Roasted White Nugget Potatoes

Happy Canada Day! I thought the Canadians in my reading audience (as opposed to those in my listening audience, who never hear me say a damned thing in this blog) might find this recipe a fast, convenient way to serve nugget potatoes for their Canada Day dinner. My green grocer featured the recipe in a recent ad: I’ve modified it from the original. The recipe. Not the ad. That would not be nice. I might also get sued.

I am frequently asked: “How do Canadians spend Canada Day?” Although I have had only limited contact with Canadians, I have gradually come to know their gentle ways. Each July 1, Canadians square-dance around the May Pole, giving thanks for the abundant oak trees from which flow gallons of maple syrup. Without guile and completely lacking in enemies, Canadians fear only the troublesome beaver, whose predilection for felling the mighty oak to raid its syrupy treasure has led to much tooth-gnashing of both the human and beaver persuasions. 

Reticent by nature, Canadians are difficult creatures to find. With scant sun above the 49^th parallel, they take refuge in the comforting glow of their computers by day, television sets by night, and Palm Desert by winter. Armed only with bow and arrow, fishing rod, and credit card, they seek their food in bush, stream, and Costco, often gathering in watering holes informally dubbed “Timmys.” Canadians have long abandoned apostrophes, but that is another story for another day. 

Roasted White Nugget Potatoes:

2 lb. white nugget potatoes 

1 tsp. paprika

½ tsp. chili powder

½ tsp. garlic powder

½ tsp. onion salt

2 tsp. dried rosemary

¼ tsp. coarsely ground pepper 

2 tbsp. olive oil 

Preheat oven to 400 deg. F. Rinse and scrub potatoes, blotting dry and cutting over-sized ones in half. Set aside. Combine seasonings and olive oil in large bowl. Add potatoes, mixing well. Spread in a single layer in casserole, roasting 30-to-35 min. Roll in any remaining oil in casserole before serving. Serves 4-to-6.

Weigh desired amount of potatoes 

Combine seasonings in large bowl with a splash of olive oil

Cut over-sized nuggets in half

Add potatoes to oil and seasonings, mixing well

Spread in a single layer on baking sheet