Schoolhouse Recipes: Crocchette di Patate (a.k.a. Fried Mashed Potatoes)

Cook like an Italian, speak like an American.
Four words.
Damn you, Food Network.

So I was minding my own business reading the last bit of our book club page-turner at nearly 1 a.m. (shameless plug: Terminal Rage by A.M. Khalifa) when I actually paid attention to what my husband was watching on t.v. It was a burger fest of sorts. Cheddar and sauces that the average Italian would turn their nose up at the sight of that made me drool and beef patties and oh...you just have no idea. My husband and I, both salivating uncontrollably, looked at each other and headed for the kitchen.

No beef. No patties. No cheese. No buns. No burgers.

I deferred to his expertise. The kitchen is his sanctuary. He normally knows what to do in these situations, and he didn't disappoint. "Vabbe...faccio....crocchette di patate." I nodded like I was going to help.

Ten minutes later we were munching on these. And we still are.

It's the perfect snack for the southern girl in me...like fried mashed potatoes.
Can I get a "Hallelujah!"?!

Here's how he did it:

left over mashed potatoes

breadcrumbs 

an egg

beat it manually

get out your ugly frying pan that I know you have and use exclusively for frying
cover surface with sunflower oil and heat on high--don't let the oil pop though.

 Clump some mashed potato mix together...

dip it in the egg wash

roll it around in the breadcrumbs

fry your little heart out on both sides

remove, drain excess oil, and enjoy

Now we can keep watching the food network in peace without a serious case of food envy.