Friday, October 5, 2007

Potato-Eating-Cozy Kind of Weekend

My summer bounty this year included potatoes. Did I ever mention it? It was my first experience planting potatoes, and really, it happened like this: one day, while turning my compost pile, I noticed dozens of tiny potato plants shooting out from discarded organic potato peelings. Hmmm, I thought. Since I still had some space left in the garden, I tucked them beneath the soil, splashed on some water, and waited. Months later, I took my small shovel (also used for mixing bathroom tile grout - ugh), and began digging. And by gosh, this girl'd done growed 'er some taters, as they say around these here parts.

That first day I figured my potato luck was fortunate in this regard: I had dozens and dozens of free potatoes. I mean... free potatoes. Then I actually ate one. Oh.my.goodness. The difference between the potatoes you bring home in plastic bags and the potatoes you dig out of the garden with your tile grout shovel is... astounding. They can't be compared. Until you've tasted a homegrown potato, you're fooling yourself to think you've eaten a good baked potato. Or mashed potato. Whatever.

Anyway, I'd been planning to talk about my potatoes today because I just got a new kitchen mandoline, free of charge, and this Scalloped Potato Gratin has, all week, sounded delicious and easily attainable. I decided I would rattle on about this - the homegrown potatoes, the mandoline, the ultimate potato gratin recipe - even before I saw Alicia's blog and her prettier-than-words potato heaven. Oh well, guess today you can see how a northern girl does it - all pretty and beautiful, and how a southern girl does it - all cheesy and peppery and plopped down on the big farm table with a "come on, y'all! Dinner!". Besides, in my kitchen the same is true of both chocolate and potatoes: you can never have enough.

So now you know what we'll be digging into around here this weekend: potatoes. Well, that and Cheddar Jalapeno Bread, Brown Sugar Oatmeal Cookies, and Carrot Cake. I own a little baking venture and have tons of orders to fill by tomorrow evening. Better get that oven preheated, huh?

Hope you have a wonderful, potato-eating-cozy kind of weekend. -Brin

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

That PC Mandoline is awesome. I use it often.

My potato dish adds a touch of nutmeg and carmelized onion. I'll be roasting new potatoes, onions and sweet bells to go with grilled tri-tip on Saturday. Tonight is chicken soup (sniffles in the Hardt home) and am making an apple crisp for later. Yum.

Anonymous said...

Brin, you lucky gal...a free kitchen mandoline!
And the potato dish looks amazing...I can almost taste it! Yes those home grown potatoes are by far superior to the ones we get shipped in. Although I live in an area where potatoes are grown and so for most of the year we have locally grown potatoes available to us.
Enjoy your baking this weekend.
I am baking pumpkin pies for our Canadian Thanksgiving this weekend..
And this is so neat...I got the card in the mail today that I was going to be receiving the magazine 'Victoria' from you...I had almost forgotten that my name had been picked and guess what it's my b'day this weekend so thanks again for this magazine subscription. I know I will love it!!

Terri Steffes said...

I have been hankering for some homemade potato soup. Your post just cinched it for me. Gotta have it.

Kathleen Grace said...

Those potatoes look fantastic! Makes me want my own big cheesy mess of them today! It's going tobe near 90 though so I will have to wait for cooler weather. I hope you have a great weekend:>)

Unknown said...

I agree, nothing compares to homegrown veggies and potatos just speak "yummy"! They also make the best potato soup, can't wait for it to cool down now! Your so busy Brin, just amazing!

Anonymous said...

OMGoodness, that looks sooo good! You are a very talented girl.Everything you do & make looks so wonderful.

BellaColle said...

Ugh...I wish I could come to dinner!! I HAVE tasted home grown taters and you know what, you are soo right! delicious.

sister sheri said...

Thanks for the tip about the home grown potatoes. I'm still mourning the end of my tomato crop. Funny, isn't it? When we take time to re-invest thrown away potatoes, we end up with yummy cheesy potatoes!
Just imagine what God can do with us!

Sheri
theleakingwindow.blogspot.com

Unknown said...

It doesn't take much for this Irish lady to dance a jig over a potato!!! Especially when I see them coming fresh out of the ground!

Thanks for sharing! And the cheese potatoes look divine!

KJ

Rhoda @ Southern Hospitality said...

Oh, my gosh, those potatoes look wonderful. My parents have grown potatoes, so I know they are great home-grown. That was a fortunate accident to have growed yourself some taters!

Rhoda

Unknown said...

Oh yummy...I love coming here to take a peek at your posts! Always so heartwarming! Thank you!

Colleen - the AmAzINg Mrs. B said...

OK, so I don'te even cook - hubby does - but htis makes even ME want to cook! Yum-OOO!
Thanks