The Humble Potato

A few fun facts: the potato consists of 20% solid and 80% water. There are 100 varieties of edible potatoes. China is the world’s largest potato producer.

Potato is from the Spanish word “Potato”. Idaho has coined the Potato State and the state has a potato museum.

Pesto Potato Pancakes

Mix 1 cup of leftover potatoes with 2 eggs. Add breadcrumbs (use any flavor) until you can shape them into cakes. Cook over medium heat in a greased skillet until the pancakes are light brown and heated through.

Twice Baked Potatoes

Bake Russet potatoes, until soft. Scoop out the centers and add butter, sour cream, and cheddar cheese. Put mixture back in the shell and bake until cheese has melted and slight browning has occurred.

Cinnamon Sweet Potato Muffins

2 cups of self-rising flour

2 cups of sugar

2 tsp. cinnamon

1 large egg, room temperature

2 cups cold mashed sweet potatoes (without butter or milk) you can substitute with canned sweet potatoes

1 cup canola oil

Glaze

1 cup confectioner’s sugar

3 T. milk

1 1/2 tsp melted butter

1 tsp vanilla extract

1/2 tsp cinnamon.

Preheat the oven to 375. In a small bowl, combine flour, sugar, and cinnamon. In another bowl, whisk egg, sweet potatoes, and oil. Stir in dry ingredients until moistened. Fill greased muffin cups or muffin liners two-thirds full. Bake for 15 to 18 minutes. Cool. In a small bowl, combine the glaze ingredients, and drizzle over muffins.

Ranch Smashed Potatoes

2 lbs. Baby Yukon Potatoes, washed and cut in half

4 cloves, minced garlic

6 T. melted butter

4 T. Hidden Valley Dry Ranch Salad Dressing

Salt and pepper to taste

Preheat the oven to 450. Place potatoes in a large pot and cover with water. Add a generous pinch of salt to the water, and bring to a boil. Simmer until potatoes are tender. For easy clean-up, cover a baking sheet with parchment paper and spray with cooking oil. Space potatoes apart on the pan. Take a potato masher or large fork and press down on the potatoes. Combine garlic and butter and brush on potatoes. Sprinkle seasoning mix, salt, and pepper, over potatoes.

Bake in the oven until potatoes are brown and crispy.

Hungarian Potato Soup

1 stick of butter (HAS TO BE BUTTER)

1 small onion, diced

4 medium potatoes, peeled and diced

1 1/2 tsp salt

1/4 cup flour

1/2 cup sour cream, optional

5 cups of water

pepper to taste

1 T. dried parsley

1 large egg, beat well

In the butter, saute the onions until translucent. Add the potatoes, water, and salt. Cover and bring to a boil and cook until potatoes are tender.

In a small bowl take some of the water from the cooked potatoes and add the flour, mix well. Add the flour mixture to the pot. Bring soup to a boil. Beat one egg, and add flour till it makes a dough. Using the tip of the teaspoon, drop the mixture of the dough into the boiling soup. Turn to simmer and allow soup to thicken some. Add parsley. Add salt and pepper to taste.

Annunciation’s St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry provides food to those needing assistance in the area, including dairy, various proteins, fresh vegetables, fruit, and canned and boxed goods.

What good is the assistance if you don’t know what to cook with the groceries provided? Volunteers at the St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry want to provide recipes to help people use their groceries.

People in need of assistance – either with food or to check on bill assistance available - call at 812-531-3637 or stop by the next food pantry event held each Tuesday.

Tax-deductible donations can be sent to Annunciation Church, 19 North Alabama Street, Brazil, 47834.