Potato Pancakes

When I was little, my fathered loved potato pancakes.  I hated them.  When we had them for dinner, he would make me stay at the table until I ate my serving of them.  Hours would pass with me trying to swallow a bite of those nasty cold disks until finally he would relent and I could go to bed.  I couldn't even look at potato pancakes for years.  As I aged and came to terms with people and their unkind behavior, I learned how to like these classics and make them the way they should be made, my dad's were nasty and he ate them with creamed corn....hurl!
 I start mine off by sauteing some diced onion and garlic with thyme and salt and pepper.

 Shred your potatoes and soak them in water.  I used about 6 medium potatoes.  Drain the water and wrap them in a towel to dry.

 Place them in a bowl and add some flour.  The measurements all depend on how many you are making.  I added about 1 C. of flour.

 Beat 2 large eggs and add them to the bowl. Mix thoroughly.  You don't want them too doughy but you do want them to hold together in the pan.

 At this point you can add chives or parsley or any other flavoring you like.

 I like to use a cast iron skillet to fry these.  Heat some oil (about 1/4 inch) to slightly over medium heat and scoop a little over half a cup of the mixture into the skillet for each cake.

 Be patient and let them cook until they turn golden on the bottom.  Flip them over and do the same on the other side. Remove and drain on paper towels.

 Sprinkle them with some sea salt.  Some people like to eat them with apple sauce.  I like to serve them with sour cream and caviar.  We have lots of Russian food markets around here so I can get really decent caviar at a very affordable price.  Plus, you don't need much, a little goes a long way.

Comments

Dee said…
Those look so good. I love potatoes.
Anonymous said…
I love potato pancakes and my grandmother made delicious ones. We usually have them with smoked or salt pork and lots of lingonberry jam :-)

Have a great day!
Christer.
Pastel Moose said…
It's interesting how presentation can shape your experience as a child. My Lithuanian Father used to shred a mountain of potatoes and pile them on the kitchen table. I know, tres sanitary!!) He'd make a well in the middle and put the flour and eggs in there. Then mix them up. I have *good* memories of potato pancakes.

I haven't had them for ages and ages. I get Meals on Wheels now ... they're not that creative.

Barb
NanaDiana said…
Those sound great. I cheat and make them with thawed out frozen hash browns. Shhhhhhh......

That reminds me-I haven't made them in a while. xo Diana
brokenteepee said…
I love them too - the patience is the important part!
Nellie said…
We go the easy way! Leftover mashed potatoes sometimes receive this new look here.:-)
TARYTERRE said…
Love potato latkes with sour cream and applesauce. YUMM! YUMM!
Guillaume said…
Ate them sometimes, never made them. They look delicious.
Anonymous said…
oh they are so good and I make mine just like you do, sorry you have such sad memories, where ever your Dad is now may be very sorry he was mean, we can only hope,
jerilanders said…
I absolutely Hated those potato pancake my mother made! I never ate another after I left home. (but even worse than that was her lima beans and liver meal, just awful) I guess you could say my mom couldn't cook worth a hoot.. but my dad was a chef! I think you are too and would probably love YOUR potato pancakes!
Kay said…
Oh yes! We've always loved latkes since we moved to the Midwest. I love them with apple sauce.
Kay said…
Thank you so much for showing us how you make it! This looks really delicious.
They are very good with smoked salmon and sour cream, too.
If you were here I would give you the BIGGEST hug! It's the flour that was missing all these years! I put in the onion, the eggs and they just didn't turn out..I can't wait to try these in the morning. THANK YOU! I am beginning to wonder how I ever lived without you! LOL Yeah..I know that's going toooo far..but you really are a joy to me!
thewiildmagnola said…
The potato pancakes do look crisp and yummy.

Sorry for your childhood experience.....
luckybunny said…
If I could have one thing right now, it would be your potato pancakes!