National Potato Day is celebrated on August 19th every year to honor the favorite food of many people ― potatoes. Whether they are roasted, fried, boiled, or mashed, potatoes are the perfect side for any dish and everyone's favorite comfort food. This fan-favorite root vegetable is a significant part of cuisines across the world and is enough to make people feel full.
Today, let's be grateful and appreciate potatoes, a vegetable that has been a part of people's meals for centuries with the first potato crops planted dating back to 5000-8000 BC in Peru and Bolivia. It spread all over the world from there and is now a staple in several cuisines across the globe. The versatility of potatoes allows them to be cooked in different ways and paired with almost anything. They can be used not only as a side, but also as a key ingredient in pancakes, bread, soup, and even drinks.
Potatoes have been the primary source of sustenance for many populations over the years. It is also so full of nutrients that people can live off only potatoes for months. In fact, between 1845 and 1849 a plague in the potato crops left some of the population of Ireland without potatoes for 4 years, and millions lost their lives due to starvation.
French fries are one of the most popular ways to prepare potatoes. In one year the average American eats 30 pounds of French fries. French fries arrived in the United States in 1784 when James Hemings, Thomas Jefferson's slave, traveled to France with Jefferson so he could learn how to cook them the French way. After returning to the United States, Hemings used to cook French fried potatoes for Jefferson's guests. When the recipe was shared in a cookook in 1817, they quickly became a hit that spread through the country.
A majority of Americans also consider potatoes to be among their favorite comfort food, but fried isn't the only way Americans like their potatoes. They also have them mashed or baked. Most people like to slather their spuds with butter.
On National Potato Day you can really go all out and eat potatoes for every meal. You can use regular potatoes or sweet potatoes for any of these: (1) hash browns ~ maybe alongside eggs, bacon, or avocado; (2) potato pancakes are also a good option for your first meal of the day; (3) tater tots; (4) potato chips; (5) chips and dip; (6) French fries.
Our Circle@Crown Cafe will be serving a variety of potatoes today, so you may want to pick more than one kind. See you there?
No comments:
Post a Comment