POTATOES FOR WARMTH & MEALS

Potatoes in various forms have been a staple in English, Irish, Scottish and North American diets. These are served in many forms and when scarce have resulted in famines. However, they are generally easy to grow and relatively inexpensive.

They were a mealtime staple when I was growing up, served by them and prepared in various combination dishes. Potatoes also were served in many ways when my mother was growing up, and she continued the tradition in our household.

Mother also related how potatoes were used to warm one’s hands on a three-mile walk to school. Her mother, (my grandmother) also gave my mom, her sister and two brothers warm potatoes (either boiled or baked) to put in their pockets and to keep their hands warm in winter. Then the youngsters ate the potatoes for their lunch. (Schools in those days didn’t provide hot lunches.)

And yes, I’ve traveled the road (in a car) that they walked. It is about 3 miles, up hill and down to the former one-room school.

POTATO MEALS

Most of the meals served in Mother’s day were fairly simple, cooked on a wood burning stove or baked in the oven of that same stove. In my younger years, we had a wood cook stove, too.

Just a few of the potato dishes served by Grandma and Mother:

* Creamed Potatoes

* Scalloped Potatoes

* Baked Potatoes

* Mashed Potatoes

* Fried potatoes

* Potato Salad

* Potatoes in Casseroles

CREAMED POTATOES was a frequent supper dish at our farm household. Mother boiled extra for dinner/lunch. Then she cut the leftovers into small cubes and placed in a frying pan (or spider as my grandmother called skillets or frying pans) with some bacon fat or butter. Next add some cream or whole milk but don’t cover the potatoes.

If you use milk, add a few pieces of butter (homemade on Grandmother’s farm). Simmer, stirring often, but don’t boil, until the liquid has thickened. You also can stir in a bit of flour if it isn’t getting thick quickly enough. Add salt and pepper to taste.

(Mary Emma Allen researches and writes from her woodland NH home.)

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