Penny For Your Thougths By: Nancy Whitaker
One potato, two potato, three potatoes, four. Remember playing that game? Also there was a game called Hot Potato. We can’t forget Mr. Potato Head, a game I think is still around. Of course instead of playing games with the name of potato, I would rather just eat them. While talking at the beauty salon, a girl said she thought potatoes were a gift from God. She noted, “You can fix potatoes so many ways and they are used as snacks and can be eaten at almost every meal.”
Yes, we all agreed and then began a conversation on the various ways potatoes are cooked and how they are served.
If it is a snack you want, we have potato chips. Stop and think of how many varieties of chips there are and new ones arrive on the shelf almost daily. To name a few: barbecued, rippled, salt and vinegar, dill, sour cream, cheddar cheese, ketchup, kettle fried, and even sweet potato chips. Did you realize that the average American eats approximately 30 pounds of potatoes a year?
Potatoes are the fourth largest crop in the United States with the state of Idaho adopting it as their official vegetable. It is also said that the potato plants were originally from Peru and the first potato patch in the US was in Derry, N.H.
My kids loved to eat raw potatoes and I like potatoes cooked many different ways. I especially like mashed potatoes. I remember my Mom and my grandma having a potato masher which had a wooden handle and a holey bottom. They would not only mash potatoes, they would take a big spoon and beat them adding lots of butter.
I did not know this but instant mashed potatoes came around in 1955. I don’t think I tried the instant until years later. Today, in addition to instant mashed, there are potatoes already mashed and all you have to do is microwave them. Those are tasty also.
Another tasty way to fix potatoes is to bake them and put out all sorts of toppings out to go on top for your family and friends. Sounds great!
Here are a few potato questions and I was surprised at some of these answers.
What fast-food chain introduced the baked potato to its menu in November of 1983? Wendy’s
What fast-food restaurant features the potato product “Potato Ole?” Taco Johns
What month is traditionally designated as “Potato Lover’s Month?” February
What are the names of the 4 potato head kids? Potato Puff, Lumpy, Dimples & Spud
What famous comedian gave Mr. Potato Head a voice in the movie “Toy Story”? Don Rickles
On what TV show does Elaine claim her fictitious boyfriend, Art Vandelay, imports potato chips? Seinfeld
What potato-related activity makes the Brady Bunch family happiest in the “Brady Bunch Movie”? Potato Sack Racing
I found this recipe in an old cookbook:
POTATO CANDY
Place potato in a small pot, cover with water, and boil until very tender. Add 4 cups powdered sugar and mix until blended (will be a sticky mess and this point). Lay down a large sheet of wax paper and sprinkle generously with powdered sugar. Spread some peanut butter evenly over candy.
I also have a question: Why do some people call potatoes “taters?” What is your favorite way to fix potatoes? Do you like new potatoes? Let me know and I’ll give you a Penny for Your Thoughts!
