STUFFED MASHED POTATO BALLS
FOR THE FILLING:
2 small tomatoes, chopped
1/2 lb ground beef
1/2 onion, chopped
1/2 green bell pepper, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 jalapeno, seeded and chopped
1 teaspoon cumin
1 teaspoon chili powder
1/2 C shredded Pepper Jack cheese
Salt & pepper, to taste
FOR THE POTATOES:
2-3 lbs potatoes, peeled and chopped
2 eggs
Salt & pepper, to taste
2 teaspoons garlic powder
FOR THE DREDGE:
1 1/2 C breadcrumbs
1 1/2 C flour
2 teaspoons Lawry's seasoned salt
3 eggs
Peanut oil, for frying
Boil the potatoes until tender. Drain and let cool slightly.
Cook the onions, bell pepper, and jalapeno in some olive oil in a skillet until tender. Add in the ground beef, tomatoes, and seasonings and cook until the beef is done, crumbling the beef and tomatoes along the way. Remove from heat and stir in the cheese to melt.
Mix the potatoes, 2 eggs, salt and pepper, and garlic powder together and mash well, leaving no lumps. Take about 2 T of the mashed potatoes and make a flat disk shape in your hand. Drop about 1 1/2 teaspoons of the meat mixture into the center of the potatoes. Seal up the potatoes around the filling, making balls. Freeze in a single layer for at least 30 minutes.
Set up your dredging station. Mix the flour and Lawry's together in one bowl. Beat the three eggs together in another bowl. Put the breadcrumbs into a third bowl.
Preheat the peanut oil to 350 degrees. Dredge the balls into the flour mixture, then the egg mixture, and then the breadcrumbs. Fry in batches until golden brown and heated through. (Keep batches warm in a 200 degree oven until they are all fried.) Serve with Ranch dressing or cream gravy.
