Tocinei

(It's pronounced "toh-tchi-nay")

Ever fought with your children who absolutely love French fries and burgers? Ever wondered how to make them eat decent food?

Well, I have no idea about burgers; but the fries, maybe there's a way. In Romanian it's called "Tocinei".

This dish, though being regarded as specifically Romanian (more precisely, from the Moldavian cuisine), is by no means a local invention. It's more cosmopolite cousin, the Swiss "rösti", is way better known; other variants are present in almost any country counting potato as a staple.

Still, this doesn't reduce its merits in delicately switching brats from fries to healthier items. It offers a way to introduce alimentary "plugins" into an naturally stubborn "food receiver".

What you need:

- some potatoes (I used 9, but the quantity should be related to the final wanted output)

- egg(s) – depending on the number and size of the potatoes

- wheat flour

- cream

- salt

- pepper (and / or any other spice you like; I added some rosemary and basil, for example)

- a frying pan

- oil.

As a plus, in this mixture you can add any other items your kid refuses: vitamins, cheese, other vegetables, minerals and so on. I give you the basic recipe, you complete it!

What you do:

Step 1: peel the potatoes (place the peeled ones in cold water to keep them from oxidizing)  

Step 2: grate the potatoes

Step 3: mix the grated potatoes with the eggs, flour, cream, salt and spices (and any other ingredients you wish, paying attention to the final consistence of the dough – it shouldn't be runny)

Step 4: heat the oil and place spoon-sized balls of the mixture in the pan. Tap the balls to flatten them, or you'll get crispy outsides with a raw core.

(This is what remained after my son's "tasting" of the produce; the real quantity was about three times bigger)

The potatoes will leak a lot of juice. You are free to throw it away, it doesn't fry well anyway.

When ready place the "tocinei" on some paper towels to rid the excess oil. Serve them hot with the sauce, salsa or gravy of your choice (horseradish-cream sauce is a killer!). They go well as a side dish for pork or chicken or you can have them as the main attraction.

Drinker's comment: have a bottle of white wine ready, they demand it. Take care to choose a light, playful, not-very-fragrant, dry wine. Stay away from beer, but - should you like - grab the ole' brandy before seating. It helps with the digestion.