Does anyone else out there regularly get packages delivered to their doorstep and get so excited because they’ve completely forgotten what they ordered a few days before? Or am I the only one with an online shopping addiction?!
Ok, good, I knew I wasn’t the only one who did things like that! Today I came home from work and there was this long skinny package and I couldn’t, for the life of me, remember what I hard ordered. The worst part is, it isn’t like I’m ordering something and then waiting weeks for it to come. I’m ordering something and then thanks to my BFF Amazon Prime it comes to my doorstep 72 hours later. Somewhere in that 72 hours I completely forget that I’ve ordered something and it is like Christmas when my package arrives!
I was so excited when I pulled up the driveway to see a package at the door. Although I couldn’t remember what it was, I figured it was for me and I was really hoping that maybe my husband had possibly missed the huge package sitting by the front door when he came home. He doesn’t quite approve of my online shopping addiction as much as Cheeto does. That might have something to do with the fact that my husband gets no satisfaction out of jumping in and out of empty boxes!
I finally opened my package and was delighted to find my new tripod sitting inside! I had been using a tripod that I got from a friend for some time now and apparently in its previous life the top had fallen off. A few days ago I had my camera sitting on top, thank goodness I was holding it, and the entire top of the tripod just came right off! I grabbed my camera and then had a mini heart attack! I usually only use a tripod if I am doing a fun action food shot, but now that I have a nice new one I’m gonna try to shoot with it more. I’ll let you now how that turns out!
Now, onto the tots! If you’ve never made homemade tater tots before you really should start homemade tater totting asap! And, yes they are good enough to have their own verb! I love eating tater tots, but for some reason I always feel like a kid when I have them. These tater tots are baked so you don’t have to feel too guilty about eating a whole tray full (not that that happened…) and they also have some grown up flavors in them like green apples and smoked gouda. I try not to eat too much cheese these days, but I can never pass up a big block of smoked gouda.
I used to work in a cafe where one of my jobs was to grate all the gouda cheese. I always ended up eating more cheese than I grated š These baked tater tots are seriously so easy to make and hardly require any ingredients at all. And, to top things off they are even seasonal with the addition of the green apple! And, if you weren’t already convinced, we all know that apples and cheese go hand in hand so these tots will be one of best bites you’ve ever had!
Print
Baked Tater Tots with Smoked Gouda & Green Apple
- Total Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
Ingredients
- 4 russet potatoes
- 3 green apples, peeled and grated
- 1 1/2 – 2 cups shredded smoked gouda cheese, depending on how cheesy you want them
- 1 teaspoon salt
- olive oil, coconut oil, or canola oil
Instructions
- Place potatoes in a large pot and cover with cold water. Bring to a boil over medium heat and boil for 15-20 minutes, until you can stick a fork into the potato, but it is still firm in the middle. Let potatoes cool for a few minutes and then peel the skin off of them. Grate potatoes using a box grater and place in a large bowl.
- Heat a large pan over medium heat and saute the grated apples, with a very small amount of oil for about 3 minutes, until just beginning to soften.
- Pre-heat oven to 450 degrees F. Add the green apple to the potatoes and then add the salt and shredded cheese. Mix potato mixture with your hands until everything is evenly distributed. Form mixture into cylinders and place onto a sheet pan covered in parchment paper. Place tater tots in the freezer for about ten minutes until they have firmed up.
- Cover another large sheet pan with parchment paper and lay tater tots out evenly spaced. Brush the top of each tater tot with a small amount of olive oil. Place into the pre-heated oven and bake for about 30 minutes, flipping halfway though.
Notes
Recipe makes 40-50 tater tots, depending on how big you make them.
- Prep Time: 40 mins
- Cook Time: 50 mins
Throw back Thursday of Cheeto and the husband!
I love getting packages!! Amazon prime is totally dangerous!! Haha. I love that you made homemade tots, and the apple/gouda combo sounds amazing. Baby Cheeto is too cute <3 <3 <3
So dangerous!! Clicking a button is so much easier than going to the store and buying something! I want to make homemade tater tots everyday now! Baby Cheeto says hi š
I totally order things and forget about them until the package is at the door! So funny. I don’t have a tripod, and I really need to get on it. No more blurry photos would be so nice. š I would devour this entire tray of tator tots — they look amazing!
I’m so glad I’m not the only one who does that Marcie! Haha, I really need to start using one more too, it is the worst when you start downloading all your pics and they are all blurry!
I love smoked gouda! These look absolutely amazing. Proper comfort food.
Thanks Dannii! I love smoked gouda so much too! it makes everything taste better!
I’ve had many packages arrive and I can’t remember what I ordered. Seems to always happen when my husband is home. It doesn’t look good to respond I don’t know. Haha
These tots look delicious! I love the flavor combination and that they are baked.
Haha, that had me laughing, Cindy! It definitely does not look good telling the husband that you forgot what you ordered!
I have a habit of forgetting that I’ve ordered stuff too and get surprised to see a package at my doorstep.. haha. Glad I’m not the only one!
Love the flavors in these tater tots. These sounds so delicious!
Isn’t it so much fun?! It is like Christmas everyday! Thanks so much, Danielle!
I just love the idea of adding apple and gouda to potatoes … I would definitely eat the whole lot to myself before you could blink!
As for your Amazon addiction, well I think I’ll be the same shortly as I’ve just moved into a new apartment (well, from tomorrow, anyhow). I’ll let you know if it gets to the point where I can’t remember what I ordered! (thanks for the heads-up, girl!)
Thank you, Helen! Haha, I don’t think I blinked either while I was eating the whole tray! I always want to buy all new stuff when I move, I hope you have fun picking out some new things š I give it a few days before you start forgetting what you have ordered, haha!
Haha I love getting packages and totally forget what I ordered too š Yay for a new tripod and I love love love these tater tots! The apples and gouda sound amazing in here! Such a great and tasty idea!
It is like Christmas!! Thanks so much Kelly! They are one of my new food obsessions š
Yay for a new tripod! I seriously don’t know what I would do without mine! One of my can’t-live-without kinda things. š And these tater tots! Omg can you say genius?! Gouda and apples is the best combo ever and I can’t even being to explain how awesome these are sounding to me right now! Must try.
I think I need to start making mine a can’t live without item! I need to get some practice using it more. Thank you so much! Isn’t Gouda the best?!! I hope you love them, Sarah š
Very creative recipe! Love gouda + apple š
Thanks so much, Medha!
I shop online a lot, so I frequently forget what I’ve ordered! I hope you like your new tripod, I use mine for almost every photo. I’ve never made tarter tots before, but I really should start! These look delicious, especially with the green apple addition! (I love green apple!)
Haha, I’m glad to hear that it is a common thing! I really want to start getting in the habit of using one more, I think it would help a lot! Yes, you need to make your own tots asap!! You wont’ regret it š
I just had a package come for me yesterday, and I couldn’t remember what i had ordered either! Best feeling ever. It’s like getting a surprise present from your past self. Mine was a little lumbar seat thingy so I have better posture.
Let me know if you like your tripod! I’ve been thinking about shooting with one so I can use a lower shutter speed and not have to crank my ISO so much. But the one we have for videography is a BEAST! It’s huge, and not very convenient to whip out for a quick photo shoot.
These tater tots sound so good!
Haha, I’m so glad I’m not the only one! “getting a surprise present from your past self” that is hilarious, Natalie! I don’t know if I’ll ever get to where I use it all the time, but I would love to feel more comfortable using one, especially for low light situations. Haha, yeah, you might want one a little smaller for your food photography! I’ll make sure to give you a full report š
These are so awesome, love the flavors!!
Thanks so much, Matt!
LOL- no, you’re not the only one with an online shopping addiction. I guarantee mine is way worse than yours. At least you have an excuse that it helps provide Cheeto some entertainment. š
And I’m loving these tater tots! The textures and flavors of the apple and gouda sound to-die-for!!
Haha, do dogs like boxes as much as cats do?! It is so much easier to shop when all you have to do is click a button and then it is at your doorstep in two days!
Oh my gosh. Guilty! I do that too. I have no idea how that happens!!!! Looking into a tripod myself!!! Looking forward to a detailed report š These are just genius by the way. Apple and cheese is the best combo in the world. So creative!!! Love you lots xoxo
Al! I did used to drink wine and Amazon shop and that was really bad! Not only was I forgetting that I ordered things, but I was also wondering why the heck I had ordered it in the first place! So far the tripod is still in the box, but I plan on breaking it out this weekend, I will def let you now how I like it! It was cheap, but I’m hoping it will do the job. You are so right, apples and cheese forever!! xoxoxox! Love you!
I’ve actually never shot with a tripod, but I want one! YOu’ll have to report back on how you like your new one.
These tater tots sound MAJORLY delicious. SO much fun in every bite!
I hardly ever use one either, but the other day I shot three recipes and my arm hurt so bad at the end of the night that I think a tripod might help me avoid carpel tunnel, lol!
I totally do that with packages, too, Izzy! And then the one day I forget to look to see if a packaged arrived, my husband walks in the door with it! š Congrats on your new tripod, too! These tater tots sound amazing, Izzy! I’ve never made my own before, as I’m too lazy and usually just buy the frozen kind. But you’ve inspired me to make this delicious home-made version!
My husband just leaves them outside, lol! I don’t think he is too thrilled with my addiction! You should totally make your own, Gayle! I was so surprised at how easy they were to make and you can eat more because they are baked, at least that is what I tell myself!
I love the kid/grown up combo recipe you have going on here! I confess, when I’m craving tator tots, I just buy them at the store. But I can see why russet potatoes would make great tots so I can’t wait to try these. But the gouda and green apple bit, wow, wonderful sensations. Love having things shipped to my house….although it’s mostly Disney Frozen items, oh well!
I usually just buy them from the store too, but after making these and realizing how easy they are I don’t know if I will buy them from the store again! Haha, I haven’t seen Frozen yet, but I’m guessing your girls are probably pretty obsessed with it!
If anyone claims they DONT have an online shopping addiction, I just assume they have some sort of issue with lying, too. Gouda + tater tots sound like an incredible time, especially with the apple thrown in there!
Haha! I love your way of thinking, Kelly! It cracks me up š gouda plus anything and everything is an incredible time!!
Ok, this sounds like the best savory combination ever – smoked gouda, green apple and potatoes! š I need to start totting ASAP and make these tater tots – they look amazing! Pinned!
And now I also think I need to get on this Amazon Prime everybody is talking about! You are not the only one with an online shopping addiction for sure! Have you ever shopped on Vitacost? I’m seriously addicted!!
Thank you, Ceara! Haha, you really do need to start totting asap! You won’t regret it! Amazon Prime can be good and bad, but mostly I love it! The only bad part is that I buy pretty much everything I need, including food, off of it because it is free shipping and I will get it in two days and I spend way too much money! I’m not familiar with vitacost, but I’m going to check it out right now!
Ooo – new tripod?! What kind did you get? I’m in the market for one that’s much easier to use than the dinosaur I currently have, but I’m so darn indecisive that I can’t pick one!
These tots sound awesome! APPLES?! You’re a genius. I’d eat them all myself and tell my husband, “GET YOUR OWN TOTS” if he even looked my way.
I didn’t really do much research, I tend to be pretty impulsive when it comes to shopping haha, It is a 72 inch Elite Series that was pretty cheap off Amazon and got decent reviews. My old one wasn’t too great, so I figure anything will be better! I’ll let you know how I like it!
HAHA! I pretty much ate all the tots while my husband was paying the bills š