If you are a fan of the spud, then today is for you. For centuries they have been sliced, fried, boiled, baked, puréed, and served. Carbs be damned!
Celebrating February 8
National “Potato Lover’s” Day
Potato Facts:
A. The word , potato, is derived from a Native American word “Batata”
B. The first cultivated potatoes date back to 500o BC in Peru. Originally, they were purple. When cooked they turn a deep blue color.
C. Most of the nutrients found in potatoes are in the skin.
D. Sweet potatoes are distant relatives of the common potato, while Yams are not potatoes at all, they botanically are considered lilies.
E. The average American eats 140 pounds of potatoes per year.
F. The word spud actually means “to dig a small hole in the ground, similar to spade, a tool to dig small holes.
G. The Spanish claim that they first introduced the potato to Europe in 1550 while the Irish say that it was in 1585 when Sir Walter Raleigh introduced the potato to Europe.
Daily Quote:
“My idea of heaven is a great big baked potato & someone to share it with.” ~Oprah
Today’s Food History
on this day in…
- 1795 Friedlieb Ferdinand Runge was born. A German chemist who developed a method for obtaining sugar from beet juice.
- 1886 Wilhelm Koppers was born. This cultural anthropologist developed theories on the origins of society based on studies of hunter-gatherer tribes.
- 1898 John Sherman of Worcester, Massachusetts received a patent for the first machine to fold and seal envelopes.
- 1925 Actor Jack Lemmon was born. A couple of his film titles: ‘The Fortune Cookie’ and ‘Days of Wine and Roses’
- 1946 Adolfo De La Parra of the music group ‘Canned Heat’ was born.
What camera do you use? Clearly, they’re potatoes! :)
LikeLike
As a certified potatto lover this is the post for me :) Yours is a completely different take on food and very interesting. Thanks for visiting my blog.
LikeLike
Hello and thank you for the follow! Your blog is seriously incredible and so informative! I absolutely love potatoes so I hope it’s okay to celebrate potato day a day late.
LikeLike
Yay!! So glad I included red potatoes in my salad dish last night to celebrate this day! :-)
LikeLike
I love baby potatoes. I normally cook it with garlic, butter, oyster sauce and parsley :)
LikeLike
This blog is very informative and entertaining as well. Btw, thanks for the follow.
LikeLike
National Potato Lovers Day! Yay for me!
Thanks for visiting my little corner of the blogosphere. Yours is dangerously amusing. I will be back. :)
(MFK Fisher also loved potatoes, so coincidental)
LikeLike
I’m trying to cut back on my carbs (especially white potatoes), but I still enjoy learning that today is potato day. My husband loves to stick potatoes (wrapped in foil) in our fireplace.
LikeLike
Sadly, I LOVE potatoes and they are a national holiday at my house EVERYDAY of the week. They are celebrated guests at our dinner table. Ahhh…. how I love the potato!
LikeLike
That’s it,i’m going on a high carb diet!
LikeLike
Yams are lilies?! News to me. Awesome post!
LikeLike
YUM! I love potatoes – pretty sure I eat way more than 140 pounds/year!
LikeLike
This is great! I will have to make something with potatoes tonight
LikeLike
I looove potatoes! I’m also loving your blog! :)
LikeLike
what a great excuse to eat some fries!
LikeLike
The Oprah quote is hilarious. (o: We just made a big batch of leek and potato soup last night.
LikeLike
Let’s hear it for the Spud!
LikeLike
A hash with potatoes of many colors (white, blue, pink) makes for a beautiful plate. Or fresh leek and potato soup on a cold dark day…
LikeLike
The purple potatoes taste just like the white. They do make for an interesting plate presentation.
LikeLike
I love potatoes with their skins on. :)
LikeLike
It’s very hard to believe they’ve only been in Europe for nearly 500 years!
LikeLike
Even though I’m Chinese my great great grand mother was Irish. I think that explains why I prefer potatoes to rice as my starch staple.
LikeLike
Love them! Great blogging! I just made a sweet potato quinoa coconut soup that was literally off the charts! Simply magnifique!
LikeLike
new potatoes with butter and mint :)
LikeLike
indeed! I think the potato is one of the most versatile food – there’s just too many ways to eat them!
Carbs be damned!
LikeLike
I wonder how I would feel about eating a blue potato…
LikeLike
I love potatoes! Good to know there’s a day to celebrate this!
LikeLike