7 February 2011

Easy Smoky Potato Pancakes...and the Winner of My 4 Year Blogiversary Giveaway


Smoky Potato Pancakes

Yesterday we had such high hopes that Spring had arrived. People were walking the pathway behind my condo, winter jackets were shed...and now back to reality this morning with a blanket of snow covering the ground. Sigh....all the more reason to take comfort in the kitchen.

Although I consume a majority of vegetarian meals it has been a while since I posted a recipe for Meatless Mondays. From Canada to Croatia, nations across the globe are taking the pledge and joining the Meatless Monday movement. Going meat free one day each week is a powerful way for each of us to reduce our ecological footprint and reconnect with foods that are both nutritious and delicious.

This is not a vegetarian meal unless you eliminate the smoked bacon which is simple to do since it is just sprinkled on top. This is an incredibly easy recipe from Cooking Light magazine that is very pocketbook friendly. My obsession with potatoes is legendary here at the More Than Burnt Toast household so this makes a perfect light lunch in my books.

For my 4 year blogiversary giveaway I opened it up to all bloggers worldwide. Now wouldn't you know it the winner chosen randomly lives right here in Canada! A big hug and congratulations to Brenda of Brenda's Canadian Kitchen. I hope you enjoy Anne Lindsay's book Lighhearted at Home: The Very Best of Anne Lindsay.


A portion of the proceeds from the sale of this book go to support the work of the Heart and Stroke Foundation. The Heart and Stroke Foundation, a volunteer-based health charity, leads in eliminating heart disease and stroke and reducing their impact through the advancement of research and its application, the promotion of healthy living, and advocacy. You can also visit their website at heartandstroke.ca.

**Smoky Potato Pancakes**
adapted from Cooking Light

2 center-cut hickory-smoked bacon slices
2 cups chopped onion
1 cup thinly sliced leek
3 garlic cloves, chopped
1 1/2 pounds shredded peeled baking potato (about 2 large)
1/3 cup (1 1/2 ounces) shredded sharp cheddar cheese
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
2 large eggs
Cooking spray
1/4 cup reduced-fat sour cream

Preheat oven to 425°.

 Cook bacon in a large skillet over medium heat until crisp. Remove bacon from pan using a slotted spoon, and crumble. Add onion to drippings in pan, and cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add leek and garlic; cook for 2 minutes, stirring frequently. Combine onion mixture, grated potato, cheddar cheese, 3/4 teaspoon salt, black pepper, and 2 large eggs in a medium bowl, stirring well.

Divide the potato mixture into 8 equal portions, and shape each portion into a 1/2-inch-thick patty. Place patties on a baking sheet coated with cooking spray. Coat patties lightly with cooking spray. Bake at 425° for 25 minutes or until golden and set. Top with crumbled bacon and sour cream.

You are reading this post on More Than Burnt Toast at http://morethanburnttoast.blogspot.com. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to the author/owner of More Than Burnt Toast. All rights reserved by Valerie Harrison.
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34 comments:

  1. Congratulations Brenda!

    Those pancakes must bb delicious! I love the favor of bacon and hickory.

    Cheers,

    Rosa

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  2. Congratulations to Brenda!

    These potato pancakes look delicious!! My husband just made potato pancakes for us and I shall post that recipe soon. Your's is quite different. His is made from memory of those his Polish mother made. He made them for me when we were dating. However, it took him many, many years to be at home in the kitchen (hmm, I thought he already was).

    Best,
    Bonnie

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  3. Congrats, Brenda! And Happy 4th, Val!

    My German grandmother made potato pancakes for us all the time and I made them for my kids too. However, oddly enough, her recipe omitted onions so we poured syrup over them!
    Now yours, with the garlic, leeks and onions (and bacon, which would work well in Grandma's) is a different ballgame entirely. Yum! I love the savory aspect and have never seen them with garlic.

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  4. Congrats to the winner! BTW, the pancakes look delish!

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  5. I'm sorry the weather is being such a tease. That's what life is always like here. Today its supposed to be warm, but they predict freezing tomorrow.

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  6. You know I share your passion for potatoes don't you Val. Add a smokey bacon and I am all ears!

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  7. Oh my goodness, thank you SO MUCH Val!!!! I'm just on my lunch hour at work and popped on over and was so surprised to see I won. I'm so excited! I know what cookbook I'll be using for my March Cookbook Sundays! :o) Thanks a bunch!!

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  8. Congratulations, Brenda! Val, I like your potato pancakes. Yesterday, I made something on the same line, using purple potatoes. Have a great week!

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  9. Congratulations to Brenda. She's sure to enjoy your generosity. I really like your potatoes, Val. They are under-appreciated in North American. One of my great delights is the potato dishes we are served when we travel. It is amazing what can be done with them. I hope you have a wonderful day. Blessings...Mary

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  10. Congrats to Brenda. These potato pancakes are calling my name.

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  11. Congrats to the winner, and again, congrats to you for 4 years! The potato cakes look great. That's a perfectly easy dish to make for a meatless Monday meal. Filling too.

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  12. Your potato pancakes sound fabulous Val. Who wouldn't love potatoes and bacon. Congratulations Brenda.
    Sam

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  13. Mmm I have SO been meaning to make potato pancakes and that smoked bacon on top sounds fantastic!

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  14. I can always count on you for a fabulous potato recipe, Val. :) Congrats on 4 years, too! (I'm a little behind on my RSS feeds :)

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  15. Congrats to the winner! Also love the flavours in this recipe.

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  16. I'm so impressed that these potato pancakes -- even with bacon -- are light! I love potatoes but have it beaten into me that they're bad for a weight watcher. You've proved *them* wrong!

    And congratulations to Brenda, too.

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  17. A big congratulations to Brenda. Lucky girl.

    It doesn't get much better than bacon, cheese and potatoes.

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  18. These sound incredible with the smoky flavors of the bacon, so delicious!

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  19. These potato pancakes and a salad would make a perfect meal for me! They sound delicious with the smoked bacon.

    Congratulations to your winner. It sound like a great book.

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  20. I am a sucker for anything made with potatoes, Val, and the thought of these smoky beauties has my tummy rumbling. Well, that and the fact I haven't had breakfast OR lunch yet! Time to eat for sure!!

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  21. bacon, potatoes, and cheese--i'll take those three ingredients in any way, shape, or form. :)

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  22. Bacon, potatoes and pancakes....you've won me over Val!

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  23. Val, you and I can be joined at the hip with our love for potatoes. LOL

    Congrats to Brenda...enjoy your winning.

    Flavourful wishes,
    Claudia

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  24. I know more variations on the potato pancakes, but the Polish version are my favorite.
    http://winebread.blogspot.com/2010/12/polish-potato-pancakes-placki.html
    Your pancakes look very tasty

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  25. NOw that's my kind of potato pancake! Not exactly a kosher latke though. ;-)

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  26. Oooh lucky Brenda, congrats!! Another yum potato dish! I love your delicious takes on spuds Val.

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  27. Congratulations to Brenda! Beautiful recipe, Val! YUM! I can nver get enough recipes for a yummy potato cake. I have never met one I didn't love... especially with a dollop of homemade creme fraiche! OOOH, Mama!
    :)
    valerie

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  28. Congrats to Brenda and three cheers for that hickory bacon!

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  29. Bacon, onions and cheese are some of my favorite combinations. These pancakes must be amazing!

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  30. four years! Congrats! I hate that tease of spring weather! ;) Hope you warm back up soon.

    Happy Friday!

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  31. Oh Val, these potato pancakes look great! I so love potatoes and I always know you are going to have great recipes for them!

    Congrats to Brenda!

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  32. Love potato pancakes and these are so interesting. I really want to try them soon.
    Rita

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Welcome to my home. Thank you for choosing to stay a while and for sharing our lives through food. I appreciate all your support, comments, suggestions, and daily encouragement.

Val

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