Time for Tasty Tuesday and another recipe! I’m also throwing in a history lesson. I love the potato! I could eat potatoes every single day. Did you know the potato has its roots in the windswept Andes Mountains of South America? The potato was first cultivated some 7,000 years ago. In about 1570 the first potato made its way across the Atlantic to make a start on the continent of Europe.
The potato is part of the nightshade family and as such does have some disagreeable traits. One should
never eat anything green from a potato. The leaves and stem are poisonous. Potatoes should be stored in dark, but dry places. Light will cause the formation of solanine on the skin of the potato. Though not likely to cause serious harm, green skinned potatoes can taste bitter and may result in temporary digestive discomfort.
When confronted by green skin on a potato, simply peel it away. Keep as much of the rest of the skin as possible. For this is where most of the vitamins reside. Potatoes are one of the most nutritious staple crops discovered by man. With milk in the diet, it can be a sustaining and healthful source of energy, vitamins and minerals both in times of want and in times of plenty.
You can learn more about the potato at Food History.
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Baked Potato Salad (more…)