Kudos Kitchen Style Tater Tot Poutine is my quick and easy take on the French-Canadian classic made with French fries, cheese curds, and brown gravy.
This recipe was inspired by an appetizer we ate recently while out to dinner with my sister and brother-in-law. That night I had actually brainstormed with my sister about making poutine nachos with tortilla chips, but the idea morphed into tater tots because, well, tater tots!
As I sit and try and write this post, I’m having a hard time trying to come up with something clever and interesting to say, other than “Try this, you’ll like it.”And, if I’m being completely true to myself (as I always try to be), I’m not even sure what you (my readers) are looking for when you come here to visit. I assume you’re like me and that you enjoy the process of cooking and baking, and, of course, trying new recipes, and eating delicious food, (but you know what they say about assuming anything).
I think you know by now that the recipes I share on this blog are the same recipes I feed my family and friends. They’re the same recipes I’ve made (and make) for breakfast, lunch, dinner, entertaining, and just because I enjoy spending time in my kitchen. It’s my zen time and the place I’m the happiest.
When I first started my blog approximately 5½ years ago, it was meant as nothing more than a place for me to document my recipes with the hopes that one day my sons would be able to look back and perhaps even cook from my blog if they ever chose to. Of course, that was just a just a mom’s dream, because to this day I’m fairly certain they’ve only looked at my blog once or twice, and that was most likely because I forced them to. LOL. True story.Since those early days of blogging, my blog has evolved into so much more (for me) than just a place to document my recipes. I completely enjoy the creative process of the food styling and photography almost as much as I do the cooking and baking. While I know I’ll never win any awards for either, the fact that I’m proud of what I produce and publish here means more to me than almost anything else I can imagine.
That said, I heard someone recently say that a blog needs a specific niche to be able to accumulate more readers and followers. Simply stated, focusing one thing, one specific niche, will aid like nothing else to increase a blog’s following and keep readers coming back time and again. Knowing what your audience is looking for is the holy grail of building a successful blog, and then bringing specific content that your target audience is craving is what every blogger (no matter what the topic) strives to do.This then, leaves me to wonder then if my content here may be too broad? Cooking, baking and garnishing each post with my hand painted items just for good measure…What do you think? I’d love to hear you opinion regarding my blog, and it’s content.
While you debate the question I just posed, let’s return to the recipe for Tater Tot Poutine, shall we? After all, I’m getting hungry!
Serves: 6-8 Prep Time: 5 minutes Bake Time: 30-35 minutes1 tablespoon canola oil
1 bag frozen tater tots
salt and pepper
1 cup beef gravy (store bought or homemade)
3 ounces chopped ham
½ cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
½ cup shredded Swiss cheese
½ cup sliced scallions-Preheat oven to 425 degrees.-If using a cast iron skillet, heat skillet on preheated oven for 10 minutes.-Brush the inside of the hot skillet (or the base of a baking sheet or casserole dish) with the oil. Add the frozen tater tots in an even layer to the pan. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.-Bake in a preheated oven for 20-25 minutes. Remove and top with the ham, gravy and shredded cheeses. Return to the oven until the cheeses have thoroughly melted.-Remove the poutine from the oven and top with the scallions. Serve hot.
Kudos Kitchen Style Tater Tot Poutine:
There, that was easy, right? Please enjoy!
Since my new blog goal going forward is to find out who my readers actually are, and what you’re looking for when you come here… What do you think??? What are you needs regarding spending time in the kitchen? Are you looking for fast and easy recipes that will feed your family in a hurry (like the one I’m sharing today)? Are you intrigued by recipes that are more challenging and take more time and steps to prepare? Are you looking for more dessert recipes? Breakfast recipes? Dinner recipes? Bread recipes? Or have you been pleased with the variety I’ve already been bringing?
I would really appreciate if you’d take a moment to give me your honest opinions here in the comment section at the end of this post. Of course, if you’d like to send me an email with your comments instead, that would be great too. I promise to read and reply to all the feedback and emails I receive, and that I will take your opinions and constructive criticism very seriously.And now, if you don’t mind, I get to coordinate my Tater Tot Poutine recipe with some of these fun tea towels that were a customer request from a few months ago. Apparently this specific ketchup brand (and products that feature it) are a fun family tradition to give as gifts to each other. Naturally I was only too happy to oblige.
If there is ever anything I can paint for you, from tea towels to aprons, to painted glassware, please don’t hesitate to contact me or visit my shop on Etsy. Custom orders (as shown above) are always welcome, and always encouraged. I will happily work from any photo or description you send my way.
Until we eat again, I hope you have a delicious day! And thanks in advance for giving me your feedback regarding my blog content! It means a lot to me!
Welcome to my Kudos Kitchen.
I totally know what you mean about the blog being your creative outlet. My hubby will go crazy for this as his family is from Quebec!
I hope you and he both love this recipe, Chandra. Thanks so much!
What a fun recipe! Anything poutine-related is a win in my books! I know what you mean about finding a niche. I guess I am really broad, too, but there are people like ourselves out there that like to do a bit of everything. So we do have a small niche in the end 🙂
I never really thought of it that way, Kacey. Great point! I'm glad we're in this together!
I say it is your blog. and you should do as you want to with it. Everything is very clean and clear. Love that. Good food, nice things to look at. 🙂 keep it up. we the peanut gallery will reap the rewards of your efforts. thank you.
This is one of the nicest comments I've ever read. Thank you so much, Carol. I'm glad you're enjoying what I'm putting out!
I think your blog is perfect the way it is. It's a great reflection of YOU and all the things you love. And I am loving this poutine. Woah.
You're so sweet. Thank you so much for all the support!
I love restaurant inspired recipes – it happens to me sometimes too! I love the use of tator tots….the best! I don't have a niche with my blog either and I don't care – it's what I like! Variety 🙂
I suppose it's true what that say, variety is the spice of life 😉 Thanks, Ashley!
I love your blog the way it is! I think finding a niche is difficult when you don't do special diet stuff. How many non-niche and non-special diet blogs are there?! I can't really think of any. Except two. Or three. And aww! I bet your sons secretly read your blog. 🙂
LOL, I'm not too sure about my sons reading my blog, Erin, but I do know they enjoy the food! Thanks for the kind comments. Much appreciated!
OH MY GOD. I can't even handle all of this deliciousness. I love poutine but you've gone and made it even better with tots. Yum!
HaHaHa! You can handle it! I know you can!
You and your sister sure get some great recipe brainstorming done. Cast iron just turns potatoe recipes into a dream. Not true about needing a niche. Center Cut Cook is not that many years old and she is huge! She cooks it all. What will help is 'that one recipe' that goes crazy and stays there forever (words from Ashley). Ashley's boost was her chocolate lasagna. Of course, all of her recipes are wonderful – just like yours!
I'm waiting for that one viral recipe, Ginny. Thanks for the lovely comment. I'll keep on keeping on 🙂
I think it is wonderful just the way it is!!
Awww. Thanks!
Oh yum, this is some serious comfort food…tots, gravy, melted cheese! I think that as long as you're sharing what you love, your content is perfect.
I am, and I do. Thanks Heather.
Yours is an awesome blog, keep up all the tasty work! And this poutine sounds wonderful, the perfect comfort food!
I agree about it being comfort food. You just can't beat potatoes, gravy and cheese! Thanks for the kind words, Kimberly!
There are so many "what if"s in blogging, but there's one rule you should always follow…blog about what makes you happy. If you love the recipes you make and photograph, that will shine through to your readers and you will feel so much more satisfied than if you stuck to a niche that perhaps doesn't always speak to you. And these tater tots? They're definitely speaking to me!
You're right, Dara. Thank you. I need to stop "shoulding" and keep on keepin' on.
I think your niche is fabulous food 🙂 Just keep up the wonderful recipes and people will follow. My family would love this poutine!
Thank you so much, Lauren! I'm glad you like the poutine!
Yes, please! I order poutine often at restaurants and this needs to happen. At my house. Now. I can't wait to try this recipe!
OMG. That is all. And also, everything Jenny said above!
I think sometimes that whole niche things gets lost in translation. I personally don't think it means you have to focus on one type of cooking. I think it's more about focusing your feel and style so your blog is cohesive. Yours is, it's comfort food. Look at PW, she's the most successful blogger of all time, and she makes everything under the sun. But her cooking style and photo style is very "her own". You know when you see her recipes and photos that it's her. I think that's the key to being the perfect brand and niche. Just my humble two cents on niches.
I love this recipe. This is definitely comfort food at its finest. I want to dive right into the middle of this and eat my way out.
Great point, Kim. I'm pleased to have found my style after all these years. Since I'm sharing what I love, I guess it all just falls into place. Thanks so much for your take on the matter.
Holy cow. Hand me some stretchy pants, and let me at it!
LOL! Exactly!
You're in good company, Renee. I ask myself the same questions, too! I honestly think that much of the blogging success is down to luck. You have to be in the right place at the right time – I personally don't think that it matters if you cover a niche or have broader content. I, for one, love your blog and I enjoy your recipes and your creative work! I also love when people share personal stories but it's not everyone's cup of tea.
This tater tot poutine looks amazing! I was surprised to see the short list of ingredients – it looks like so much more! Can't wait to try it 🙂
Thank you, Rose. It's a fine line I walk with sharing personal stories and/or just getting right to the recipe. I try to make a nice balance without making things boring. Thanks for the lovely compliment. I'm glad you enjoy my blog and I really appreciate the comment!
I love poutine and this version looks delicious! I struggle with the niche question all the time, but in reading through people's responses, I like the idea that a certain tone or feel is more important than a specific niche. Good luck figuring it out! 🙂
That's what I'm gathering too, Cathy. From what I've been seeing, people (thankfully) seem to be liking what I'm putting out. I'm grateful and excited to keep doing what I love. Thanks for taking the time to comment!
I always wonder if I post about too many types of food but then I remember it's my blog and I like the way things look…haha. I say keep on doing what you're doing 🙂 LIKE this awesome tater tot poutine. It looks amazing!
Thanks Brandy. That seems to be the general consensus, so I'll just keep doing what I'm doing. After all, it's all about having fun, right?