International year of...

THE POTATO!!!

How cool is this...just by sheer coincidence it happens to be the first time we've ever grown potatoes in our back garden! We roasted them whole in their skins last night - yum. Pink fir apples, they are long, lumpy and skinny but delish!

Anyway I got to thinking about potatoes in general and how excellent these funny vegetables are. So I thought maybe we could have a potato appreciation thread. Post here any potato stories, recipes, musings, whatever...bonus points for any funny potato photos.

OK I'll start - DD has come home from Guides with a potato pet which she has been instructed to keep alive for as long as she can!

Recipe: Smashed Potatoes: easy peasy... Just boil some spuds (new baby potatoes are best) in their skins until the skin starts to lift off (ie they are cooked) then drain and transfer into a shallow baking dish... crush moderately with a fork... don't turn it into mash... just kinda press them down until they are flatter... top with dabs of butter/and or garlic butter... sprinkle over some freshly ground pepper, salt, and maybe a bit of rosemary or your favourite herb (perhaps parsley)... drizzle over some olive oil or a bit of cheese (parmasan is good)... place in oven until warmed through... (this is a great dish just to have waiting in the oven while the BBQ is cooking). MMmmm I think i might make it tonight!

My DH adores potato.... he says it's his Irish blood. I can go a while without them... too much potato is bad if you have joint pain like arthritis. Often the elderly eat too much and if they stop they will notice their symptoms ease remarkably...everything in moderation!

Yum that recipe sounds great Bath!!
I love potatoes they are my favourite vegetable. DH's aunty does a potato bake where she slices up potato then pours over a carton of sour cream mixed with a pack of dry french onion soup mix then tops with cheese and bakes.

"What I say is that, if a fellow really likes potatoes, he must be a pretty decent sort of fellow."
A.A. Milne

• A potato is about 80% water and 20% solid.
• Henry Spalding first planted potatoes in Idaho in 1837
• "French Fries" were introduced to America when Thomas Jefferson served them at a Whitehouse dinner.
• United States potato lovers consumed more than 4 million tons of French Fries in various shapes and sizes.
• Potatoes are a powerful aphrodisiac, says a physician in Ireland.
• The average American eats 140 pounds of potatoes per year. Germans eat more than 200 pounds per year.
• The largest potato grown was 18 pounds and 4 ounces according to the Guinness Book of World Records. It was grown in England in 1795.
• The highest volume baked potato restaurant, The Hot Potato, is located in Plaza las Americas in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

wow, how exciting. I can't believe I've got an excuse to share my funny potato photo. I took a picture with my phone but when I showed DH he told me I had too much time on my hands.....
https://www.bellybelly.com.au/forums...993/ppuser/233

It's a bit adult :P

Creamy Potato Bake

Makes 4-6 servings (side dish ones)

Ingredients Required.
5 Medium Potatoes
2 Rashers Rindless Bacon
300ml Thickened Cream
250gm Grated Cheese
100ml Milk
Powdered Chicken Stock

Method.
1. Peel and thinly slice the potatoes
2. Put potatoes in dish, arrange on a slant (i suggest a cake tin as a good size)
3. Lightly fry the bacon and dice into small pieces
4. Mix 1-2 tblspns of Chicken Stock with the cream
5. (and any other herbs or spices you may so desire)
6. Mix bacon in with cream
7. Drizzle cream over the top of potatoes
8. Pour milk in slowly, do not let the liquid level rise higher than potatoes
9. Cover top with cheese
10. Bake in oven at 180⁰ for approximately 60 minutes.
11. To test if cooked, put a knife through middle potatoes, if soft, they are cooked


Variations.
Adding onion and garlic (powder, minced, or fresh) to the cream, before adding to the potatoes. Depending on what flavour you?re after, could try basil and oregano, or a combination of herbs, but doesn?t work too great with the cream recipe.

Please Note - This recipe cannot be substituted for 'light' products. These will make the potato bake turn into a watery mess. Least in my experience anyway!

peel and slice potatoes into rounds. toss with olive oil, cracked pepper, sliced garlic cloves, fresh rosemary and rock salt. Put in baking dish and bake on high (200 deg approx) till desired texture is achieved (or untill the smell drives you mad).

This is one of our favourite family dishes. Tom says he could eat it till he puked and then eat some more!

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wow, how exciting. I can't believe I've got an excuse to share my funny potato photo. I took a picture with my phone but when I showed DH he told me I had too much time on my hands.....
https://www.bellybelly.com.au/forums...993/ppuser/233

It's a bit adult :P

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Hee, hee, hee! Loved it!!!!

Ooooh i have one...
When i was growing up instead of just turfing less than usable potatoes mum would cut them in half amd cut letters or shapes of some form into them and then id use it to paint...
Just something different ;)

We used to do that too Ash!!

Bonus points, Chloe, that's hilarious! :cryinglaugh:

I'm loving all the recipes too! :)