Phred wrote:
>
> Having something of a surfeit of spuds the other day, I boiled more
> than required with the corned beef with a view to having a couple of
> "hash browns" with bacon and eggs for breaky next morning.
>
> But I wasn't too sure how one makes hash browns, so I did a bit of a
> google and found heaps of recipes -- but they led me to the question
> "What are real hash browns?"

There are several competing ways to make them, so *real* hash
browns are the way they are done in *your* family. If your
family doesn't have its own recipe, then select one of the
popular versions and decide on it for your own family.

I prefer doing them with raw potatoes: Scrub a raw potato
without peeling it. Use a mandolin or grater or shredder
machine to shred one spud straight into a oil frying pan with
a spoon of oil. Cook until crispy, flip, cook until crispy,
done.

Optional variation: Peel the spud first.

Others prefer using pre-cooked version: Form cooked mashed
potatoes into a patty then fry it rather like a hamburger.

Optional variation: Leave the peel on when you mash.

In both major variations adding some diced onions or
peppers or whatever you like is good.