Egg and Potato Recipe

The Egg and Potato Mash is based on an old favorite that my father cooked for us every Sunday morning when I was a kid. He would slice up six or eight potatoes and an onion, slowly fry them up in a combination of cooking oil and bacon grease, then fry up some sausage in the same pan. The whole process took over an hour, and cleanup was a nightmare.

The Egg and Potato Mash, also known as Trailer-Park Eggs was my attempt at replicating my fathers recipe minus the skill, patience, and time. My version takes no more than 20 minutes start to finish and cleanup is a snap. And to all the trailer-trash people that may be reading this - before you flood my inbox with hate mail about derogatory Trailer Park remarks, be aware that I named this recipe Trailer-Park Eggs because I was living IN A TRAILER PARK (yes, in a trailer, or as we like to call them, a mobile home) when I created it. I am (sorta) proud to say that I lived in that Mobile Home for over 10 years along with all the other below-the-poverty-line folks!

Ingredients

2-4 eggs (depending on how hungry you are)
10-20 Tater Tots (or generic equivalent)
2 tablespoons cooking oil
Optional ingredients
Cheese (real or 'American' sliced)
Seasonings: Salt/pepper/garlic salt

Scramble (beat them up real good with a fork until they're all mixed together) the seasonings and eggs in a bowl and set aside.
Pour the cooking oil into a large pan or skillet (just enough to cover the bottom) and set to medium-low. After the oil is heated add the Tater-Tots and cover for 5-10 minutes or until they are thawed. Remove cover and mash-up the Tater-Tots. Cook another 5-10 minutes on high-heat until browned.
Push the Tater-Tots to the edges of the pan, leaving an empty circular area in the middle. Pour the scrambled eggs into the center and scramble for 3-6 minutes. Important: Keep the eggs moving while cooking at all times (push them around with a spatula or wooden spoon). Letting the eggs sit while cooking will result in burned/overcooked sections. By constantly moving the eggs they will cook more evenly and not stick to the pan (as much). As eggs begin to cook, begin mixing the tater-tots in. If adding cheese, add it approximately one minute before the eggs are done cooking. Continue cooking until the eggs are done and thoroughly mixed with the tater-tots. Serve with ketchup, and Tabasco/Tapatio.