Potatoes!

image courtesy of www.freeclipartpictures.com

After returning from a “baby-ready pets class,” my husband and I discovered my new 5lb bag of potatoes had been dragged from the kitchen counter to the living room floor. That bag of potatoes was to be my return to a more frugal way of cooking, after a long and hypocritical hiatus of lavish, yet wholesome foods. That bag also let us know we apparently have a ways to go with our dogs Edna and Stella.

I love a potato, and I’m thinking you probably do too. Potatoes were  a staple in depression cooking, providing energy, nutrition, and that undeniable “filling” effect on the stomach, all for a very good price. Because of this combination of characteristics, I’m singing the potato’s praises today, and suggesting that you too, find yourself a sale bag of potatoes (I got that 5lb bag of local spuds for $1) and make yourself a potato-based meal.

We are having Yankee Pot Roast tonight. Simmering just 4 feet away from me now and smelling heavenly. I first seared the beef roast in mustard seed, salt, pepper, and garlic powder prior to dropping it into a crock pot with carrots, onions (more cheap staples), lots of potatoes, and a touch of vegetable broth. This hearty “grandma classic” is  7/8 of the way through it’s 8 hour slow cook, and the meat is already falling off the bone. It is also enough food to feed company, so I’ve invited some over…. that is the beauty of potatoes: company.

So, to follow are a few basic ideas for creating a few meals from a big bag of spuds. All kinds of recipes can be found online, or I encourage you to submit  your favorites too.

• Colcannon- A traditional Irish Dish eaten at Halloween
• Hashbrowns- a great breakfast-for-dinner dish with eggs
• Mashed Potatoes as main dish- consider covering them with a sautee of vegetables, ground beef and/or cheese
• Potato Pancakes (with the left over mashed from last night!)
• Twice Baked Potatoes
• Scalloped Potatoes Au Gratin
• The ever-classic FRENCH FRIES!

BON APPETIT!

Tags: cheap eats, food, ingredients, preparing meals, recipes