast-food joints to high-end restaurants, chefs are joining the tot trend, serving exotically spiced tots or fun mash-ups like Totchos, with tots replacing the corn chips in nachos. But now, prepare for TOT-al domination! Created by mad-genius food blogger Dan Whalen, Tots! elevates the … elevates the friendly little tater to its place in the culinary spotlight.
This irresistible cookbook with a nubby tot-texture on the cover offers 50 delicious, playful, and surprising recipes for snacks, appetizers, inspired main dishes, and inspired sides, even desserts. (Yes, you could create an entire tot-centric dinner.) Here are party dishes like Buffalo Tots and Tot Poutine. A Tot Caesar for an elegant starter. Tots for breakfast, like Tots Benedict and a Tot Shakshuka, and tots for dinner–Moules Tots, Chicken Tot Pie, Tater Tot Pizza, and Bibimtot. Side dishes–next Thanksgiving, try Sausage and Tot Stuffing. And for sweets lovers, Tot Churros (deep-fried and dipped in chocolate ganache), Apple Tot Crumble (that crispy salty tot topping really plays off the warm sweet apples), and Tot S’mores–a heavenly melt of a dish.
Every recipe uses frozen commercial tots–but Dan Whalen also shows die-hard tot lovers how to make tots from scratch and then alter their creations with different spices (think Tots Vindaloo) and sauces. It’s TOT-ally awesome.
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I love tator tots, and seeing a book full of tot recipes instantly grabbed my attention. Plain ol’ tots are yummy just as they are, but I’m always looking for new ways to dish up old favorites, and couldn’t wait to see what this cookbook had to offer.
The book kicks off with Tots 101, filling you in on everything you ever wanted to know about tots. You’ll learn about the different sizes and types of tots. (How did I not know there was such a thing as sweet potato tots?!) You’ll also learn about the different ways you can cook them, and how to make your own tots from scratch—including a variety of seasonings, sauces, and dips for your tots.
Covering everything from appetizers to desserts, Whalen shows how versatile the tator tot can be. With recipes varying from familiar staples (Bacon-Wrapped Tots) to wittily-named creations (Tot-al Eclairs of the Heart), the recipes made me hungry and, occasionally, made me chuckle over the clever names.
I haven’t tried any of the recipes out yet, but I intend to do so in the very-near future—the Monster Tot Bacon Grilled Cheese, perhaps? That sounds delish, right?< If you love tots as much as I do, be sure to check out this cookbook! Fun fact: this is the first review I've ever written that made me hungry. I received an advance reading copy of this book courtesy of Workman Publishing via Netgalley.
So we got an advanced copy of this to review a while back, and I’ve got to say, my daughter and I loved it. She loves trying some of the recipies out, and I have to admit, it’s a fun book to work through with your kids and/or significant other.
A cookbook all about potato tots? How could I not want to read this book?! 50 different recipes for a freezer staple in my house is just what I need!
TOTS! TOT-ALLY AWESOME RECIPES FROM TACHOS TO SWEET PO-TOT-O PIE opens with a short, to the point introduction from author Dan Whalen, about his research into the world of tots.
There are just five chapters in this book of potato tot goodness, but they are packed with information and recipes covering from the basics – a sort of Tots 101, to dessert tots. Yes, you read that correctly. Dessert tots!
TOTS! has a simple, easy to follow design. The recipes pages are straightforward with no illustrations. There aren’t photos for each recipe, but the ones included are full color, beautifully done, and made me hungry.
There are 160 pages of information, including a fun tot timeline, from when they started to what they are today, and recipes like Homemade Tots, Rosemary Truffle Tots, Tots Poutine, Spinach-Tot Dip, Cheeseburger Tot Sliders, Deviled Tots, Tots Benedict, Chicken and Tot-Waffles, Mac ‘N’ Tot ‘N’ Cheese, Totsgiving Stuffing, Apple Tot Crunch, Salted Caramel Tot Cookies, and many more!
Overall, I enjoyed TOTS!, and have found many dishes that will be instant hits in my home. Will you read the word ‘tots’ a lot? You sure will! But go with it, and enjoy the funny, punny names of these creative recipes.
You have tot, ummm I mean, got to check out TOTS! TOT-ALLY AWESOME RECIPES FROM TACHOS TO SWEET PO-TOT-O PIE!