Potato Rosemary Waffles & Turkey Gravy

First, I need to take care of  a little contest business. Frieda won the dehydrated apple slices and the emergency kit. Yay Frieda! Frieda of Lovin' From the Oven loves food storage stuff and so I am so excited she gets this prize.

Featured Food Storage: Potatoes or potato pearls and turkey gravy mix.

This is one of those recipes that makes me smugly content that I decided to learn how to make good food with my food storage staples. Seriously, it makes me feel all gourmet (even though I am not) just to say I made waffles that were fragrant moist and tasted of rosemary mashed potatoes. These waffles and the gravy are proof that not every recipe that comes out of your food storage needs to be in a casserole. There are clever ways to use instant potato pearls and instant gravy packs can have their uses, especially for those of us who are gravy challenged. I rank making gravy right beneath ironing on my least fave list. If my mother -in-law is not standing mext to me in the kitchen making her completely delicious gravy or by the ironing board showing me how to iron the right way, I can guarantee that I am going to go for the shortcut. EVERY TIME. So please don't judge me over the gravy -- because the waffles definitely did not come out of a box. And they are pretty simple to make, especially if you don't have to toss the first batch because you didn't follow the directions. Ahem. . .

These really did turn out delicious and were a nice savory take on a waffle dinner. I used cubed deli turkey because I had stocked up on a big ole hefty he-man quantity of the stuff. But feel free to use canned turkey or chicken or fresh cubed turkey or chicken. The beauty of this recipe is how adaptable it is. In fact, in the true spirit of using food storage items, I exchanged the fresh mashed potatoes in this recipe with mashed potatoes made from potato pearls. I have every intention of making these again and again with both the fresh and the dehydrated version.


The Waffles (recipe adapted from Waffles From Morning to Midnight by Dorie Greenspan)


2 Russet Potatoes or enough to make 2 Cups of potato pearls rehydrated (mashed potatoes should be a little thinner consistency.)


1/4 Cup extra virgin olive oil
1 small onion, finely chopped
2/3 cup milk or amount called for dehydrated potatoes.
Salt and pepper to taste
2 large eggs
1 Cup all-purpose flour
2 tsp baking powder.
2 sprigs of fesh rosemary, rosemary should be removed from stem or 1 tsp dried. Roughly chop fresh rosemary.

1 Packet of turkey gravy mix
2 cups of cubed or shredded turkey or chicken.

If using fresh potatoes -- Peel and wash potatos. Cut into small evenly sized pieces and place in pot of cold water. Bring to a boil. Lower heat and cok until fork tender. Drain and reserve about 1/2 cup of potato water. Set aside.

If using dehydrated potatoes or potato pearls - Measure out about 2 cups of potato pearls into a large bowl.

Heat olive oil in a small skillet over low hat and saute the chopped onion just until barely softened. Pour the oil and onion over the potatoes. Add rosemary.

Add milk to skillet and heat on low until just before boiling. (small bubbles will form around edge of pan.) Add milk to potato mixture and whip or mash until smooth and slightly looser than normal mashed potatoes. If it is too stiff add poato water little by little.

Season with salt and pepper.

Preheat the waffle iron and lightly grease. Preheat oven to 200 degrees farenheit.

Finish the batter by beating eggs into the potatoes.

Combine the flour and baking powder in a seperate bowl and then fold into potatoes using a spatula.

Spoon 1/2 cup batter onto waffle maker and smooth evenly to withing a an inchof the edges. Bake until brown and crisp. Keep waffles in oven to keep warm

Prepare turkey gravy while waffles are cooking. Make according to package directions.

Heat turkey in the microwave to warm up.

Top waffles with turkey and gravy..

Tip: It is spring and herbs are available at your local nurseries for the same price as a box of them costs in the produce section. Instead of buying a box of rosemary. Go buy a plant and plant it in your kitchen or outside for rosemary all season long.