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World-renowned chef, author and Emmy winning television personality Anthony Bourdain visits Colombia in the next episode of "Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown," airing Sunday, April 28, at 9 p.m. ET. Follow the show on Twitter and Facebook. In the days counting down to my trip to Colombia, I daydreamed about the culinary delights to come. It was my first time traveling to South America and nothing excited me more than the food: exotic fruits fresh off the tree, full-bodied coffee from the richest beans in the world, and succulent steaks in a country known for its beef production. I traveled with my boyfriend, who was born in Pereira, one of the three main cities making up Colombia’s “coffee axis.” I begged him to give me an idea of what to expect on my plate. In the past, he had regaled me with stories of eating cow’s tongue for Christmas dinner and drinking juice from tropical citrus fruits whose names I could hardly pronounce. What foods would I be bragging about when I arrived back home to the States? “Well,” he said, thinking a moment. He shrugged. “Colombia is pretty famous for its potatoes.” And yet, on my first day in Colombia, I found myself perusing the menu at a gourmet burger place. I was baffled when the server brought my boyfriend, his two siblings and me three bowls of French fries - each of which looked slightly different. “Try this one with this sauce, and this one too. You’re going to love it,” I was told. They did know other countries had French fries, right? But I grabbed a few different fries and noticed that oddly, they tasted nothing alike. Some were cut into wedges and had a very thick texture and almost sweet taste. Another had been fried with more grease and a few spices and felt more starchy. Although the U.S. exports about $2 million in potatoes annually to Colombia, these tots were a new experience for me. My boyfriend’s sister laughed. "You Americans just don’t understand the potato. We do." Colombians, as it turns out, love potatoes. There are neighborhood stores that only sell beer and potatoes, both of which you can order by phone and have delivered to your door. Potatoes are served for breakfast, lunch, and dinner — and even the small meals in between. While the U.S. has the rather demure-sounding National Potato Council, Colombia boasts the Federación Colombiana de Productores de Papa (The Colombian Federation of Potato Producers), or the Fedepapa for short. Spoken aloud, it can be heard as fe de papa: faith of the potato. I was still dumbfounded: what was so special about these potatoes? I posed this query on a recent Saturday to Adriana Mejia, a waitress at Las Arepas de Julia, a Colombian restaurant in the suburbs of Atlanta. She looked at me as if I’d asked why hot sauce is spicy. “It’s important because we put it into everything,” she said, waving a hand over the vast menu. “Every dish. We fry them, we cook them, we roast them, we make them runny, we load them up, and we eat them plain. So many of our dishes need a potato to work.” She’s right. There’s a hearty stew called sancocho that uses potatoes as a base ingredient, and caldo de papa, a clear meat broth with potatoes that serves as a great hangover cure. Potatoes are found inside fried empanadas, which are eaten as snacks. The calentao meal takes leftover rice, meat, and potatoes — along with whatever leftovers are in the fridge — and cooks them up with eggs for breakfast. Papas chorreadas mixes oil, potatoes, scallions, tomatoes, and spices into a runny salsa, topped with a layer of cheese. The simplest way to eat potatoes is la papa salada — boiled potatoes with tons of salt. Each recipe uses a particular type of potato, and a Colombian cook will know each variety’s specialty. Perhaps the most famous of all potato recipes is called ajiaco (ah-hee-AH-coh). Ajiaco is the regional dish of the capital, Bogotá, a massive city set high in the mountains. Ajiaco is a thick potato soup, stewed with pulled chicken, corn, and three distinct types of potatoes. It’s served with cream, capers, rice, and avocado on the side. Those three potatoes, along with a strong herb called guascas, are the ingredients that clinch the soup into a national favorite. Ajiaco uses the three most common spuds in Colombia: the Criolla (a small, round, bright yellow tater that thickens the soup; it is grown at a very high altitude), the Sabanera (a dryer variety grown north of the capital in the province of Boyacá and used more like the American baked potato), and the Pastusa (a softer, more crumbly potato grown in Pasto, far south near Ecuador). Potatoes have been cultivated in the Andes Mountains for thousands of years. Originally grown in Peru for sustenance, potatoes are now grown throughout Ecuador, Colombia, and Bolivia as well. The tubers flourish in the dry air of high altitudes, with different varieties growing better low on the mountain, or on the shady side, or where the plant is exposed to more sun and wind. Depending on the locale and the type of seed used, potatoes can be just about every shape and color imaginable, resulting in thousands of possibilities. My boyfriend’s mother, Carmenza Gay Roa, once saw an emerald-green potato at an exhibition in Colombia, and she’s always wondered what it tasted like. This all was a massive gastronomical surprise to me: Colombia mashed my preconceptions of potato. If you have cravings — for just about anything — you can find a Colombian potato dish to satisfy your longings and culinary imagination. Perhaps all you need is a little faith of the potato. A Colombian potato primer: Though ajiaco would be the best Colombian flavor to recreate at home, unfortunately, the varieties of potatoes and guascas are not readily available in the U.S. If you want to try an easy Colombian potato dish, give papas saladas a whirl. This is Señora Carmenza’s recipe. Papa salada Here in the U.S., we use the phrase salt and pepper to describe someone with dark hair with a few grays mixed in. In Colombia, you might yell to a pal on the street, “Oye, qué pasó papa salada!” What’s up, you salted potato? Directions: In a pot over the stove or a pressure cooker (which will make the process faster), add ten unpeeled potatoes and enough water until the potatoes are covered. Use a hard, compact potato. Carmenza recommends the pastusa or tocareña or something similar. Cook the potatoes in water only until they are soft inside, all the way to the center. You can take a toothpick and stick it into the potato. When you lift the potato with the toothpick, and the potato falls by itself, it’s soft enough. Drain the water, but don’t dry off the potatoes. You want them a little damp. Take one teaspoon of salt per potato — in this case, ten teaspoons — and pour the salt on top of the potatoes. Shake and roll the potatoes around until the salt sticks to the sides of the potatoes. You want your taters covered in crusty patches. The salt doesn’t have to be evenly distributed. Allow the potatoes to dry with the salty crust. Papas saladas are traditionally served with guacamole and ají, a spicy, finely-chopped salsa. Eat them whole, pouring a little guacamole and ají on each bite. Got a favorite tater method you'd care to share? Spud it up in the comments below. Previously: |
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The potato has nothing of European nor North American it is 100% from Bolivia and Peru.
I never understood the potato, or even really liked them, until I discovered Yukon golds - the plain Idaho/Russet is rather tasteless, and a world opened up to me upon discovering that there are varieties with FLAVOR, that I didn't have to upend salt over to make palatable.
The article is interesting - there are more varieties of potato down in South America, and for a longer period of time, than up here, and so it stands to reason that the people there would come up with recipes that respect the differing varieties. I would love to try some of these dishes. Thanks for an interesting article.
So much hate in these comments, so much ignorance. Most people should be like the author of the article and keep an open mind. The author is just trying to convey the experience had in Colombia discovering new things, trying new things. That's what you should take away from the article. Whatever else you see, is just your shaded view on life.
Now back to the point and question the author had.
One of my fave Colombian potatoe recipe is very simple. Papa con perejil (parsley)
You just peel and cook potatoes as you would normally do, get them very soft, sprinkle a bit of salt, get a bigggg chunk of butter (we Colombians are not afraid of using butter, not very healthy but very yummy), add pepper and chop up some parsley on them. My mom uses it as a side dish for when she does a fish dish. Yummmm.
Another one is the one the author had already written about. Papa chorreada. Another fave, which is also very ease to make. Papa chorreadas. (chorreadas is a bit of a slang for dripping)
Just peel, but still leave them whole, and boil the potatoes until soft. Add butter a pinch of salt to them. (again you can skip the butter bit it makes it soon much yummier)
Simultaneously do the sauce. I do it with hogao (it's a simple tomatoe sauce we do). Just add into a pan garlic chopped very fine, and I like to make the onion into more chunkier pieces. Stir them until cooked and a bit golden. I add panela to make onion and garlic golden. Its a secret I always do when I need to lightly fry onion until golden. If you don't have panela, sprinkle a pinch of brown sugar on top (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panela). Then add a couple of diced (chunky) tomatoes, until soft and mushy, add salt and pepper. I also add a tad of aji, or tabasco to give it a little kick. Just a tad. It is not supposed to be spicy.
Pour the hogao on top of the potatoes. If you want (I always do) also add meted cheese on top! Voilà, enjoy.
And on another note. I do agree that if you are a big time potatoe lover after visiting Colombia, do make a trip to Peru. Their potatoe culture is MAJOR. Start with any type of causa, they have like a zillion different types of potatoes.
I also think the point of the article is not to say that we Colombians are the one and only authority in potatoes. Not at all true. The point is to explore different things and cultures. As others have said, some more violently than others, so many countries have so many different ways of cooking a potatoe. Just explore, learn about different countries and cultures and have fun!
Excellent response! Thanks.
When did CNN start allowing middle school girls to write articles? I want my five minutes back.
Taking a whole 5 minutes to read this article may indicate some other more important problems that need your attention.
Americans don't understand the potato? That's a little insulting.I'm sure the Colombians or Peruvians do alright, but we enjoy a few things, too.
French fries. Potato chips. Baked potatoes, loaded with - whatever! Twice-baked potatoes. Gnocchi. Poutine. Salt potatoes. Pierogies. Potato pancakes - all three kinds. Hash browns. Tater tots. German potato salad. Jamaican potato salad. Potato rolls. Whipped potatoes. Riced potatoes. Garlic mashed. Cheese mashed. Garlic and cheese mashed. Horseradish mashed. Potato leek soup. Potato chowder. Shoestring potatoes. Oven-roasted wedges. Oven-roasted potato skins! OVEN-ROASTED POTATO SKINS!! And I haven't even gone to my cookbooks yet - or my own secret recipes.
I feel a little like Bubba: "The potato is the fruit of the ground. You can boil 'em, you can bake 'em..."
Marijuana is the Tree of Life
Usain Bolt smoked Marijuana and became the fastest man on Earth.
Michael Phelps smoked Marijuana and became the fastest man in water.
Barack Obama smoked Marijuana and became the President of the United States.
God Bless Marijuana and the Great Humans it helps to create...!
right on bro
Up in smoke!!!
If the Columbians know potatoes so well, why do we export so many?
Not sure how to take the fact your "insulted" by an article header.
We all enjoy the potato but the potato is NOT from the USA nor Europe nor Colombia, It came from the andes of Bolivia mostly and the sharing part with Peru. This is it. And thanks to that Europe (ireland specially) was able to survive.
This is a merit that should be learned and respect. Just like corn and tobaccoo came from North America.
Also tomatos came from South America exclusively and some times of coffee
I think the point of the article is that Colombians enjoy more varieties of potatoes in many more national dishes that Americans do. Amercians tend to have a more limitied view of the potato. If you travel and are open to new experiences, like the author of this article, you learn things about different people in the world – what a concept!
And in regards to the annoying pro-Romney postings, if Mitt were a potato he would definitely be a tater tot.
I heard that the mercury in sushi makes you stupid. Must be why Americans are so fat now.
A bit more research into cultures appreciating potatoes would have been in order. Having lived in The Netherlands, I can testify that they, too, adore potatoes and are very particular about which variety is used in which dish. Groceries sell dozens of types, each one sold by it's use and cooked texture. To use the wrong variety for a dish is considered very stupid.
Further, some of the dishes described are identical to dishes currently served in regional specialities in the US...salt potatoes are a delicacy, prepared in a heavy brine and boiled in barrels in rural areas of central upstate NY, the end result being tender whole potatoes, insides creamy and unsalty as the brine does not pass the skins, while the skins remain salty and crisp as the brine evaporates...
The article was about Columbian potato culture. IrishMama is a little thin-skinned and rude in her opening line. Who gets nasty over a piece on potatoes?
*colOmbian not colUmbian.
O U 8 1 2.
You are so right!! And whichever way you spell the name of the country, I think everyone knows what you meant, so why make a big deal over it!! Some people are just critical and hateful.
Hateful? No, but if I spelled your country wrong I know you wouldn't feel like they were talking seriously. I can't take CNN seriously when they misspell countries like Colombia as well. Takes their credibility away.
Smothered, covered, cheesed, chunked and hashed!
Telling people that they don't know how to enjoy a particular food is pure ignorance. If this woman likes the way they cook spuds in Colombia fine. I'll eat them the way that I like them. If she is that overjoyed by them maybe should stay there.
The ignorant, here, is taskmaster. The author of the article is just letting open minded people and narrow minded people like taskmaster know about the infinite possibilities that exist in this world about food. If taskmaster enjoys eating his potatoes his own way, ok!! Has taskmaster ever tried the delicious Irish Leak and Potato soup? I bet you it is a lot better than taskmaster's own way.
What is the next fad? Let me see, we've done tomatoes to death, Chocolate has been 'done' to death, and of course bread, now we are working on Potatoes. Perhaps we can make a food fad out of something like the humble soy bean.
Edamame?
Colombians just don’t understand the potato.
The Irish do.
Hahaa no one eats the variety and knows the potato better than south americans. After all they have been consuming them for thousands of years, the irish have for only a few hundred.
I thought only the Irish were infatuated with potatoes.
I think you got that kinda backwards: they love it when potatoes make them flatulent.
I've been saying this for years. Potatoes are very misunderstood by Americans. Take the biggest one that you can find and cuddle with it while you are watching television. Get a big bag of the red ones and show them some love and tenderness. Don't just put some butter on them. They need some spices that accentuate their best potential. They must be nurtured a caressed in your kitchen, accompanied by the sounds of smooth Jazz.
This kind of strange affection that you have for potatoes is not proper! The CNN moderators should reject this kind of blasphemy.
If you don't eat red potatoes raw with a little salt, then you don't love them as I do.
Be a TRUE American, Vote Republican in 2012!
Anything else is throwing your vote away to the Reds
Potato head.
No thanks, Not into bible beaters cramming their religion down my throat and making laws based on religious delusions. But you go right ahead there buddy, there's no law against being retarded.
Spam
How Gross. This article made my mouth water and then you bring up something as distasteful as Republicans. Ick. Can't you people let anyone have a moments fun? Besides, Obama looks more like Mister Potato Head so I'm definitely voting for him. He's also decent and smart.
I delight in, result in I found exactly what I used to be looking for. You have ended my 4 day long hunt! God Bless you man. Have a great day. Bye
Take cauliflower, steam it for 29 mins. Mix in some olive oil and mash it. Looks and tastes EXACTLY like mashed potatoes but wayyy more healthy.
Yummm great advice!! I will try that one for sure!
Interesting. Still you missed two related points: while you could find around 80 varieties of potatoes in Colombia, people only use 3 or, at most, 5 varieties, the ones you find in the market. Why? Because potato production in Colombia—and thus comsumption—is strongly related to government technnology packages.
Ren: "these people?"...you think you're better than them because you eat "fries" and "poutine"?? hahahaha I guess YOU are better than the Colombians with your fat-clogged arteries...I guess YOU show THEM. Ignorance is bliss...
What people REALLY don't know about the potato? It is one of the most TOXIC, pesticide-loaded vegetables you can consume – so much so that even farmers will not eat their own potatoes. GO ORGANIC.
And yet life expectancies have never been longer.... I'll choose not to waste my money on a fad, thank you.
Said someone in 1955: Polio vaccine, what polio vaccine? We're living longer than we used to, so who needs science?
Not in Colombia...
"My boyfriend’s sister laughed. "You Americans just don’t understand the potato. We do." "
Recognize that by "You Americans", she meant You.
Though I'm sure there are as many versions as there are cooks, a few years ago I found a great recipe for Ajiaco Bogotano Soup online (http://projects.washingtonpost.com/recipes/2006/03/01/ajiaco-bogotano-chicken-and-potato-soup/printer/ ). Papa Criolla are available frozen in Hispanic markets (not ideal but work well and break down to thicken the soup nicely). Guascas are available online from Amigo Foods and are essential for authentic flavor. YUM!
This is why crime sometimes pays. I was introduced to this fantastic potato cuisine by my local smuggler.
hey im half peruvian too! This is great
I love Potatoes no matter how they are prepared. I will try a potato in just about anything I eat.I got to take me a vacation in Columbia or Peru just to try their variety of Potato.
Why, knowing Peru to be the country where potatoes originated (as this author clearly does), would you go to see the love affair with the potato that COLOMBIANS have? Why not Peruvians? I know what the next article should be: "Americans' Love Affair with Vodka," or "Iraqis don't understand Brie like the Guatemalans."
Did you read the article John in az?? She clearly states that her boyfriend is Colombian and they are visiting his family. Maybe the next article should be "Reading comprehension in az"
No one eats more pizza than Americans or loves Elvis more than the Japanese.
It's globalization. Live it or live with it.
I'm from Colombia! Cool to see this on here.
Chuck Norris was bitten in the leg by a cobra once. After five days of excruciating pain, the cobra died.
People will turn into snobs about anything...My such and such is better than yours...
"Apollo 16 fakes! " Are you for real?
What ever happend to predictability?
The milk man, the paper boy, evening T.V
You miss your old familar friends, but
waiting just around the bend.
Everywhere you look (everywhere)
There's a heart (there's a heart)
A hand to hold on to.
Everywhere you look (everywhere)
There's a face of somebody who needs you.
When you're lost out there and your all alone
A light is waiting to carry you home
Everywhere you look.
Ahh Ahh Ahh Ahh Chity Chi bob botta
Chuck Norris
Chuck Norris!
Chuck Norris has already been to Mars; that's why there are no signs of life there.
If Chuck Norris is late, time better slow the heck down!
Now this is a story all about how my life got twist-turn upside down and i'd like t take a minute just sit right there and i'll tell you how i become the prince of town called bel air. In west philedelphia born and raisd on a playground i have spend most of my days.Chilin' out maxin' relaxin' all cool shooting some b-ball out of the school.when a couple of guys they we're up to no good, makin trouble in my neighberhood. i got one little fight my mom got scaredand she said:ur movin to ur ancie and uncle in bel air. i whistled for the cab and he came near the license plate said FRESH and it had dice in the mirror.If anything I could say this cab was rare but I thought
"Nah forget it... Yo homes to Bel-Air!"
I... pulled... up to the house about 7 or 8 and I yelled to caby
"Yo Home Smell ya lata!"
I looked at my kingdom I was finally there
to sit on the throne as the Prince of Bel-Air
have these people ever heard of fries or poutine?
Most people also don't know that potatoes and potato plants are part of the Solanaceae family of leafy-green plants and can produce toxic levels of glycoalkaloids, including solanine (deadly nightshade). Cooking does not breakdown glycoalkaloids and any "green" potatoes should be discarded.
According to a recent report by Alexander Pavlista, a professor of agronomy and horticulture at the University of Nebraska, Lincoln, a 100-pound person would have to eat about 16 ounces of a fully green potato to get sick. That is the weight of a large baked potato.
Yes, but the myths are so much more fun!!!!! (Good post, by the way. This country needs more people like you who use their brains.)
potatoes say word
It's a beautiful day to triple post like an idiot?
Don't make me take this sweater off.
If it were a triple post it would be the same exact thing...idiot. Take the sweater off....I will wrap you up in your sweeater and throw you into the sea, you little urchin. :)
To learn more check the web site of the International Potato Center (http://cipotato.org/) based in Lima, Peru. It is the third most important food crop in the world after rice and wheat in terms of human consumption, and there are more than 4,000 known varieties, mostly found in the Andes of South America where it originates. The varieties found in North America constitute a very small sample of what's available. Potato lovers may want to consider a trip to Peru where they can taste countless dishes featuring many varieties of potatos.
Me cree usted es el estúpido y trabajar para Fox News. AMOR EN VIVO BOLIVIA
So, how is being a totally hateful person working out for you?
Calmarse vaquero! No seas un imbécil. Perú es increíble, también. Largas patatas en vivo! Muy bueno!
Obama is going to make sure you all get SMALL POTATOES and are kept in the shrinking middle class. Under the Romney Plan, those that are willing to do the work will be rewarded and will move BEYOND the middle class and become the LEADERS of Tomorrow!
Why focus on a weak middle class when you could become the UPPER CLASS?!?!
Only Romney and Ryan can lead us to victory! ALL HAIL ROMNEY, KING OF PROGRESS AND PROTECTOR OF THE ONE TRUE FAITH! Romney/Ryan 2012 or don't vote at all because you are worthless.
Typical hate speech by a typical below average intelligence Republican. I'm guessing American will be just fine because your breed is too stupid to vote.
WOW! Amazing. Everyone stop whatever you are doing an mark this moment on your calendar. Much like the moon landing, you have had the privilege of witnessing a moment that will be forever remembered.
For the first time EVER!
Someone has used a totally non-political article to push his own off topic agenda.
No one has ever thought of doing that. Wow. What a moment.
So in your plan we can all be upper class...hhmm so how does this system work? Oh I see like the robber barons super rich and super poor. The most important class in any economic system is the middle class it is imperative to a democracy. Those who are discontent will revolt. Thus it is in the rich's best interest to improve the middles class. It is important to keep the middle class strong. Too much wealth is greed not success.
Or you can just be a troll for I fear the latter more.
Money is like manure.
If you spread it around, it makes things grow.
If you pile it all up in one place, it just stinks.
Well stated dude.
Of course when you are talking about taking other people's manure to spread to your own garden – that is closer to theft.
Lots of criminals like to redistribute income. They will steal all kinds of s h y t to "spread around".
And it really doesn't matter if the Gov't helps you take it or you take it on your own – either way the righful owner is victimized.
You guys are the most annoying zealots in the world. Man you are total taliban. We are talking about foooooooooooooooooood not politics If you keep this up I'll vote Obama just to spite people like you
Now going back to important stuff hmmmmm areapas
I'm tired of Republicans trying to take away my rights. I'm also tired of Republicans thinking of rich people before the middle class and poor.
Remember the Republican Raygun who introduced the "trickle down theory"? Remember when Raygun handed out amnesty to 2.9 million illegal aliens and gave them all resident status? But you don't remember Raygun's proposal to create an affordable healthcare program that went way beyond Obama's healthcare act – it was shot down by Democracts who saw it as additional bloat to Raygun's doubling of the Federal Government. Remember that at the end of every Republican's presidency there has been a collapse of a major portion of the banking industry?
How quickly Republicans forget.
Ya think? Potatoes are native to south and central America. People in Colombia have had a few thousand years to figure it out. Everybody else hasn't. Go to any place in the world and look at what people cook with what just happens to be around them. It's usually pretty good because many of the recipes have been perfected for dozens of generations. When the potato only showed up a few hundred years ago and only in a few varieties, it's no wonder european, asian, and african cultures haven't quite got it yet!
You know you've hit rock bottom when you brag to others about how much more of an expert and connoisseur of potatoes you are than they are.
They call it third world :-)
WHAT cha gonna do BROTHER when the POWER of HULKAMANIA runs wild on you for insulting the good name of delicious POTATOES?!?! All the little HULKAMANICS around the world love all the vitamins and minerals that help them fight the good fight, brother! So eat your potatoes , drink your milk and PRAY to the BIG HULKAMANIC IN THE SKY brother, because WHAT CHA GONNA DO WHEN THE 24 INCH PYTHONS COME AFTER YOU, DUDE!
OH YEAH, that Hulk Hogan just don't understand the needs of today. You see, HULKAMANIA just ain't what she used to be.. OH YEAAAAHHHH it's just an old man that should be using a walker to cross the street on his way to the Care Center OH YEAHHHH that's what I'm saying!
BE A MAN HOGAN
You must be very happy, Pete. (They do say ignorance is bliss.)
If you want to try GREAT Colombian food, go to EL Portal Bakery in Dallas, TX. Their food taste like my Grandmother's; and Mi Pueblito in Houston.
Peruvian food has lots of potatoes and corn, it is so good. Boiled potatoes are used in the soup, under sauces and mixed with the entree. I haven't tried Columbian, the papa salada sounds really good.
My guess is she is just another in a long line of spoiled children who never ate anything outside her comfort zone. Now that she is older, she is getting a little more daring with her pallet.
So...a million ways to make a potato seem like more than a simple, fattening, low nutrition starch is something to write home about?
Gee, I guess we just can't do anything right here in the U.S., can we?
I am Bolivian born and we have more than 300 variaties of potatoes, like papalisa, oca that is sweet, chuño that is potatoe that is frozen in the Andes and then dry a process that after keeps a potatoe for years, this mas used since before the Spaniards, we cook them in all kinds of ways.
Filled with chesse or meat, in souflfles, in soups, salads, they are all colors and shapes.
Covered with sauces some spicy some not.
I love to make them filled with cheese and yellow non hot pepper and roll them in a mix of flour and egg and fry them serving with a yellow pepper sauce. Look for Bolivian cooking on line.
We served them with a peanut spiced sauced............
yum, you are making me so hungry.
I have not been to Bolivia, but what you just said made my mouth water! Do you have the recipe? It's so nice to see that we may all be south American, but we have so many different ways to cook. I would love to try it, specially with peanut sauce!
There are FAR more things that Americans have no understanding of than just potatoes. Americans understand NOTHING of cuisine in general, with the natural exception of your precious chicken nuggets. Such unrefined and undignified tastes. just like your children.
But hey, we've got chicken fried steak! So, you're so much better than the average American. Where are you from?
That is so ignorant, we have the best beef in the world, our roasts , meat loaf, turkey, pizzas , baked Alaska, real burgers. are true American and then we have ethic foods, with the American touch, Italian, Tex Mex, jewish deli, pennsilvania Dutch.
My kids have never had chicken fingers, or fish sticks that Brist feed their kids. I did not know how to cook when I married but my neighbors that were Italian American show me how to make pasta, sauces, from my jewish husband family I learned to make real bagels, Kugels, etc.
You do not know what you are talking about.
So true! Good response!!
Right, Jeann. All 300 million American citizens are unrefined and undignified. I suppose we can't all be a class act like you, hiding behind a computer and slinging insults. How does a world class person such as yourself find the time for all that disgust and hate? Must be a boring life up there at the top. Can you see me down here at the end of your long, snobby nose?
Touche! Alena!!
I take offense at lumping all "Americans" as being cuisine illiterate. I lived in Europe for 3 years, experienced fun food all over as my parents were adventurous (escargot, anyone?). My children enjoy checking out new recipes, I once came home to homemade pasta hanging all over my kitchen, they had seen it on a cooking show and decided to try it. (See what happens when they don't have video games?) We grow our own food, too. So stop making generalizations, they're rarely true!
And as for the potato, we make soup, salad with mayo, or mustard or vinegar dressings. fried with onions, hashed on breakfast pizza, roasted with meat, riced into pancakes, creamed with cheese, gnocchi.... Those are the Euro recipes. Methinks this writer is a McDonald's groupie?
. . . .at least we are not cowards, Jeann.
Like our children have anything to do wit it, snob
No place can make fries like it is done in the USA and try the ones from Chick-fil a ot Fuddruckers with the best burgers, and who makes the best ice creams ? When I came to college to the USA I fell for pizzas, hoagies, club sanwiches, burgers.
Love meat loaf with mash potatoes. Every country has foods that represent them but in the USA we have a melting pot of foods, no matter your race or origen, we love the foods from each other!
French idiots know nothing of class. All they do is eat rotten cheese and surrender to whomever comes walking down the road. They make love with their socks on, don't bathe properly and are just all-around eurotrash.
WHAT DA HALE?!?
"What foods would I be bragging about when I arrived back home to the States?" – This is why I'm not such a fan of foodies. It's not actually about the food for some of them, it's the I'm better than you aspect. Enjoy the food, experience something you haven't and enjoy!
I'm reading all this stuff about the sinister and lowly white potato and how it will sabatoge your health... Not sure I buy that completely..... but I have to say.... My DOCTOR RECOMMENDS sweet potatos and yams twice a week. (No white potatos of course), but Not ALL potatos are bad..... Now my question is this... I can get the tiny little fingerling potatos with the dark purple flesh. Very strange, but wonder if they have the same benefits as the sweet potato. Anyone know anything about the purple fingerlings???
Sadly, purple potatoes offer nothing more than the empty calories and carbs of a white one. Stick with the orange ones...good stuff there..
I get them at COSTCO in a 5 lb bag. They come mixed with other varities. I am not sure about how their nutritional value differs from others. Enjoy!
Beer and potato stores are news? We have that here. We call them mini-marts. You go in, get your beer and potatoes (in chip form).
:)
Oh, and don't foget the dip !!!!
Its almost like wow! China has rice in everything!
You guys should go to Peru. There're more than 300 hundred kind of potatoes... and by the way, the potatoes is from Peru. If you don't believe me, just do a little online research. The Spaniards took the potatoes from Peru to Europe.
Wow, you learned something on the series of tubes. Good for you! Now take a sucker and go back to your desk.
Have fun voting for Obozo the abortion lover
Is it the potatoes you hate or is it Peru?
Quite a fit over tubers. You even had to bring the president and abortion into it so it must be a big deal.
I'm glad to know I'm not the only one who was a bit surprised by that response.
Yeeeessss. The Hate is strong in this one. Embrace it, let it floooow though you. You racism betrays your ignorance. Let it define you, become one with the loathing. For one can only truly loathe and hate when one hates oneself. Your path is nearly complete.
Have a nice day!
Jajajajaja you just made me laugh out loud!
Only a republican tard makes a political deal out of discussion about food that has ZERO todo with Obama or anyone else in the political world. Yeah, you DO need to go back to third grade. We should all slap your mother for having you.
My, what a strange and rude and childish reply.
No wonder their life expectancy is so short. Might as well eat popeye's fried chicken every day.
Damn you! Now i MUST have Popeye's soon!!
Also, living forever is overrated. Enjoy every day.
Also also, regional foods match regional constitutions – Eskimos eat a lot of blubber, and live long lives because their bodies have adapted biologically to that diet. The problem comes when the indigenous cultures are introduced to foreign foods too suddenly, and their bodies cannot adapt to the new biological needs.
Colombian food is fantastic, especially the soups. I am lucky to live in Queens New York where we have so much variety of foods from all over the world but I have to say that Colombian cuisine is one of my favorites, and the Colombian ladies oooouiieee!!
I'm lucky in that I have a farm house. I like to collect heirloom seeds and plant the non grocery store varieties of vegetable staples. In my area we occasionally get some Hispanics looking for a side job. One day a group of these guys were clearing some limbs about a quarter of a mile down the road from my house. It was hot and they needed to refill their water cooler. So I showed them the hose and they saw my garden. The conversation went on and I was filled in on the best potatoes to grow and use for this and that. I indicated that I would love to get hold of some to plant.
A few days later the same truck pulled up and honked. It was two of the guys I had seen a few days before. They had a box with about 20 each of four kinds of potatoes. I couldn't remember the names that well so I attempted to write them down phonetically. I planted them and they grew fairly well. I believe I have the same small yellow one described. I did learn that you have to cover that particular one with straw during the cold months or they just freeze and rot.
They are all indeed a much different taste and texture than our red and white potatoes that are normally found in most American grocery stores. One actually bakes MUCH better in that it is almost a creamed potato when it softens. For a treat, I grill them, cut the top and add a big dollop of goat cheese. There are never any left on the platter when I have a BBQ.
Often, putting goat cheese on cardboard makes that cardboard some of the tastiest food ever! ;))
But seriously, please keep promoting and creating more of those heirloom potatoes – we need more diversity in our agriculture, and you and your ilk (small farmers) are the best people to do it! Thanks for your awesome work!
However, doctors and diet specialists in American will tell you that if you are watching your weight (as most of us must do because of the national epidemic of obesity) we should avoid all white foods and especially potatoes. AMERICANS LISTEN UP: DO NOT EAT POTATOES!
Potatoes can be part of a healthy diet if eaten in moderation The potato is a good source of fiber, vitamins and minerals.
The fiber is in the skin of the potato – and it's only 3-5 grams. Peal the potato and you just have a starch which turns to sugar which turns to fat. Load up with salt as described here and health risks increase.
True! I wish I knew about the glycemic index a long time ago!
Well, it's like anything else in your life: moderation.
Potatoes are GOOD for you. like anything, you just shouldn't eat a TON of them...Everything in moderation! just like salt isn't bad for you, it is necessary for LIFE. dont listen to the idiots that tell you its bad to eat eggs, its bad to drink milk, that cholesterol kills. THAT is a CROCK! without dietary intake of cholesterol, you can't make the HOrmones necessary to sustain life! I can tell you from personal experience that eating low carb and low fat almost killed me and caused me to develop diabetes. I sucessfully reversed it by eating NORMAL foods, no packaged junk, reall butter eggs cream cheese potatoes veggies meat and ice cream! I just ate small frequent meals that were balanced. Potatoes are a HUGE part of my diet. boiled with lots of cream butter and salt then mashed to creamy goodness...at least twice a week. plus I love leftover boiled potatoes, fried next morning in butter with smoked paprika and lots of garlic, along with a 3 egg omelet. I'm 52 and 140 lb woman post menopause and look 10 years younger than most and workout 3x a week hard. REAL FOOD FOR REAL OPEOPLE!
I don't take any pills I sunbathe 30 minutes a day I walk walk walk and plan to work till age 70. Potatoes have iron and potassium and yes, I grow my own...EAT POTATOES!
I can tell you eat a lot of potatos if you are a 140 pounds. Add Diabetes, and you're life expectancy just dropped and likelihood of going blind and other ailments greatly increased. Potatos = starch = sugar = bad for diabetics. Keep eatting your potatos and they'll be rolling a fat blind lady down the sidewalk.
Dave,I'm sure you and your medical degree, combined with your extensive personal knowledge of this person and their vastly rotund weight admission** makes your advice supremely valuable both medically and as an example of objective discourse.
** – as sarcastic as my words otherwise were, I'd like to particularly point out that I was being facetious when I said 140 lbs was 'rotund'. You sound pretty healthy to me, though as a not-a-medical-professional, I'll trust that you are being honest as far as you know. Have a great day!
You don't Need to be a azz Dave. You don't know how tall she is and you don't know what her muscle/fat ratio is. You need to calm down dude, you'll have a stroke.
I am I mistaken or is this just boiled potatoes? That's not a recipe. Taking something cold and making it hot isn't cooking.
Actually I'm pretty sure it is cooking.
Randy: But Mr. Lahey.... Lahey: Randy!
And here in the US we are lucky if we can get hold of something other than a russet, yukon or red. This is were big corporations and the capatalistic system fail us, variety vanishes in favor of maximizing profit with lowest expense.
WHATS TATERS PRECIOUS?!?!
The best! LOL!
Not only does Colombia have amazing potato recipe so does Ireland, a country where the vegetable was not a native crop until it was brought there centuries ago to help during one of the many deadly famines because of its hearty ability to grow basically anywhere and in abundance, but it is a place with an enormous amount of amazing potato recipes. And all native to this island country.
But I am definitely going to try some of these recipes.
So does Idaho. Why import?
Fried, sliced new potatoes with butter, Tony Casheres salt and garlic salt. Feel the love.......
Fiddle de patotes. My dear wife of 39 yrs. who hails from Northern Quebec eats 'patates' everyday. Sometimes more then once!! I was born on the Island of Newfoundland Canada where 'Cod and Spuds' where the main stay for most Newfy meals. The Cod is long gone but the spud remains. In Atlantic Canada, i.e. on another Island called P.E.I. a sing by the name of Conners wrote and recorded a song about . . . . BUD THE SPUD. cfa
p.s. How could we not make any mention of Ireland in these comments, etc. Up Ureland!!
As my French Canadian Grandmother used to say in jest " les patates pourrites qui puses! (the rotten stinkin potatoes"...yep. we sure ate a LOT of potatoes at her house when I was a kid! along with Les Pattes de Cochon and tartines de cretons! Vive les Patates!
The headline for this article was "What you don't know about potatoes." Oddly, the the article is about Colombia, and it's love of potatoes, and contains very little information about potatoes themselves. The article inspired me to write my own:
What CNN Doesn't Know About Headlines
Headlines are supposed to give the reader an idea of what the article is about. Otherwise the reader is pissed and wastes his time writing a dumb comment like this one.
End of article.
Agreed.
Oh, something to dream about. Sounds lovely!
Ted nugent is far less nutritious than a potato
.... I already almost live on potatoes.... apparently I need to visit this holy land.
Everybody knows that the potato originated from south America and the author of this article is not stating the contrary. Most of the fruits and vegetables we eat today have their origins in far away lands and was modified over the years. Just because the potato originated from south America dosen\'t mean that you have the best potatoes. I had to live in Colombia for two months and the potato is definitely not what impressed me with their food. Colombians have very tasty food, just not the potato. The place where I had the best potato was on the island of Hokkaido in northern Japan Go figure
That's because the Columbians always have the munchies with all the smoking they do.
Funny... not. Racist? Maybe.
Smoking? I am pretty sure the US wins in that.
Alas...being born Diabetic type 1, I have to limit my 'tater intake. Love the red and yellow varieties...sweet and buttery tasting. Favorite way to eat them is boiled or baked with butter (not margarine). No salt...no pepper. Just me and my spuds a la butter.
There might be some varieties that are friendlier to the diabetic - there are something like 5000 different varieties - and less than a dozen are available in U.S supermarkets. One Chilean potato is supposed to contain enzymes that are helpful to those with type II diabetes; other (wild) potato species have differ even more from the standard profile we expect from potatoes here in the U.S.
You do NOT need to limit your potatoes or carbs at all silly. just be sure to counteract them during the meal by eating lots of fibre, fat and protein, this will slow down the absorption of sugars and you won't make your blood sugar spike...trust me, diabetes educators have got it all wrong...even if you are type 1, you can use LESS insulin if you combine your meals correctly. OR even do more exercise when you eat more carbs...you can eat anything you want so long as you increase fiber and fat and protein within that meal. and then go for a brisk walk for 30 mintes right after. your blood sugar will be good if you do this.
Next stop for this writer must be the Caribean Islands of Cuba, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic . those are the lands where Plantains are King
I agree- I lived in Florida for years after having been my whole life in California. I met many Cubans and Puerto Ricans who introduced me to plantains which I had never heard of. You can forget potato's these people eat plantains like crazy. I think plantain chips (like the potato variety) are awesome!!!
Potatoes offer minimal nutrition and energy as a vegetsble.. Too much starch, pesticides, etc. I stopped eating them a few years ago.
Those who claim small farmers don't use pesticides are living in a pollyanish world. The average potato bought in North America has LESS pesticides than one bought in Columbia...still too much, but less.
Yeah, potatoes are nutritionally useless. That's why the Irish potato famine was barely even a blip on the radar.
When was there a Irish Potato famine? Never heard of it.
The Potato Famine a blip? Ireland's population was decimated, dropped by 25% in just a few years due to death and emigration as a direct result of The Great Death. Abandoned towns and villages still stand as a testament to Gorta Mór. The current population of Ireland is still lower than that of pre-famine days.
It forever changed the relationship between Ireland and England, creating a strong nationalistic movement, the result of which are still seen today. Blip indeed.
Well, yes, sorry to said you didn't catch it was written in sarcasm. But thanks to that you illustrated dear Dave to what the sarcastic comment was aiming.
My apologies, I missed the sarcasm tag.
Potatoes are extremely high in carbohydrates – the body's primary source of energy.
Stupid hippie.
Your an idiot. Potato's are starchy simple carbs which turn into sugar and have a high glycemic index. There not healthy to eat to much of. You can switch to a 'complex' form of energy like meat and be better off.
your response would have been fine if you would have left off the name calling in the beginning.
Besides, if you are going to call someone an idiot, be sure to use the proper 'you're' in the process, okay?
BS..potato is high in fiber high in carbs low in fat. if you eat potatoes and sit in front of the couch the carb will be stored as fat. if you are a bit active you will burn the carbs and poop the fiber
Actually, it should be "YOU'RE an idiot".... when calling names you should at least make sure you're spelling words correctly. idiot.
POTATOES ARE FROM SOUTH AMERICA. ONLY. PLEASE GET AN EDUCATION IN THE WORLD YOU LIVE IN.
EARTH 101. IS THE COURSE YOU PEOPLE NEED TO TAKE.
WE LIVE ON A PLANET CALLED EARTH, EARTH, EARTH.
LEARN ABOUT WHERE YOU LIVE!!! PLEASE......
THIS IS FALLING ON DEAF EARS SO WHY AM I TYPING.........
Papas,
I get what you're saying, but that doesn't mean other cultures haven't made their own twist to the potato. Coming from a Colombian household, I never would have been introduced to funeral potatoes (which I love!) if it weren't for my caucasian friends. Point is, just because we may not know the exact origins of the food doesn't take anything away from what it means to that culture, nor take away from its deliciousness. Todos adoramos papa! :)
Amen!
Geez, someone sure lovvves to hear himself talk.
Papas, move along now. Don't you have somewhere else to be?
Everybody knows that the potato originated from south America and the author of this article is not stating the contrary. Most of the fruits and vegetables we eat today have their origins in far away lands and was modified over the years. Just because the potato originated from south America dosen't mean that you have the best potatoes. I had to live in Colombia for two months and the potato is definitely not what impressed me with their food. Colombians have very tasty food, just not the potato. The place where I had the best potato was on the island of Hokkaido in northern Japan Go figure
By yelling everything; you show a level of ignorance on par with the very people that you're complaining about.
Try making reasonable arguments instead. The world needs more reason and less yelling.
I don't even know what this guy is talking about, she never stated they originated from somewhere other then south America. She specifically states in her article they originate from the area now referred to as Peru, which is situated on the western coast of South America. If I'm missing something here please someone point it out.
This is falling on deaf ears, so why am I typing?
Hmmm....typing, ears...something seems a bit off kilter here...I'll figure it out.
you're right. Potatoes originally come from South America specifically from the Andes mountains. They were brought to Europe by early Spanish explorers in the 1500's. They were slowly adopted as a staple because they can grow in many
types of soil.
I love how the article mentions "calentao". I always thought that was my mom and grandma's way of referring to left overs. Guess it's a real dish. Fry up some left over potatoes and rice, make up an arepa and fry an egg. Talk about curing a hang over, haha!
Wow, I dare to ask? How old is the writer of this page? Do people know that ALL potatoes are from South America, brought to Europe, then to North America? Again, did this person who wrote this page ever go to school? not even talking after 12 grade??? I am 45 years old. I know, how could someone 45 y.o. know anything? The boyfriend and his family must be horrified by this person, soooooo USA born. Not to know that SPUDS are SOUTH AMERICAN>EUROPEAN>USAeeeeenn... so on and so forth... Potatoes are from SOUTH AMERICA.
Bazinga!!!!
...I think your problem is that you missed the entire point of the article and perhaps didn't understand a word of what you read.
Papas Adoro, I don't know what your upbringing was, but I suspect your parents might be ashamed and disgusted that the son they thought they were bringing up to be a respectful, decent member of society is in fact a disrespectful, rude, obnoxious, holier-than-thou, nasty, pompous, snooty, bloviating windbag. Of course, the consequence for your atrocious behavior is simply that you are, when you look in the mirror, a nasty, cranky baboon who thinks he's better and more intelligent that everyone else, but you and your giant brain ought to keep in mind that the way you treat other people is at least as important, if not moreso, than the size of your big fat head. Bazinga!
I am not Colombian nor Peruvian but I believe it that Peru has more than 2,000 variety of Potatoes of all kinds of colors and tastes... I have been to Colombian and Indeed the Ajiaco is a wonderful soup make out of Papa Criolla, a small yellow potatoes that give an exquisite taste. In the States I have tried a very famous Peruvian dish Papa a la Huancaina.which is very spicy and delicious. Peruvian papas Rellenas, Peruvian roasted Purple potatoes..
Hmmm...the person who wrote this article should have traveled to other South American nations, specially Peru. The potato is very important to the majority of of South America, more so Peru since it was originally grown & discovered in the Peruvian nation. Colombia is not the only nation in South America that can do wonders with the potato.
Thank you TRUTH. Potatoes are SOUTH AMERICAN. many thousands of spuds no one who has not been to S.A. would know.
And Potatoes are ONLY from SOUTH AMERICA, period. No where else, SOUTH AMERICA people. SPUDS, usa'ers SPUDS are from south america, yes, south of the border....... think much....????
Sure, they were ALL from South America... 400 years ago. Ever heard of hybrids? Apparently not. I don't think you should be calling other people morons...
Unless you buy organic potatoes, or maybe the ones from a farmers market, they are sprayed with two chemicals: Maleic hydrazide is sprayed in the fields and chlorprophram liquid concentrates is sprayed on them when they are in storage. Maleic hydrazide is a toxic chemical that can cause damage to blood, kidneys, lungs, the nervous system, and mucous membranes and cause tissue damage in the eyes, nose, mouth and respiratory tract. Skin Contact may produce burns, and inhalation can irritate the respiratory tract. Chlorprophram liquid concentrate is a chemical that is commonly used to keep potatoes from sprouting and is labeled as a poison and skin irritant.
Thank you. That's important to know. Wow.
And yet after fifty years of pototoes at leaset 3-4 times a week, here I am, healthy as a horse.
my grandchildrens favorite food is potato soup. It is the first thing they learned to cook when they were little.
And stop it with the farmers market being all organic, it just means locally grown, it doesnt mean the farmer/gardener didn't use insecticide or pesticite or amendet the soil..
The two chemicals you mentioned are both plant growth regulators, both are used in extremely low concentrations and doses, and unless you are a plant bud they are both completely harmless to humans at the rates we're exposed to as a result of their uses in potatoes. There are probably other chemicals used in potato farming that are worthy of caution, but these two aren't.
love love love arepas
I am an American "gringa" who has lived in Bolivia, South America for the past 20+ years. It may be true that the papa (potato) originated in South America and that this region of the world has hundreds of varieties of the tuberous plant. However, truth be told, I've never had a potato in Bolivia that came close to being as healthy and delicious as any potato grown in the USA! I'd take an Idaho or Maine potato any day over any Bolivian variety! However, that's not to say that Bolivia doesn't have many other absolutely delicious cuisine, like "sopa de mani" (peanut soup) or" picante de pollo" (spicy chicken). But please, don't overrate South American potatoes just because it makes for a good article. Having said that, the "Colombian" potato soup shown with this article does look scrumptous!
I believe "america's test kitchen" has a recipe for boil-bake-broil fries that turn out very much like the fried variety, I was impressed. There is also a great recipe for smashed olive oil potatoes from the "Pioneer Woman" website that I really love.
I saw a film about the Andean farmers would smash potatoes with their feet and then leave them to freeze outside on the ground for preservation,I think. South Americans have hundreds of potato varieties, kinda cool.
UGGHHH!!!! My life is cursed by a potato allergy
I'm sorry to hear that...try sweet potatoes
Plantains are a good substitute. Fried plantains taste a lot like potato chips.
That might work to avoid potato allergies! Find a hispanic market near you – plantains and other Latin American foods there are MUCH (usu 90%) cheaper than American grocery stores. Plantains are superb! Green they can be fried/smashed/fried, chip-fried; ripe they can be fried/smashed/fried, or baked with oil and garlic, or steamed, and super-ripe (black) they can be once-fried in bias-cut disks. And lots of other ways to cook them! Great options and recipes out there!
Mike in NJ now I have just been reading through the comments waiting to hear your response. Dude you are one funny guy! And love that you haven't stooped so low as to curse or name call, but you still make me laugh out loud! Keep going please!
Nice article!
As a note though, the traditional sancocho de gallina does not have potato (the ones from Ginebra, Valle). It is made with boiled plantains! (Plantains are also in every other Colombian dish). Of course some recipes include potatoes in sancocho, but the purists scoff. I am not a purist, so I am happy with some potatoes in it ;).
Yum! My favorite is when my abuelita makes ajiaco with yucca (along w/ the plantain you mentioned). So good, and the left overs the next day, even better!
MMMMMMMM, Nuh, your Abuelita.... mmmmmm, I am so hungry now. Plantains, Yucca, and Papas and yummy stuff..... eat it always every hour of the day!!! Even better the next day or day after the next....
When will the USA person learn how/when/why/what about EVERYTHING!!! don't know but it is NOT here in the USA.
Take a bus full of kids on a drive into the FARM land. Ask them to name what is growing in the fields ??? Would they know??? Just saying??? LOL.........
brings back some memories of Colombia - lived there for 5 years in Medellin
Oh man.... Now I want a "papa chorriada" !!! My Colombian NOT ColUmbian potatoes are the best,!
yes yes yes lets import potatoes lets help poor Colombians farmers out drive even more US farmers out of business and make a import business richer subsides the US potato business, give tax incentives to the import business and sit back and complain that the price of potatoes is skyrocketing after all this is all this article is about or we could limit the potato import, keep a farmer producing, and reduce farm subsidies and not worry about the Colombians
The US farmer cant grow a potatoe like the potatoes the Columbians are growing, they do not take kindly to pesticides, fertilizer, depleted ground quality, land arability compromised for mass production. The small farmer can do it, the mega ranch big agri business, not so much.
The US farmers already get plenty of subsidies from the government to grow a potato that is thoroughly saturated with pesticides. Nobody wants to feed that crap to their families.
We pay farmers to throw away potatoes, we are a wasteful nation, it is estimated that we toss about 3-5 million pounds of potatoes a year, just because they dont look a certain way.
as far as hurting farmers here for a potato from south america, thats absurd. no more painful to the our cheese industry when we import cheeses from around the globe. so open you mouth and stick a potato in it...
*Interesting to read this as I lived in Colombia for about two years in the late 8o's and I remember how important potatoes are there in the food which I had no problem with as I love potatoes
As a potato lover, note that many of these recipes are dripping with grease or salt and not appropriate for frequent use. Personally, instead of frying them, I'll cut them up into large French fry size (cubes, etc. are also ok), wash (stir) them by hand in a bowl of water for at least 30 seconds -repeat with fresh water- to remove excess starch, pat them dry with a paper towl, toss them in a tablespoon of cooking oil (preferably olive), and coat them with Dry Italian Season or Basil (if I want to sweeten them a little) and plus some sort of seasoning (Montreal Steak Seasoning, Mrs. Dash, Seasoning Salt, Old Bay, etc.). I then bake them in a toaster oven at 450F for 30 min. Excellent. When I want it cheesy – and this applies to cooked/nuked potatoes, pasta, cauliflower, broccoli, or baked fish, I make a light cheese sauce in 5 minutes as follows: 1. make a "roux" by melting 2 tbsp margarine/butter in a small frying pan then add, over low flame, 2 tbsp flour while stirring it into a thick paste. 2) make a "bechamel" or "white" sauce (one of the "five basic sauces" of great cooking) by adding 1 cup of water to the roux, slowly stirring it in and continue stirring over low heat until the flour-margarine paste dissolves into the milk and lumps are almost all gone. 3) continue stirring until the bechamel sauce just begins to thicken and add 2 ounces (about 1/2 cup) of shredded cheddar cheese and stir over low flame until it dissolves to make a "fondue sauce." You can use skim milk to lower the calories or double the cheese to splurge but it tastes excellent with 2 oz of cheese.
Learn something factual. Nothing wrong with dripping in grease. Depends what kind of grease it is. Fats should be 25-33% of caloric intake. Get a clue.
your "cheesy" sauce is called a sauce mornay in great cooking!
Thanks for the suggestion.....I will try it.
If you got to Colombia, enjoy the view, then keep going south: to Peru. Amazing cuisine.
Colombia has a great cuisine as well. Every region has food that will melt your tastebuds.
This is a subject that will be worth investigating as the weather cools. Potatoes are still relatively cheap and they are filling. It would be great to have some new ways to fix them this fall and winter.
Fun Fact: Potatoes originated in South America. Without their introduction to Europe in the 1600's, Europeans would have been hindered in their population growth. I know so many useless facts and very few useful ones.
Interesting. Did not know that, just read it on Wikipedia.
Me too. And so sad to read that Pierce Brosnan has fallen off a cliff in New Zealand yet again.
You folks need to watch more History Channel and less "Reality" TV.
SO HUNGRY NOW.
Ummmm...potatoes. Yummy potatoes. Delectable spuds made into french fries, home fries, potato soup, mashed potatoes drenched in gravy, potato salad, and best of all, a big fat steaming hot baked potato split open then drenched in butter, slathered with sour cream, shredded cheese and diced jalapeno, crumbled bacon with lots of spices,... potato heaven!. ...now are ya hungry? ;oD