Poblano and Onion Hash Browns

Part of the reason I hate shopping is that I have no idea where to find what I'm looking for. Yeah, I know they have those signs atop every aisle that are supposed to help morons like me, but they're not specific enough. Think about marinara sauce. There's no sign for marinara: you need to know that it's a pasta affiliate, and you go to the pasta aisle. That's all well and good, but what if you don't know what you're looking for? It's hard to say where you might check for it if you don't know its friends, or even its close acquaintances.

That said, confession time: I have no idea what a poblano pepper is. Well, I know it's a pepper. Got that bit. Check the produce section. I didn't know where it might be, a fact exacerbated by the fact that I don't know if it's rare and/or out of season. After about 10 minutes of intensely scanning two feet of peppers, I decided to give up and grab a lengthy hot pepper. Was it poblano? I have no idea. It seemed to work, though.

Poblano and Onion Hash Browns

2 medium baking potatoes, peeled and shredded
1/2 medium onion, diced
1 poblano pepper, diced
2 Tbsp. oil
1 Tbsp. chili powder, or to taste
Salt and pepper, to taste

•Soak the shredded potatoes in cold water for about 30 minutes. Drain and pat dry with paper towels, removing as much moisture as possible.

•In a large bowl, combine the shredded potatoes, onion, and poblano pepper and stir.

•Place a large, heavy skillet over medium-high heat and add the oil. Once hot, add the potato mixture, sprinkle with half the chili powder and cook until the bottom begins to brown (about 5 to 7 minutes).

•Flip over, or stir, the hash browns. Add the remaining chili powder and cook for an additional 5 to 7 minutes. Once desired crispiness is achieved, season with salt and pepper, if desired, and serve.

Makes 4 servings

Note: the thinner you cut the potatoes, the easier it is to get them crispy. Again, we got a four star breakfast side here, losing out only because the potatoes take 30 minutes (?!?) to soak. I want to roll out of bed and eat a damn thing. I do not want to have to wait for food to be done.