Sunday May 31st, 2009 The Versatile Potato

Last Christmas a staff member brought in chips and dip for our coffee room (food donations are always welcome). Some library branches have potato chips regularly, but at Brodie they are a rare treat. As we munched through our coffee break it reminded me of how I always praise the potato for its versatility.

Are there potato cookbooks?

We carry a few potato cookbooks, such as Potato The Definitive Guide To Potatoes And Potato Cooking by Alex Barker. It's the perfect book for a potato lover. It contains over 150 ways to cook and present potatoes. It features interesting recipes such as Chocolate potato cake. Wow -- what's not to like there? You can also try your hand at making Bubble and Squeak. This classic British recipe features mashed potatoes, cabbage and onions, sounds like my kind of dish. I bet it's popular in Moulton Chapel, England.

Can you suggest a good potato related fiction book?

I sure can! The Guernsey Literary And Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer. This book was a top bestseller in 2008. Set in post World War Two Britain, author Juliet Ashton is seeking a subject for a new book. She begins a correspondence with a man from Guernsey and is drawn to the society members. The society began as an alibi when the Germans found them breaking the curfew. Juliet sails to Guernsey to meet the society members and discovers a wonderful group of characters. There's even a recipe in the back for potato peel pie, if you're interested in trying it.

Aren't potatoes bad for you?

I did a quick search in the Health Source -- Consumer Edition database, located in our Virtual Collection. I found an interesting article from the June 2008 issue of Prevention magazine, called Healthy Veggies You Think Are Bad For You. The article mentions that if you eat potatoes in moderation, they are nutrient rich, contain flavonoids which can help reduce cancer risk and can even help lower blood pressure. You can locate the article online by entering food composition in the search box and Prevention in the publication box. We carry the actual magazine at Brodie and Waverley.

Who doesn't like potato chips?

I have always been a big potato chip fan. I recall saving the Old Dutch potato chip bags and boxes for a chance to bid on fabulous prizes on the locally televised Kids Bids show. I think everyone wanted the Old Dutch playhouse. Their website has an interesting history of the company. Did you know they started in Winnipeg in April 1954? If you're interested we carry Crunch! A History Of The Great American Potato Chip by Dirk Burhans. This book follows the history of the chip from the early sale of locally made chips at corner stores to the modern snack food industry.

Do we have books about both pigs and potatoes?

Why, yes we do -- Pigs Love Potatoes by Anika Denise. This is a great counting book for children. First Mamma Pig gets one request for potatoes and soon everyone wants potatoes. With colourful illustrations and rhyming text it's sure to be a hit with small children. Pigs and potatoes, it doesn't get much better than that.


Where can I visit a potato museum?

If you're ever in O'leary, P.E.I. be sure to stop by the PEI Potato Museum! It also features farm implements and a Potato Hall of Fame. There's even a 14 foot potato outside, perfect for a photo-op. Visit their website at peipotatomuseum.com

What else can I do with a potato?

We're living in tough economical times and you'd be surprised what a potato can do. Aside from eating them, you can remove a broken light bulb, erase pumpkin stains from your hands, and restore the shine on old shoes. If you're feeling creative you can design greeting cards and writing paper using a potato stamp. It's similar to a rubber
stamp, just carve and ink your design. I remember doing this in public school. For more information check out the book Extraordinary Uses For Ordinary Things by Reader's Digest.

No matter how you slice it the potato is one handy vegetable. Oh, do you know what you call a baby potato? A small fry. Now go out and enjoy a potato.

Karen Craib is a Library Technician