hash browns – Loving Food, Fashion, & Life

The Waffle House Experience

Posted on March 1, 2016 by LFFL

Waffles & Hash browns

My personal experience at the Waffle House was less than ideal. It started when I drove up to the place and parked my car. The few workers that were there were all congregated outside the place just ‘hanging out.’ It definitely wasn’t a staff meeting.

On this particular day, I happened to go straight after work. The place was pretty empty except for one lone man eating on the far side of the restaurant from where I was seated.

As you may or may not know, the menu is also very limited here—waffles, eggs, hash browns, and maybe a couple other things, but that’s pretty much it. I placed my order with the girl who escorted me to my table—she also happened to be the one that cooked my food as she smacked on her chewing gum.

As I observed my surroundings and watched her cook my food, I realized anyone could probably just come in off the street and slop their own food around in this “kitchen.” The place did not look very clean and it was less than appealing to watch the food being made.

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Eggbert's Sunriser—A Hash Brown Goulash

Posted on March 1, 2014 by LFFL

Made with frozen diced hash browns, frozen steak fries, canola oil, salt & pepper, butter, onion, green bell pepper, red bell pepper, diced ham, sharp cheddar cheese, eggs, and salsa.

This was a big pile of goulash with a little bit of everything thrown into it—or so it seemed. I don’t think it really mattered what you put into this.

Once again, I must say—this would have probably tasted SO much better had I made my own hash browns from scratch instead of using the frozen store-bought kind that the recipe called for. I mean, I just followed recipe directions and, soon after, regretted getting the frozen variety.

I thought this was a pretty good dish for goulash, but “real” potatoes would have made a BIG difference—I know for a fact.

Melt the cheese in the oven.

Cook the steak fries.

Cook the hash browns.

Sautee the veggies & ham.

Top with shredded cheese.

Cheese melted.

And although a jalapeño is optional for this recipe, I did buy one just in case I wanted to use it. I’m not a spicy foods girl so I was reluctant to even bother with it. As I sliced the jalepeño, I made the mistake of chopping a teeny tiny part and tasting it. That was a HUGE MISTAKE!!! And I mean HUGE!

I didn’t realize my tongue and lips were going to burn for an eternity while I sucked ice cubes, drank milk, soaked cotton balls in milk and put them on my tongue, and everything else I could think of to put out the fire—OH THE MISERY!! Why would I think a piece of jalapeño THAT tiny would burn the dickens out of my mouth?!

Needless to say, that darn jalapeño went straight to the garbage and never made an appearance into the recipe or my LIFE ever again!

Once you’re done with the goulash, make some eggs to your liking and top the goulash with the eggs and some salsa.

Recipe for—Eggbert’s Sunriser

So, if you have nothing else to do today, try your hand at some hash brown goulash with some fresh potatoes.

Take-Away Life Lesson: NEVER pop a raw jalapeño piece into your mouth to taste it no matter how tiny of a piece it is unless you have about 30-45 minutes to set yourself on fire.

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A Deluxe Breakfast Bake
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A Deluxe Breakfast Bake

Posted on February 2, 2014 by LFFL

Made with garlic & cheese croutons, cheddar cheese, ham, eggs, milk, ground mustard, cream of mushroom soup, frozen hash browns, paprika, and pepper.

So I tried a breakfast bake that actually looked and sounded better in the food magazine than it actually did in real life. Well, I guess it looked just fine but the taste was just so-so. It wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t as fabulous as I would have liked.

Needless to say, this won’t be staying around for my recipe binder. It was good enough that I was happy I had something to eat all week. It was just fine, but it didn’t have that “wow” factor. You know?

The croutons

Ham & cheese

Add the egg mixture

Spread the cream of mushroom

Top with shredded hashbrowns

And don’t get me started on frozen hash browns vs. freshly shredded potatoes. Talk about a taste difference! There is clearly a difference, people.

Recipe for—Deluxe Breakfast Bake

So, if you have nothing else to do today, try making your own breakfast bake putting your own little spin on it and concocting it your way.

Take-Away Life Lesson: Try using fresh potatoes where a recipe calls for frozen hash browns. I bet it’ll make loads of difference just with the potato taste alone.

My Comfort On A Cold Day

Posted on December 9, 2013 by LFFL

A 6″ x 5″ x 2″ Cinnamon Roll, a Five-Way Grilled Cheese Sandwich, Hash browns with cheddar cheese, and French Vanilla Cappuccinos.

Well this is going to be my comfort food for the day. This should last me all morning for breakfast and maybe even lunch. Thank goodness for local diners!

I refuse to leave the house because the streets are slippery, there’s snow on the ground, and mainly because it’s like 8°F outside! I abhor this weather. I’ll take 150ºF over this nonsense any day.

It’s a snuggle kind of day under a throw blanket on the couch with flannel pajamas and hot food and drinks while watching television and DVDs.

It’s been so cold lately that I think I’ve now seen every episode of:

Criminal Minds
CSI: Miami
Looney Tunes (the early cartoon years)
Law & Order: SVU
The First 48
Breaking Bad
Perry Mason (the black & white days)
Twilight Zone (my love for the genius Rod Serling)
All my peeps on the Food Network (I could stare at food all day)
Modern Family
Oh—I’m now one of those people who is deep into Scandal. Talk about an addicting television show! My word! I’ve missed several episodes though and will be forced to get the DVD series, I’m sure.
And, of course, last night I had several different channel options to choose from to watch the new Bonnie & Clyde movie. Who knew it’d be on so many different channels at the exact same time. Take your pick.

So, if you have nothing else to do today, snuggle on the couch in your comfort clothing with your comfort food while watching your favorite comfort TV shows and movies.

Take-Away Life Lesson: Always make good use of cold days if staying indoors. Warm weather will be here soon enough—no, not really, more like 4-5 months. I CAN’T POSSIBLY WAIT THAT LONG!!!

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Are You Kidding Me? No Cinnamon Rolls?!

A Cafe I Should Have By-Passed

Posted on October 29, 2013 by LFFL

Grilled Cheese Sandwich, Hash browns, Biscuits & Gravy, Pancake, and Cinnamon Sugar Toast.

Now this is one café I could have done without going to altogether! I tried this café on the advice of a couple of ladies (whom I did not know) who said this was an absolutely great little diner to get some good eatin’.

I had never heard of it and didn’t even know where it was located—but I found my way. Boy, did I ever!

Dead flies on the window sill are always a plus.

Not a smile to be found.

Empty-ish.

The café was pretty much empty except for the neighborhood regulars—who, surprisingly, can eat subpar food. I couldn’t even eat all mine—it was so NOT good. Only the cinnamon sugar toast made me smile a tad.

As you can see from the windowsill, there were two dead flies who seemed to have found themselves a permanent burial site as well. That’s always a plus. (I noticed this as I was eating my delectable breakfast, no less.)

Nobody that was there was happy to be there—or at least as you can tell from their faces they looked unhappy or grumpy.

So, if you have nothing else to do today, try a new little café in your part of town—even if only to give you the knowledge of how great or not it is. Maybe you can save a friend from a similar fate.

Take-Away Life Lesson: Not every little café/diner that someone else thinks is over-the-top fantastic is going to be that way to you.

Fried Potatoes

Posted on September 13, 2013 by LFFL

Made with new red potatoes, Vidalia onion, red bell pepper, smoked paprika, olive oil, salt & pepper, fresh parsley, and homemade BBQ seasoning (made from paprika, sugar, and onion powder).

I’m not even going to begin to tell you how many servings I think this will feed because you’ll think I’m a pig (not that you already don’t from previous posts).

Recipe for—BBQ Home-Fried Potatoes

Made with russet potatoes, Vidalia onion, fresh chives, turkey bacon, salt & pepper, and butter.

If the skillet weren’t so hot at the end of the cooking process, you could just put it in your lap and have at it.

Recipe for—Hash Browns

So, if you have nothing else to do today, immerse yourself into some homemade fried potatoes. Smell, live, breathe, and eat fried potatoes all day today.

Take-Away Life Lesson: McDonald’s fries can’t even compare to homemade potatoes ANY day of the year.

I Luuuuvvv A Good Breakfast

Posted on February 21, 2013 by LFFL

Biscuits & Scrambled Eggs smothered in gravy; fully loaded Hash browns with green onions, bacon, and cheese; Pancakes with whipped butter and maple syrup; and a super large 6″ x 5″ x 2″ Cinnamon Roll loaded with frosting.
(Of course, I can never go to this place without getting a cinnamon roll.)

So, you all know I pretty much dig my local hometown diner because of those cinnamon rolls (among other things), right? Well, I took myself out for breakfast one fine day and this is what I ended up with at the very same diner. Who knew? I just love me some breakfast! I could eat it anytime 24 hours a day. And I never worry about having someone to go with because I have no problem eating out by myself. It’s awesome.

On another beautiful outing, my breakfast consisted of:
Pancakes with whipped butter and maple syrup; a 5-Way Grilled Cheese Sandwich with Swiss, Monterey Jack, Cheddar, Parmesan, and American cheeses on thick-cut egg bread; Ham & Egg Biscuit Sandwich with Cheddar cheese; and loaded Hash browns with bacon, green onions, Swiss & Cheddar cheeses.

And, YES, this was all for me. I wish people would stop asking me that like this is so abnormal. What kind of eating are you doing, anyway? You’re not living and enjoying life too swell if you’re not eatin’ like this!

So, if you have nothing else to do today, go grab a big breakfast by yourself at your local hometown diner and order a minimum of 5 items for yourself, eat, and enjoy.

Take-Away Life Lesson: Ignore all the people staring at you and your food in disbelief when they expect a 2nd and a 3rd person to join you and then realize no one else is coming. I do. Mind your biz.