Partaking in the Delights of the New World: Cascadian Farm Spud Puppies, Food of the Gods

In elementary school, I was effectively and mortally grossed out by the standard death-hued lunchtime offerings, daily served. This was the early 1970's, and we didn't have it so good in Kansas. There were no salad bars, no brand name pizzas or burritos, no PB& J "Uncrustables" from Smuckers, no happy Tropicana Orange juice, nor anything that could be classified as undeniably edible, as my son's generation has enjoyed. Instead, there were gelatinous mounds of lumpy warm pastels (which was once identified in a forensic crime lab as fruit salad in heavy syrup, but that may be an urban legend) and worm pelts and organmeats (at least they may as well have been) and other unidentifiable food slabs.

There were two exceptions among these bad offerings. One, a paranormal phenomenon of the Great Plains, the unorthodox chili/cinnamon roll lunch combo. Yes, that's right, chili-the hearty good soup with a tomato base, meat, and beans. Served right on the same rectangle beige plastic serving tray as an enormous iced cinnamon roll, which was not actually dessert, but part of the main course. And I hate to say it, but that dripping frosted roll was perhaps meant to be dunked in the chili, a method of consumption some kids employed heartily. The zip code there begins with 666, and perhaps that is explanation enough.

The other good offering was the majestic tater tot. They were so good, that the golden grease oozing from within, along with the watery crimson non-fancy food service ketchup, was redeemed and forgiven through Grace of the tot.

Until recently, the enjoyment of tater tots required dietary forgiveness indeed-of course in restaurants, they usually are deep fried in bad oil as fries are. Even when purchased in grocery stores, and baked in the oven at home, instead of deep frying, they are already loaded with hydrogenated fat. In short, tater tots are not a healthy choice.

Until now, that is. Cascadian Farm offers a healthy, delicious tater tot. Spud Puppies are made with organic potatoes, and contain natural safflower and palm oils, with a total per serving (3 oz.) fat content of 7g, (only 2g is saturated fat,) and 0 cholesterol. The list of ingredients is noble, too: no preservatives, or added color or flavorings.

So what do they taste like? They are actually much better and tastier than traditional tater tots. They are crunchier on the outside, and a little softer on the inside, yet the inside retains more of an authentic grated-potato texture than regular tots. In every way but superior ingredients, taste and texture, Cascadian Farm Spud Puppies are just like their mainstream counterparts. They come frozen, loose in a plastic, recyclable bag, and are prepared in the same way as regular tater tots. They can also be used in and substituted for regular tots in casserole and other recipes that call for tater tots.

Cascadian Farm Spud Puppies are a healthy choice. They are found in natural foods and traditional grocery stores, in the natural foods frozen vegetable section, or sometimes alongside regular frozen potato products. They are also affordable, in my area, around $2.75 for a 16 oz bag.