Where are all the taties gone?
At one time Ireland was known for potatoes.
Back in the days before microwave ovens and deep fat fryers, Irish men were not considered fed until they had a plateful of potatoes boiled in or out of their skins and served with great skelp of butter and a celler full of salt.
Now I think we have a problem….. I was out the other day… The sun was shining and the fields were full…
The only trouble is that the crop didn’t look like potatoes!
Does anyone have a recipe for plastic sheets?
Ashok said,
June 13, 2009 at 7:43 am
Today is a world that has lost its appreciation for the simpler times, all things that the old school prescribed and enjoyed. I suppose agriculture is changing and while there are advantages, there are setbacks as well.
Thank you for your visit on my blog, I deeply appreciate your comments.
Nora said,
June 13, 2009 at 10:46 am
I can’t find any Irish spuds to buy. The only edible ones I can find are from Cyprus or Greece. And they’re selling them in clear plastic bags. Didn’t anyone ever hear about sunburn? My father stored (mud covered) potatoes in a dark sack in the blacked-out coal shed, beside his tools. They were perfect for months. No wonder half of every kg I buy in the shops is tinged green and tastes horrible.
Nick said,
June 13, 2009 at 10:57 am
Most mysterious. Why are potatoes being grown under plastic sheets. Or are they not potatoes but something else? A funny lot, these farming folk.
My mum used to make absolutely delicious mashed potato with loads of butter and salt. Nowadays of course the butter and salt would be strictly taboo and I’ve never tasted any mashed potato so wonderful.
Kevin said,
June 13, 2009 at 11:08 am
As far as I know the plastic sheets are used to make maize grow faster and then are later removed when they get bigger.
Potatoes aren’t grown with plastic sheets as far as I know.
rummuser said,
June 13, 2009 at 12:00 pm
I wish that I could offer a comment. I do however have a recipe for plastic. Don’t go anywhere near it.
kenju said,
June 13, 2009 at 12:35 pm
I agree with rummuser about plastic!!
Grannymar said,
June 13, 2009 at 12:41 pm
@Ashok - We still grow potatoes in Ireland. This post is a little tongue in cheek effort with my poor sense of humour!
@Nora - Those potatoes from Cyprus or Greece have Irish ancestry since we supply them with seed potatoes. I remember in Crete some years hearing that they had three or four crops in a year, thanks to their sunshine and our potatoes!
@Nick - The plastic was not covering potatoes but the odd plant peeping through looked like Maize. A point confirmed by Kevin above.
@Kevin - Welcome and thanks for the information. By the way since you do not have a blog and I have no advertising on my site, I have removed your URL. (My blog, my rules.)
@Ramana - I will do my best….. but most purchases are covered in it!
@Judy - Everyone agrees with Ramana!
Nancy said,
June 13, 2009 at 2:33 pm
Grannymar,
If you want to see fields of potatoes growing by the ton, go to Prince Edward Island. It is the potato capitol of Canada, and the home of Anne of Green Gables.
You are correct,GM,when you say that most of the potatoes grown in the U.S.A. or Canada have their origins in Ireland.
We are on our way this morning to Annapolis, Maryland where our Naval Academy is located on the Chesapeake Bay.
Our granddaughter, Rosemary, is a long distance swimmer and tomorrow she is going to swim across the Chesapeake. It is 4.5 miles and will take several hours. Last year she swam across San Francisco Bay from Alcatraz to the city. Many others make the swim with her;she is not alone.
In real life Rosemary is the manager of a large Pharmacy in Philadelphia. She is not a professional athlete; she just loves the water.
See you Monday in time for soaking something in vinegar….. Only kidding,GM, I love your recipes and hints… Why else would I keep coming back here?
Magpie11 said,
June 13, 2009 at 2:37 pm
First collect your plastic sheets from the fields (or collect wild plastic that grows in the hedge rows). If you have time shred the plastic and add it to your recycling bin or box. Whatever you do do not put the plastic into an incinerator or a landfill container.
If the other contents of the bin are rotting and producing unpleasant smells it may be possible to add a splash of Jeye’s Fluid.
Now we come to the really skilful part of the recipe. Under cover of dark return to the field or hedgerow and collect any edible plants growing there. In the case of the hedgerow it is probably not sensible to collect in the dark. I did mention the need for skill however.
Take home the edible plants and prepare for consumption in your usual manner!
Return
Grannymar said,
June 13, 2009 at 3:49 pm
@Nancy - Enjoy your weekend. Rosemary sounds like an amazing girl, I hope she does well. The very thought of that swim gives me goosebumps!
@Magpie - We have a recycling box that is emptied every week. Alas they are very choosy about what we put in it. Plastic sheets, shredded or otherwise are not acceptable.
The Maize was only beginning to sprout so I may have to wait a few months!
bikehikebabe said,
June 13, 2009 at 4:38 pm
Hey Nancy (my sister’s name),
My son Paul Springer is constantly swimming across “San Francisco Bay from Alcatraz to the city.” (Actually I think you have it backwards. Rosemary isn’t at Alcatraz when she starts. Starts at San Francisco side.) I think Paul is 51. I’ll tell Paul to look for a young Rosemary who’s mother is Nancy.
Potatoes got a bad rap about 10 years ago when “they” said it didn’t supply enough nutrition. “Not worth a pile of beans” as my grandmother used to say. That info has changed. ..(My husband says I have to leave in 8 minutes & I’m not dressed!)
I
bikehikebabe said,
June 13, 2009 at 4:46 pm
Brain-lapse I meant WHOSE mother is Nancy —not who’s mother.
Grannymar said,
June 13, 2009 at 4:48 pm
BHB,
Come back and slow down, hubby can wait….
Rosemary is Nancy’s granddaughter!
Potatoes got a bad press here for a while too as did bread, butter, etc. My mother never believed in diets and said everything in moderation was good for us.
Darlene said,
June 13, 2009 at 4:53 pm
I don’t have a recipe for plastic, but I hate it when it’s used for bags that are welded shut so you can’t get to the contents . I can’t open them without scissors and they are not always available.
Baked potatoes are my specialty.
Scrub, pop in the microwave. When done add butter and a little salt and enjoy. Sour cream and parsley, and/or Parmesan cheese are nice additions.
Nancy, I will be rooting for Rosemary. What a gal!!!
Grannymar said,
June 13, 2009 at 5:18 pm
Darlene,
Those packets with heat sealed plastic bags are a real nuisance.
I love a baked potato, but I will leave the butter at the other end of the table thank you. The smell alone of the butter melting is enough to turn my tummy!
Ashok said,
June 13, 2009 at 8:44 pm
Ah, my bad. I often lack the ability to recognise the humour in things. My apologies, nonetheless. But I have to agree with Ramanna sir. Best recipe is to stay away from them!
Grannymar said,
June 13, 2009 at 9:16 pm
Ashok,
No need to apologise. Most days humour and banter play a part in the proceedings here. The plastic mentioned above was to protect young plants from the elements and keep heat in the ground.
Lorna said,
June 13, 2009 at 9:52 pm
I rem when I lived in England for many years and many times I missed the floury Irish spud with salt and butter and I have to admit that this year’s new spuds just aren’t floury enough as yet (floury is when the skin falls off when they are boiled and the outside of the potatoes is all crumbly).
Yep, that’s maize - designed to keep heat in and give the seeds a headstart - usually harvested then in late Sept if memory serves me right
Grannymar said,
June 13, 2009 at 10:09 pm
Lorna,
I grew up listening to the floury potato debate and never quite got it! A potato was a potato where I was concerned. Perhaps having spent so much time peeling them for the five thousand, it took my appreciation for them away.
Magpie11 said,
June 13, 2009 at 10:16 pm
I like nice waxy potatoes…having said that I just love spuds…
Mind you when I firat put spuds in the microwave i forgot to put a knife slash in them!
I was in trouble…..I’m tempted to “boil” an egg just to show what a real mess is!
As a diabetic am I allowed spuds does anyone know?
Grannymar said,
June 13, 2009 at 10:27 pm
Magpie,
‘boil’ an egg -in the microwave I suppose… you still have plenty of the naughty boy in you.
As for potatoes and diabetics…
try here: http://www.britishpotatoes.co.uk/low-in-calories/
Lorna said,
June 13, 2009 at 10:31 pm
Gosh, Grannymar, you must have never had a truly floury potato - once had, never forgotten!!!
I remember once visiting an ex-boyfriend’s house (about 23 years ago - gosh, that makes me feel old) and there were 10 in his family - I can still remember his mum lifting a colossal bowl of floury potatoes onto the table and an older sister sitting in to peel them for the youngest kids
Grannymar said,
June 13, 2009 at 10:47 pm
Lorna,
I have had floury, waxy and every other type. Even when odes were written or songs sung about how good the potatoes were, it was beyond my understanding. To me they were and still are a filler to line the stomach.
Daily Spud said,
June 14, 2009 at 12:23 am
Spuds aplenty (and no plastic
) in my garden. It will probably come as no surprise to hear that they are more than just a stomach filler for me!
bikehikebabe said,
June 14, 2009 at 12:52 am
Way back we were “talking” about Nancy’s granddaughter swimming to Alcatraz. When Rosemary– & Paul (my son) get there, they have to turn around & swim back because it’s a race. (No rest for the weary.)
Problem is the current tries to take them elsewhere.
Grannymar said,
June 14, 2009 at 9:03 am
@Daily Spud - I admit I am odd…. there were plenty in my family who liked a mountain of butter melting into their spuds, the sight and smell were enough to turn my stomach never mind the taste. To each his own!
@BHB - It wouldn’t be a race if they only swam one way!
I think they are marvelous to even attempt it.
gail said,
June 14, 2009 at 1:27 pm
No recipe for plastic sheets, but have one for porcupine. Would that help?
Grannymar said,
June 14, 2009 at 4:29 pm
Gail,
Porcupine might be a little prickly for me.