Potato smileys - the ultimate childhood nostalgia trip and one of the few instances where food having a face is nice (except Colin the Caterpillar and whitebait). I've taken this classic and tarted it up by combining the concept with a viral Tik Tok layered potato recipe. Flaky, crispy, buttery goodness. A face in your face. We love it. Remember - you say potato, I see potential.
Preheat the oven to 140°C. Use a mandolin or very sharp knife to cut super thin slices from each potato - they need to be thin enough that when you hold them up to the light the are opaque.
Place the butter in a saucepan to melt it. Carefully pour the clarified butter away from the white particles at the bottom.
In a brownie tin or deep baking tray lay a layer of overlapping potatoes, then brush them with clarified butter. Repeat this process using all the slices. This may take a while - put on a podcast!
When you've used up all the potato slices, place a layer of baking paper on top and top that with something heavy. Bake in the oven for around 2 hours, or until a skewer goes easily through the potato brick.
Leave to cool, wrap in clingfilm and set in the fridge, ideally overnight.
The next day, use a cookie cutter to cut circles from your layered potato brick. Use a metal straw to cut eyes and a spoon to fashion a mouth.
Preheat the oil to 170°C and fry the smileys in batches. Serve with ketchup for a real nostalgia trip.
