I hadn’t planned on blogging today, but a little post by Suzi on the Activity page had me contemplating potatoes of all things.

I don’t know of anyone who doesn’t like potatoes is some form or another. My mother and her generation and the generation before hers and ones before those, and further down the line held the potato in very high regard. Nary a meal was served that didn’t have a side dish or a main dish of the tuberous wonder.

Sadly, I haven’t kept up with that tradition. I’m not sure when the last time was that I fixed a potato. Oh I have made a couple of quick hash brown potato casseroles, or had some chips or fries, here and there, but an actual potato that did not come in prepackaged form to make it become an instant meal.

I know there is a small bag of potatoes in the vegetable crisper drawer, and I haven’t opened up that drawer in a while to check on them to see if they are sprouted, shriveled, or completely given up and turned to mash or mush. I should go check them now while I am thinking of it, but I remain rooted to my spot, afraid to face a possible vegetable emergency.

Yes, vegetables have emergencies. You know when they give you that, “better attend to me now or it’s to the trash bin I go” scenario. I just don’t think I face the prospect of having to peel some potatoes at the moment. Oh I could just throw them in a pot of water with their little jackets still on, but then I have to deal with sticky peelings and then make something with the softened masses.

Mashed potatoes? Potato salad? Au gratin Potatoes? Fried potatoes? I just can’t seem to get enthused enough to deal with the mess and the mountain of dishes that will ensue. Such a lot of work to fix something for one person. I guess I could microwave a potato, but they aren’t as good as baked, and it seems like a waste to heat up the stove to bake one potato. I could bake more but then again, a mountain of potatoes to make into something.

Potatoes are one of the neediest vegetables in the plant kingdom. They lull you into a false sense of security, and then “bam”, sprouts everywhere, shriveled masses, and it’s like a major revolt against oneself for being ignored.

I’ve already had dinner tonight, warmed up leftovers from a casserole made two days ago. If I make something potatoe-y tomorrow, it will be warmed up leftovers for days again.

I know I am not being very practical. Potatoes are cheap, good for you, and can stretch a meal and a budget. I’m just not in the stretchy mood though. Maybe it’s because I am busy with so much to do outside. Too much to do inside. And the weather really isn’t conducive to heating up the kitchen for the lonely potato.

I promise to gather my nerve and check the vegetable crisper drawer tomorrow. Til then, we…the potatoes and I…are happy to live in the dark.

So bloggers, what is your favorite way to have your taters?

1.Mashed

2.Fried

3.Baked

4.Chip form

5.Fries

6.Scalloped

7.Au Gratin

8.Soup (as in potato soup)

9.Potato cakes

10.Twice baked, stuffed, potato skins, etc.

11.Tater Tots