Hi Guys!
I was browsing through the latest edition of my beloved "The Week"
yesterday, and I found this little snippet. How could I not blog about it?!
"It is always the international year of this, or month of that", says The Economist, but three cheers to the United Nations for declaring 2008 the International Year of the Potato. The UN hopes that the humble spud will contribute to its Millennium Development Goals by helping to alleviate poverty, improve food security and promote economic development. It's a worthy aim, particularly since the potato - which Friedrich Engels declared to be the equzl of iron for its "historically revolutionary role" - has long been intertwined with economic growth and trade liberalisation. Britain's industrial revolution was fuelled by a potato-fed population boom; and the spud made an important contribution to the establishment of free trade. It was not the eloquence of the arguments against the Corn Laws (which restricted grain importers to protect domestic wheat producers) that led to their repeal, but the tragedy of the 1845 Irish Potato Famine which forced the Government to reverse its position and establish free trade as a British policy. As the Duke of Wellington complained at the time, "rotten potatoes have done it all".
On top of it being my 42nd birthday next month, where I will officially be the ultimate answer of life, the universe and everything, I have official recognition from the UN that the humble potato is something to be appreciated and applauded.
Immigration, are you listening?! It says 'International'! You hear??! That means potato, like, here AND there! International! Okay? Hahahaha!!
I included a few edukashual links in the article above, about the Millennium Development Goals, the Corn Laws, the Potato Famine, and so on. (Just click on the red bits). Now for the FUN stuff! I looked up 'International Year of the Potato' on the net, and found the site for the British Potato Council, which has a whole list of facts and figures about the amazing spud...
Where in the world…?
• The potato (Solanum tuberosum) originated in the Andes of South America, 8000 years ago. Today, potatoes are grown on an estimated 19,500,000 hectares around the world.
• The word ‘potato’ known in Spanish as ‘patata’ is derived from the word ‘batata’
• Asia and Europe are the world's major potato producing regions, accounting for more than 80 percent of world production in 2006. While harvests in Africa and Latin America were far smaller, production was at record levels. North America was the clear leader in yields, at more than 40 tonnes per hectare.
• China is now the biggest potato producer, and almost a third of all potatoes are harvested in China and India alone.
• Asia consumes almost half of the world's potato supply, but its huge population means that consumption per person was a modest 25 kg in 2005. The heartiest potato eaters are Europeans. Per capita consumption is lowest, but increasing, in Africa and Latin America.
• Potatoes are so rich in starch that it ranks as the world's fourth most important food crop, after maize, wheat and rice.
• The potato plays a strong role in developing countries with its ability to provide nutritious food for the poor and hungry. It is ideally suited to places where land is limited and labour is abundant, conditions that epitomise the conditions in much of the developing world.
Closer to home…
• The potato started being grown in London by 1597, and soon became popular in Ireland and Scotland
• Popularity for the potato came during the Industrial Revolution, when demand was created for cheap, energy-rich, non-cereal foods
• By 1948, production in England and Wales was peaking with almost 400 000 hectares under potato
• The UK is the 11th largest potato producing country
• In Britain we consume 94kg of potatoes per person, per year
Did you know…
1570 – The potato arrived in Europe
1609 – European sailors take the potato to China
1719 – Potatoes arrive in USA
1801 – First French Fries served in America
1845 – The Irish potato famine
1853 – Potato crisp invented in New York
1952 – ‘Mr Potato Head’ toy invented
1995 – The potato is grown in space
2008 – United Nations International Year of the Potato
For those of us who simply enjoy eating potatoes, there's also a section of fab recipes ~ click here!
Here are a couple which I reckon will be getting a try out in my kitchen in the not too distant future... quick 'n' easy
...
Turkey & Cranberry Baked Potato
Okay guys! Get into that kitchen and get peeling!! (Boogie and singing compulsary!
)
allieseven wrote on Mar 13, '08 To this day when you order dinner in Ireland you will get three different styles of spuds without even asking for them. They're not even on the menu. The waiter would simply say,"Oh, you're in Ireland, no need to mention." LOL
finneganswhacked wrote on Mar 13, '08 You say potato, they say patata, let's call the whole thing off! What awesome post. I guess I'd forgotten the content of protein. What did the potato say to the sheep? I only have eyes for ewe... sorry - feeling giddy about my favorite holiday.... Can't wait to dig into my Shin Agus Guinness (poured over, you got it, boiled patatas) and for dessert, Marog Arain Agus Ime...hmmmm yum.
nicolame wrote on Mar 13, '08 Wow that potato hash looks very good, thanks for getting me hungry again... love you my Mamma Llama!!! and yes I agree INTERNATIONAL BABY!!!
mrpiggy001 wrote on Mar 13, '08 and last night I had a twice baked potato ( even without knowing It was A international Event).
utroukx wrote on Mar 13, '08 i ought to tell my dad, then. he loves potatoes.
welshdoug wrote on Mar 13, '08 It's 2008-o The year of the potat-o They taste nice When boiled with mice Great slogan, eh?
naarta wrote on Mar 13, '08 I have always loved Potatoes.
welshdoug delete reply welshdoug wrote on Mar 13, '08 "They-peel-them-with-their-met-al-knives, ...then-they-smash-them-all-to-bits...HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA....."
finneganswhacked wrote on Mar 13, '08 It is Irish Bread and Butter Pudding and it truly is something to die for. Twist my arm and I'll give you the recipe. Your and Hermit's places were already set.
finneganswhacked wrote on Mar 13, '08 Ok forget the arm twisting. I'm way easier than that. Bread and Butter Pudding (Marog arain agus Ime) “A popular recipe in the 18th and 19th century manuscript ‘receipt’ books, which makes full use of the excellent dairy produce so readily available throughout Ireland. This is my adaptation of the recipe from Lady Rivers’ manuscript ’receipt’ book, 1750, from County Cavan.” - By Claire Connery, from her book, A Cook’s Celebration of Ireland, In An Irish CountryKitchen. (Serves 4) 1 ½ cups milk 1 ¼ cups heavy cream Pinch of salt 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 5 large eggs ½ cup sugar 3 - 4 small bread rolls 1 tablespoon butter, melted ¼ cup golden raisins, soaked in 2 tablespoons cold water 4 tablespoons apricot jam 1 tablespoon water Confectioner’s sugar to dust 1 X ovenproof dish, 3 pint (6 cup) capacity approximately 1 ½ - 2 inches deep Oven Temperature 300 degrees F Oven time 25 – 30 minutes Combine the milk, cream and salt in a saucepan and heat to simmering. Stir in the vanilla extract. Mix together the eggs and sugar in a large bowl until well blended. Add the simmering milk and cream, stirring continually to form a smooth creamy mixture. Cut the rolls into ¼ inch slices and arrange these slightly overlapping in a lightly-buttered ovenproof dish. Sprinkle the drained and soaked raisins on top. Melt the butter and brush over the bread. Pour on the milk, cream and egg mixture and place dish in a roasting pan of simmering water and cook in the pre-heated oven for 25-35 minutes until the custard is just set. When cooked, remove from the water bath. Melt the apricot jam with 1-tablespoon water in a small saucepan, sieve and brush on top of the pudding. Sprinkle with icing sugar and serve warm, either on it’s own or with poached or bottled fruit, or ice cream.
mousepotato66 wrote on Mar 13, '08 Is it bad etiquette to drool over your own keyboard?! Finn, if I don't fit into my wedding dress next year, I'll blame you! We're taking it in turns to cook a meal to bring in for night shifts next week ~ I was going to do a butternut squash curry, but I could well end up doing dessert instead... 
sanitizer wrote on Mar 13, '08 §How nice, I raise my mashed potatoes in a toast to you and a wonderful blog, I sure know more about spuds now than ever before. That turkey and cranberry baked potato looks rather good.§
emmm1 wrote on Mar 13, '08 Aw brilliant blog Sue. I just love my tatties. I could live on mashed tatties and gravy or baked tattie and cheese for ever. Over here there are so many varieties of spud and many of them have fabulous flavour. Not to mention real hash browns and beer battered fries. Theres a wee diner up the road from me that seels stuff called "homefries". It's a sort of big mess of fried potatoes - yummmmm. I loved the other ads too. Ah, nostalgia.
mykebodean wrote on Mar 14, '08 I had taters with dinner tonight. Hey Sue all you need to do now is put yourself in a sack and hop of a pallet of potatoes that's getting shipped to the US. If you get stopped once your over here,you have all your friends on here that will vouch for you that they've been friends with you AKA the Potato for at least a year or more.
skyerider wrote on Mar 14, '08 We always eat taters with a big meal. We boil 'em or mash 'em or stick 'em in a stew! Too funny.... Potato soup is yummmmee!
finneganswhacked wrote on Mar 14, '08 LOL! Drool away. Your keyboard is easy to clean! (Did your know you can either wash it with your regular dishes in the dishwasher, or, in the sink? As long as it is rinsed thoroughly and allowed to dry, you'll be in good shape!) As for the Wedding Dress, I guess congratulations are in order!!! As for the fit, may your tailor have so much material left over to make 3 dresses: one for your wedding, one for your 25th and one for your 50th and beyond. Now eat and enjoy!
practicalhermit wrote on Mar 15, '08 i certainly do like it when i find you a peeling my batata
yetanotherguy13 wrote on Jun 21, '08 mousepotato66 said I was going to do a butternut squash curry A whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat????
yetanotherguy13 wrote on Jun 21, '08 Did you catch this article I wrote? http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/532313/celebrate_its_the_year_of_the_potato.html
Years ago I had a book of Magic Eye pictures, which I was facinated by. I guess I was only fascinated because I could actually see them! 
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Thank You!
and i now must add*grinning* well worth keeping!! i love you sue*grinning from ear to ear* co-ownership of a life,this woman is worthy of her desires-wow!
Dana ~ Sue, you are one of the best friends that I have ever had. Getting to know you all of these months, and discovering all of the parallels that we have between us, has been an adventure that I will always cherish. I love you lady! (((hugs)))
