POTATOES

GROWING YOUR OWN POTATOES
The growth and quality of potatoes is influenced by cool temperatures, ideally 70 degrees F during the day.  We grew our own potatoes for the first time this past year.
  
STEP 1:  We bought several bags of organic potatoes from Trader Joe's and left them in a dark cupbard to sprout. 

STEP 2:  We quartered the potatoes and planted them about a foot deep and a foot apart in our garden.  Allow two feet between rows, so that you can mound up the soil around the potato plants.  The potato tuber itself should not break to the surface.

STEP 3:  Given some hay by a farmer friend, we covered the patch to keep the weeds down and to help maintain the moisture in the soil.  You can also use grass clippings.

STEP 4:  Keep the potatoes well-watered.
 

  
BAKING POTATOES
Potato casseroles are an easy dish to bake and you can season them in an infinite number of ways, using garlic, ginger, herbs, or spices. Simply toss potato pieces with olive oil, and add two teaspoons of seasoning.  Salt and pepper to taste, and toss well in a casserole dish before placing in an oven preheated to 400 degrees for 40 minutes.  Test for doneness by poking with a fork to check for tenderness.  Here's one idea...

GINGER GARLIC POTATOES

INGREDIENTS:
Assorted potatoes, cut into 1" pieces
Onion, sliced into wedges
3 Tablespoons olive oil
2 cloves garlics, crushed
1" piece ginger, grated
Salt and pepper to taste

 
THE NUTRITOUS POTATO
Potato is a name derived form the native American word “batata”.  Potatoes were first cultivated by the Inca Indians in Peru over 4,000 years ago.  Spanish conquerors carried potatoes back to Spain.  
 
In 1770, a French pharmacist saw the potato as a solution to the famine in France and helped King Louis XIV popularize it by creating a feast of only potato dishes.  
 
During his presidency in the early 1800’s, Thomas Jefferson introduced “French Fries” in the White House.  The versatile potato is now common worldwide and grown in all 50 states in the U.S.  It is an inexpensive source of good nutrition; many people in poor countries, who cannot afford milk products and meat, use potatoes as their primary source of calories.

-  Potatoes are one of the best sources of carbohydrates, the body’s primary fuel source. 70-80 percent water by weight, potatoes have no fat, no cholesterol, and minimal sodium.

- A six-ounce potato has 2 grams of digestible protein, almost as much as a half glass of milk.

-  A five-ounce potato supplies almost 45% of the daily value for vitamin C.  It also contains vitamins A and B.

-  An average potato has more potassium than a banana.  Potassium helps attain optimal muscle performance and nerve response to stimulation.  It also contains calcium, phosphorus, and 6% of the daily value of iron, which allows blood and oxygen to attach together.

-  Potatoes with skin provide 2 grams of fiber per serving, exceeding that of many

“whole” grain products.