Finally Done With Finals!

Most people go out to dinner to celebrate something like being done with finals.  I'm not going to lie, I'm jealous of people who can go out to eat and not consciously think about where they're going or what they're going to get.  If the family wants to check out a new restaurant or we're going on vacation I sit at my computer for hours looking over the menu(s) to see if there's anything that's "KT friendly" (as my family has dubbed it.)  Heck, I would happy going into the freezer section at a grocery store and picking up something from time to time.


But, my creative, fat free wheels go into overdrive when I see some dishes that restaurants have commercials for (like I did here with the sausage egg and cheese biscuits.)  This time it was IHOP's loaded hashbrowns.

Who could resist crispy potatoes, melty cheese and eggs?  Not this girl!  So I decided to give it a try.  I made it 2 ways.  Mine was super healthy and fat free and the rest of the family got one that was made with a bit of fat.

Fat-Free Loaded Hashbrowns  (serves 1)

1 sweet potato
2 mushrooms, sauteed
1/2 onion, sliced then sauteed
1/4 - 1/2 cup shredded fat free cheddar

1. Boil the potato whole for about 10-15 minutes until soft, once it's cool, cut it into small cubes.
2. Preheat oven to 450 degrees
3. Spray a cookie sheet with pan spray and put the sweet potatoes on in a single layer.  Bake until golden brown and crispy, (about 20-30 minutes) stirring a few times.
4. Place on a plate or in a bowl and top with sauteed onions and mushrooms and cheese.  Microwave for about 30 -60 seconds to melt the cheese.  (If you don't have a microwave you can do all this on the cookie sheet and place it under the broiler until the cheese melts)

On the right are the Fatty Hashbrowns.  I call them Fatty but, they're probably still healthier than IHOP's.  The Jack,Cheddar and Bacon Loaded Potatoes weigh in at 1240 calories and 74 grams of fat! 

Fatty Loaded Hashbrowns
1 bag of frozen hash browns
5 mushrooms, sauteed
1 large onion, sauteed
1/2 - 3/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese (or any cheese you like)
1 can corned beef 
1 can Spam (optional)

1. Cook hash browns according to package directions
2. Lay them on a sheet pan and top with mushrooms, onions and cheese
3. Put them in the oven under the broiler until the cheese is melted
4. In a skillet warm the corned beef
5. Slice the Spam and place it in a skillet and brown each side (about 5 minutes) turning it frequently.

 So, take your pick and enjoy!

What's your personal favorite restaurant re-creation?