Georgia’s Kitchen: Potatoes

Georgia Diehm

Hi everybody! I hope you had a safe & happy Thanksgiving day. Every day should be a day to give thanks to our Heavenly Father who showers us with so many blessings, for which I am very grateful.

Today I will show you some interesting ways to cook the lowly potato. It is a vegetable that has been a part of most peoples meals throughout the years because it goes with about anything. Besides, it is delicious, relatively cheap, filling, and good for you. Yes, this is true in spite of the bad rap it has been getting recently. Do an internet search on the health benefits of the potato & you will be pleasantly surprised. Among many things it might do for you – may lower blood pressure, help with stress & digestion. And it is good for your heart. So enjoy potatoes often. Of course, if you are on a restricted diet you should follow the directions of your doctor. Cutting down on excess fat & cheeses in preparation would increase the health benefits.

Small Potatoes

8 small potatoes
3 Tbsp butter
1 Tbsp lemon juice
2 Tbsp minced parsley

Peel and wash 8 small potatoes. Boil quickly and drain. Add 3 Tbsp butter, 1 Tbsp lemon juice, and 2 Tbsp minced parsley. Serve with any cooked fish. Serves 3 or 4.

Fluffy Onion Spuds

5 good sized potatoes
salt and pepper
medium sized onion
5 Tbsp butter

Cook and mash five good sized potatoes using cream, salt and pepper. Now chop and saute a medium sized onion until it is tender in 5 Tbsp butter. Add it to the potatoes. Put all this in a greased oven-proof dish and set it uncovered in (300) oven for 45 minutes.

Potato Dressing
(To serve with pork,beef,lamb or fowl)

4 cups hot, fluffy mashed potatoes
1 1/2cups dry bread crumbs
2/3 cup bacon fat
1/2 cup finely chopped onion
1/2 cup chopped celery
2 tsp salt, 1 egg, beaten
1/2 tsp ground black pepper
1/2 tsp ground sage leaves

Use only hot fluffy mashed potatoes and combine with remaining ingredients. Bake in a greased 8x8x2-inch pan in a preheated moderate oven(350) for 30 minutes or until browned. Yield 5 1/2 cups.

Grandmother’s Potatoes

large potatoes
small sausages
salt pork or bacon

Pare large potatoes and cut tunnel through the center of each one with an apple corer. Draw a small sausage through each one; place potatoes in the pan and lay a slice of salt pork or bacon on each one. Bake in a moderately hot oven (375) about 50 min or until done, basting with hot water when necessary.

Baked German Potato Salad

6 slices bacon
1 small onion, diced
1/4 cup vinegar
2 tbsp water
3 tbsp sugar
1 tsp salt
3 cups diced, cooked potatoes
2 Tbsp chopped parsley
1/8 tsp pepper
1/2 cup grated sharp cheese

Dice bacon and cook until crisp. Dip out the bacon and set aside. Brown onion in the bacon drippings over low heat. Add vinegar, water, sugar and salt. Combine potatoes, cooked bacon, parsley and pepper. Pour sauce over and toss lightly. Turn into a baking dish and toss with cheese. Heat in a moderately hot oven(375) for 15 minutes. Makes 4 servings.

I have many more of my Mom’s potato recipes that I would like to share with you, but I will wait until a later time. Enjoy!