William Marshall once called the arrival of the potato to Scotland 'the greatest blessing that modern times have bestowed on the country'. I fervently agree. I don't know what I would do without potatoes. They're just so versatile, and they go with everything. I've grown up eating home-grown potatoes that I helped to plant and pick. I'm hoping I'll get to help plant this year's crop when I'm at home for Easter (we always plant them over the Easter weekend). The potatoes below are Roosters, which are wonderful for pretty much anything. They're especially good for roasting (I must admit, L does make wonderful roast potatoes), which I think is probably my favourite sort of potato. We bought two huge baking potatoes in Lidl today, later in the week they will be consumed with copius amounts of tuna and salad. I just found a brilliant quote from Oprah Winfrey - 'my idea of heaven is a great big baked potato and someone to share it with'. Only I would call it a jacket potato. And I don't need to find someone to share mine with :-)
I'm currently procrastinating (again!). I should be reading about land use for my archaeology tutorial, or doing a documentary analysis for Scottish history, or working on my project on mummers for Scottish Ethnology. I know I'll regret not working now, but somehow that motivation isn't enough. Douglas Adams once said that 'it is a mistake to think you can solve any major problems just with potatoes'. I wish our potatoes could do my incredibly boring reading for me. Oh well, I'm sure chocolate will help instead.
Chocolate will definitely help. Although I have infinite faith in the ability of the potato to remedy even the most seemingly insurmountable of difficulties :o)
Posted by: Livvey K | 03/01/2009 at 06:22 PM
I have the 'potato ritual' - they must be baked in the oven until the jacket is nice and crispy, then I scoop out all the potato and mix with salted butter before returning it to it's jacket. If I'm adding cheese I'll sprinkle it on top and put under the grill to bubble. Now I'm hungry!
Posted by: Tilly | 03/02/2009 at 03:31 PM
Ooh that sounds yummy Tilly! Have you tried Nigella's loaded potato skins?
Posted by: Livvey K | 03/02/2009 at 08:27 PM
Indeed I have Livvey - I love all things Nigella! Although I sometimes feel she makes it look too easy when it really isn't. My daughter has been watching nigella express with me and now wants all her friends to sleep over and wake up to pancakes and blueberry syrup.
Posted by: Tilly | 04/28/2009 at 11:49 AM