Potatoes and potato recipes can easily be a cook's best friend. There are a multitude of different potato types, and conversely hundreds if not thousands of different potato recipes. The potato is a root vegetable and probably the single most widely used vegetable today. Originating in the mountains of South America; it has journeyed successfully around the world and become a staple in countless homes and multiple tasty recipes.

TYPES OF POTATOES:

The Bison potato was introduced to the world by the North Dakota State University, it is bright red, and is ideal for frying or baking.

Potatoes have a long and colorful history, once believed to be poisonous, fed only to prisoners and those who considered infirm, (they belong to the "Nightshade family"), the potato is now a staple in the world over.

TYPES OF POTATOES:

The Chieftain potato is a good all-purpose redskin potato used in many tasty potato recipes.

The Desiree potato originated in the Netherlands, is yellow to the eye and has a very distinctive flavor, resistant to drought and well-suited to organic gardening.

Ireland lays claim to being among the first to seriously cultivate the potato, dating to the late 1700s; in fact, the Irish became so dependent on the potato creating many nutritious potato recipes, that the country actually caused a potato shortage resulting in famine in 1845. While tragic, it was instrumental in causing people to seek a new life in other parts of the world.

TYPES OF POTATOES:

Irish cobbler potatoes have a very strong flavor and aroma; they are excellent when boiled with the skin intact.

The Katahdin and Kennebec potato are closer to the type most of us are used to, being excellent for general cooking and frying, they are used in multiple potato recipes.

Probably one of the reasons potatoes are so versatile is the potato is about 80% water and 20% solid, with an 8 ounce baked potato (without garnishes) being about 100 calories.

POTATOES IN HISTORY: Thomas Jefferson is rumored to have brought French fries to the White House, and while that's a rumor, President Jefferson (when writing to Horatio G. Spafford), set the man straight as to the origin of the potato, giving substance to their origin being in South America.

A simple web search will provide hundreds if not thousands of quality and nutritious potato recipes, most easy to prepare and perfect for a family on a budget. Potatoes are inexpensive, relatively easy to prepare (unless you get fancy), and are blend well a most any other dish.

It seems certain the wide variety of potato recipes stem from the fact they are plentiful and inexpensive, and possibly served too often, causing creative potato recipes to be implemented, no one wants to here... "What, potatoes again?"

That said I'm going to make some potato soup, sprinkle in some onions, garlic, salt, pepper, and milk, to commemorate this article, and as an edible salute to the history of a fine root vegetable.

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