Over-the-Top Loaded Potato Nachos
Thanks to Tasteful Selections for sponsoring this recipe! Through January, profits from their Ruby Sensation and Honey Gold potatoes support the non-profit Katie’s Krops, which empowers youth across the country to end hunger in their communities one vegetable garden at a time.
When I’m comfortable with people, I’m chatty and silly and loud. But I’m rarely comfortable with people. I’m naturally introverted with a dose of social anxiety on top of that. The older I get, the shyer I become. This might be hard to imagine since I’m so very vocal here, but in person, I’m quiet, aloof, and awkward until I really get to know someone. And the thing is, it’s hard to ever get to know someone if you’re like that.
On a recent trip with other food bloggers, I was having my typical experience. I was hanging out on the fringe of the group. Other bloggers connected as naturally as breathing. They intuitively knew when it was time to go eat so they’d all be together. They seemed to instantly have everything in common. I exhausted my small talk early and then tried to look busy on my phone. I tried to disappear, and they assisted by mostly forgetting I was there. No fault of theirs; after all, I was the one detaching. It’s a bad habit.
A couple of people didn’t go along with the plan, though. Alice, who writes Hip Foodie Mom and raises some of the cutest kids alive, went out of her way to let me know that the other bloggers were planning on hanging out. She texted me the hotel room number once she found out where. I made myself go to push myself out of my comfort zone. (You know, that “comfort zone” where I’m alone and sad in my hotel room because my social coping technique is isolating myself. Very comforting!) When I got there, she saw that I wasn’t sure where to sit and called me over to sit next to her. It was so fun to chat with everyone that night, something I would’ve missed if not for her kindness. Later we would become friends on Facebook and she would send me the sweetest message when my grandmother died, calling her by name, because she bothered to know her name.
Emily, who writes Grace and Good Eats and raises some of the other cutest kids alive, was someone else I connected with. We sat together by chance at a wine tasting and she said something about walking to breakfast alone that morning and I realized: this is one of my people. You know when you meet someone so much like you that you know you’ll be friends? That’s Emily. We snarked and laughed all through the wine tasting and, even though I texted her the room number Alice texted me, Emily decided to take a bubble bath and eat cookies alone that evening in lieu of socializing. Again: one of my people. The next morning we went to breakfast together and I told that girl more about my life than I’ve told most people ever, much less upon first meeting them. She told me all about her family, too, and we ate an exorbitant amount of amazing food. I wish she didn’t live in Texas so that we could do that every week.
You guys. Let’s be people like this. Let’s be people who make others feel welcome and safe. Let’s make people feel special and cared for. Let’s know the name of their grandmothers and walk with them to breakfast. Let’s notice when someone is struggling and support them, or even struggle with them. Those two ladies meant the world to me on a trip where I would’ve otherwise felt alone.
Who’s been there for you lately? How can you be there for others?
* * *
My family always celebrates New Year’s Eve by eating a pile of indulgent appetizers and playing board games until the ball drops. While I can’t be with them this year, I’d like to continue the tradition in my own home in Raleigh. Want to throw your own little appetizer party (guests optional)? These Over-the-Top Loaded Potato Nachos are a delicious treat, complete with spicy nacho cheese sauce and a ton of toppings. Happy New Year to us! We made it through another year!
One year ago: Raspberry Lemonade Champagne Smash
Two years ago: Spiced Crispies (Chivda, or Indian snack mix)
Three years ago: Brown Butter Cookie Dough Pretzel Bars
Four years ago: Magic Bars
Five years ago: Taco Stuffed Crescent Rolls
- 10-11 Tasteful Selections Honey Gold Potatoes, sliced into 1/8-inch thick rounds
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon salt, plus more for topping
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 4 ounces sharp cheddar, shredded
- 1 1/2 teaspoons cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon hot sauce (plus more for topping)
- 1/2 cup evaporated milk (plus more if you want thinner sauce)
- chopped pickled jalapeños
- chopped green onions
- diced tomatoes
- diced avocado
- diced raw onion
- sour cream
- chopped cilantro
- Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. Cover two baking sheets with aluminum foil and spray the foil with cooking spray. In a medium bowl, toss the potatoes and olive oil together to coat the potatoes. Spread them in a single layer over the prepared baking sheets, being sure not to crowd them so they will brown nicely. Sprinkle salt and pepper evenly over all the potatoes. Bake them for 23-27 minutes or until golden brown, tossing once during baking. Pull the potatoes out of the oven when they're golden and let them cool while you make your cheese sauce.
- While the potatoes cool, toss the cheese and cornstarch together in a medium bowl. Transfer this mixture to a saucepan and add the hot sauce and 1/2 cup of the evaporated milk. Turn the heat on to medium and cook, whisking constantly, until the mixture is melted and thickened, about 5-10 minutes. Add more evaporated milk to thin to the consistency you prefer (I didn't need to add any). I actually added a little yellow food coloring, too, because I wanted my cheese to look super cheesy. Feel free to skip this if you don't care.
- When your cheese sauce is ready, heap the potatoes into a pile on one of the baking sheets. Drizzle them with the freshly prepared cheese sauce. Top with pickled jalapeños, tomatoes, green onions, diced avocado, onion, sour cream, and chopped cilantro. Serve immediately.
Emily
December 29, 2014 at 12:25 am (10 years ago)Julie- you are too sweet! I read this to my husband just now and he laughed out loud at “one of my people”. So true. I seriously called him from Chicago that first night and told him how he should be so proud of me for making an effort and making a friend. Ha! I’m so happy I met you and I SO wish we could eat ridiculous breakfasts and chat every week! Xoxo
Michelle @ The Complete Savorist
December 29, 2014 at 1:40 am (10 years ago)OMG, why aren’t these on a plate on my lap right now. These are to die for.
Nikki @ NikSnacks
December 29, 2014 at 2:30 am (10 years ago)I’d be honored to come to Raleigh and have these nachos with you on New Years! I don’t have any plans! 🙂 I’m one of those people who slides from table to table, striking up conversations with everyone but I crave one-on-one time to connect with new friends. Especially blogging friends.
veronica gantley
December 29, 2014 at 7:05 am (10 years ago)Wow Julie, those nachos look so good and perfect for me. I am also introverted. I attended a bloggers conference in Ashville NC. I got snubbed by a fellow blogger that I never met, but interacted through the internet. I met more friends that did not snub me and had a grand time.
Kim (Feed Me, Seymour)
December 29, 2014 at 7:55 am (10 years ago)I am glad you talk about this social anxiety! I’m the same, super talkative and always ready to chat, but awkward and shy at the same time. And it does only get harder and harder as you get older.
Regardless, I could talk about these nachos all night. Holy moly.
Alice @ Hip Foodie Mom
December 29, 2014 at 8:27 am (10 years ago)Julie, you are the sweetest, most genuine person I have met this year .. loved that we got the chance to meet and I love this post .. growing up, I was chubby and shy and always felt left out. I try to make people feel comfortable and included because I was that person when I was younger who was always forgotten. I’m not completely outgoing now but I am definitely more comfortable in my skin and now that I have children, I’m trying to teach them to be open and really know people on a real level. thank you for writing such a sweet post!! Wishing you the best New Year’s Eve and so glad that you are continuing your family tradition of indulgent appetizers and playing board games .. sounds perfect to me!! We will be dancing in the new year at an XBOX(?) “just dance 2015” dance off. 😛 Wishing you a wonderful and blessed 2015, Julie!
Stephanie @ Back for Seconds
December 29, 2014 at 10:16 am (10 years ago)Awww, I can totally relate. I am very shy and have a hard time in groups of people. I’m so glad you ended up having a great time! And these nachos. Oh my. I could eat them alllllll!
Katrina @ Warm Vanilla Sugar
December 29, 2014 at 12:42 pm (10 years ago)Oh man, that cheese!! so yummy!
Nicole
December 29, 2014 at 3:08 pm (10 years ago)I can relate with the shy-awkward personality. And, I want to start my year off with a plate of these loaded potato nachos, for sure!
Liz @ The Lemon Bowl
December 29, 2014 at 3:13 pm (10 years ago)Oh my goodness I can’t believe these aren’t deep fried!! I want them now!
Barbara @ Barbara Bakes
December 29, 2014 at 3:57 pm (10 years ago)What a sweet post. I’m headed to a conference in a few weeks and will try harder to step out of my comfort zone. I’d love munching on these all night on New Years Eve.
Carla
December 29, 2014 at 6:17 pm (10 years ago)I totally know the feeling! I practically force myself to interact at conferences (then later when I’m told I’m very social, I laugh because it’s so not true). Although at my last conference when I found myself at a karaoke bar with a bunch of drunk bloggers, I high tailed it out of there #nopenopenope I think you and I will get along just fine (bonus points for these nachos!)
fabiola@notjustbaked
December 30, 2014 at 3:00 pm (10 years ago)Wow, these look sooooo amazing! I love nachos but always forget to make them, it’s weird.
Jaren (Diary of a Recipe Collector)
December 31, 2014 at 4:32 pm (10 years ago)Oh my goodness! This looks good!
Miss @ Miss in the Kitchen
January 1, 2015 at 5:03 pm (10 years ago)This would be a huge hit with my boys! So delicious
AliciaM
January 4, 2015 at 9:56 pm (10 years ago)This looks amazing. I will be making these this week! Love the story too. I am the same way: totally awesome but only after I warm up to people. 🙂
Nutmeg Nanny
January 5, 2015 at 8:25 am (10 years ago)I know exactly how you feel! Sometimes I can “turn it on” and be vocal/friendly/chatty but if one thing goes wrong I shut down. It sucks because I know I’m awesome (that’s ok to say that right?) but sometimes my anxiety gets the best of me. And I totally agree about Alice, she is the best! You know what else is the best? These loaded nachos. I would live off potatoes if I could 🙂
Gina @ Running to the Kitchen
January 5, 2015 at 9:00 am (10 years ago)Love how crisp these are without frying! Perfect football food 🙂
Lucy @ Bake Play Smile
January 14, 2015 at 5:14 am (10 years ago)Wow! These look so good. My husband just saw these and said I have to make them!!
Angela {Mind Over Batter}
January 14, 2015 at 8:29 am (10 years ago)I am extremely shy as well and I suffer from social anxiety as well. And I’m crazy awesome (totally ok to say, right?) The past few years I’ve forced myself to become more social and I’ve met some of the most amazing, generous, kind hearted people alive. Anyway, these nachos are totally my jam. I’m into over the top appetizers.
Tonia from TheGunnySack
January 14, 2015 at 9:03 am (10 years ago)It sounds like I am a lot like you and I am so happy that you had a great time! These potato nachos look amazingly delicious. I want to make some for my kids with just cheese and bacon bits on top.