Tater Tot Baked Dip

I bought an enormous bag (8 lbs!) of tater tots, and accidentally bought 8 too many boxes of cream cheese, so I decided to look up recipes that included tater tots and cream cheese.  

I found lots of tater tot dip recipes that used sour cream, so I decided to just sub the sour cream with cream cheese (as I have done with many dips before).

For this Tater Tot Baked Dip, simply chop 3 cups of thawed tater tots, and mix it with 2 blocks of softened cream cheese, 1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese, and 1 packet of Lipton Onion Soup Mix.

Pour the contents into a pie plate, top with an additional cup of shredded cheddar cheese, and bake for 30 minutes at 375 degrees Fahrenheit.

Garnish with green onions, and serve warm with crackers.

Next time I'm adding bacon!

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Tater Tot Waffle Grilled Cheese

I love tots.  And I love a good grilled cheese.

You can have them both at the same time in a Tater Tot Waffle Grilled Cheese Sandwich! 

I actually made it once before, but have since learned how to make it better. 

Simply take thawed tater tots, pack them in neatly and nicely into a waffle maker (if you don't pack them in, you risk the waffle falling apart).

Cook until crispy (about 9-10-minutes).

Make another tater tot waffle, cook until crispy, and place cheese on top of the waffle, (I used American cheese this time around), followed by the already cooked tater tot waffle.

Close waffle maker and cook until golden brown and nice and crisp.  Test out the texture with a spatula or fork.  Make sure it feels strong enough to hold up to picking up with your hands.  Of course, there is nothing wrong if you have to eat the tots and melted cheese with a fork.  

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Happy Hour at PAI

One of my favorite things on the new PAI Happy Hour menu is the Furikake Tater Tots.  I just love tots!

So I planned a get-together with some foodie friends to go to PAI so I could eat more of those yummy tots.

And then I saw an Instagram post for Baller Tots, and I knew I had to order them!

Baller Tots

These housemade tots, topped with Australian Black Winter Truffles and caviar, will blow away just about anyone who loves tots.  Or truffles. 

It's an off-menu item, made for the Chef's parents, but if truffles are not your thing (and if not, why not?), then you can still order the Furikake Tater Tots (we ordered both).  They are so good!!!

Furikake Tater Tots

Other Happy Hour items:

Katsu Adobo Head Cheese Bao Bun

Broccoli & White Cheddar Dip in a House-Baked Sourdough Bread Bowl

Smoked Saba Cabbage Salad

PAI 55

I love the Headcheese Bao!

We also ordered dishes off of the regular menu:

Savory Bites Sampler: Mushroom Puff, Deviled Egg, Beef Tartare, Salmon Toast

Seared Hudson Valley Foie Gras

Chicken-Fried Oyster Mushroom

The Chicken-Fried Oyster Mushrooms are amazing!

We were treated to a trio of desserts:

If you visit PAI during Happy Hour (T-Sa 4:30pm - 6:30pm), be sure to ask for the Baller Tots!

Lunch is launching soon!  Can't wait!

PAI Honolulu
55 Merchant St Suite 110

Honolulu, HI 96813
(808) 744-2531

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