Loaded Fried Mashed Potatoes

TOTAL TIME: 0:20 LEVEL: EASY SERVES: 4

INGREDIENTS

•         vegetable oil
•         2 1/2 c. Mashed potatoes
•         1/2 c. shredded sharp Cheddar
•         1 tbsp. sliced chives, plus more for garnish
•         1/2 tsp. Hot sauce
•         1/2 tsp. salt
•         1 egg, beaten
•         1 container sour cream
•         Flour (optional) if too watery...

DIRECTIONS

1. Pour oil into a large skillet over medium heat, filling it so the oil fills the pan a third of the way up.
2. In a large bowl, combine potatoes, cheese, chives, hot sauce, salt, and egg. Form into half dollar-sized dough balls, and drop by the spoonful into the warmed skillet. [Note: If your mashed potatoes are a little runny, add a 1 tbsp. of flour at a time until you can form dough balls]
3. Fry the mashed potatoes, a few at a time (without crowding the pan), cooking each side until lightly golden, 2 to 3 minutes per side.
4. Top potatoes with sour cream and additional chives before serving.