Celebrate Cinco de Mayo with Potato Nachos
May 5th, 2008 
Nachos are popular among kids and teens alike; however, the fat and calories found in typical recipes are enough to make parents scream. But, nutrition concerns don’t have to put a damper on nacho noshing festivities. Introduce potatoes into the equation and you’ll provide your family with a healthy dose of potassium, vitamin C, and fiber.
1 ½ pounds russet potatoes
1 ½ tablespoons vegetable oil
½ teaspoon garlic salt
1 teaspoon Mexican seasoning blend
1 cup Mexican blend shredded cheese
¼ cup rinsed and drained canned black beans
¼ cup diced tomatoes
¼ cup sliced black olives
¼ cup sliced green onions
3 tablespoons canned diced green chiles
Salsa, guacamole and sour cream (optional)
Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Scrub potatoes and cut into 1/2-inch thick wedges. Place potatoes into a medium size bowl with the oil, garlic salt and Mexican seasoning. Stir well to coat potatoes with oil and seasonings. Transfer to a large baking sheet and spread into a single layer. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, stirring several times, until crisp and golden brown. Top with cheese, beans, tomatoes, olives, onions and chiles. Bake for 5 minutes more to melt cheese. Serve with salsa, guacamole and sour cream.
Makes 4 servings.
Per serving: 308 calories, 13 g protein, 35 g carbohydrate, 16 g total fat, 32 mg cholesterol, 659 mg sodium, 5 g fiber, 37 mg Vitamin C, 913 mg potassium.
Marlena Spieler: For the Love of Potatoes
April 28th, 2008In the April 9, 2008 issue of the San Francisco Chronicle, renowned foodie and accomplished author Marlena Spieler just couldn’t stop raving about her undying affection for potatoes.
“Writing a book about potatoes has been a voyage of discovery and progression,” Spieler said about her most recent cookbook, “Yummy Potatoes” (Chronicle Books, 2007). “Though I started the project thinking that anything a person does with potatoes is delicious, after I finished writing the book, I loved them even more.”
Click here to see the full article and for two of Spieler’s potato recipes – Turkish Potato Salad and Blue Potatoes with Romaine Lettuce & Sesame Dressing.
CBS Morning Show Touts Goodness of Potatoes
April 18th, 2008 
If you happened to catch yesterday morning’s edition of The Early Show on CBS, then you can practically consider yourself a potato expert. Yesterday’s segment featured Bon Appetit magazine Contributing Editor Dede Wilson, who defended potatoes, pointing out that one medium sized potato has 110 calories, is fat-, cholesterol- and sodium-free, and that potatoes rank highest in potassium among the top 20 most frequently consumed raw vegetables and the 20 top most frequently consumed raw fruits.
Read the full article and get some great Bon Appetit potato recipes here.
International Year of the Potato
April 10th, 2008 
By Walter Scheib (White House Executive Chef, 1994 – 2005)
Some of you may not know that the United Nations declared 2008 as the International Year of the Potato. Personally, I have to admit I was a little surprised until I found out why. Apparently the intent of the declaration was to raise awareness of the potato as a means to fight existing poverty and hunger throughout the world. It makes sense when you consider that the humble spud ranks as the fourth major food crop in the world after corn, wheat, and rice. Here in the U.S. we are very fortunate to have an abundance of the beloved potato.
Recently, I spoke at the U.S. Potato Board’s annual meeting where I met plenty of potato farmers and self professing potato lovers who are simply passionate about the tuber. It was inspiring to be around these folks. It caused me to think about several dinners where potatoes took a starring role when I was at the White House. For example, at the first Bush State Dinner that honored Mexican President Vicente Fox, I created a menu which included ingredients that were mutual to both the U.S. and Mexico. We served pepita-crusted bison with poblano mashed potatoes and fava-chanterelle ragout. The potatoes gave this dish a perfect comfort food profile.
In a house like the White House comfort food was always a welcome guest, especially with the first families. One of Chelsea Clinton’s favorite meals was a dish called the potato roesti (originally from Switzerland). For all intents and purposes I would describe it as a 3/4 inch high pancake size tater tot. The potato roesti is easy to make and great anytime of the day or night. Basically, you grate a pound of potatoes (yukon golds are beautiful in this dish) and season it with salt and pepper. Allow the juices to drain and then fry it up pancake style in hot cast iron pan with butter or olive oil until it is golden brown. You can serve your own roesti with poached eggs, a sprinkle of cheese, and fresh herbs.
If you would like to try the recipe I created for the Vicente Fox dinner, you can find it in my book, White House Chef.
PHOTOGRAPH BY KIYOMI
School Wellness Grant Application Deadline Approaching
March 31st, 2008
April 15, 2008 is the entry deadline for all interested in applying to win one of ten grants being offered by the United States Potato Board (USPB).
The USPB has supported nutrition education in schools for decades. In this educational initiative, the USPB has teamed up with the School Nutrition Foundation (SNF) of the School Nutrition Association (SNA) to present ten public elementary schools in the U.S. with grants of $2,500.00 each for equipment and/or educational programs that will help move children toward healthier diets and improve their overall wellness.
Apply for a grant before it’s too late by visiting the School Nutrition Association Web site or the USPB’s Web site.
Winners will be announced at the 2008 School Nutrition Association Annual Conference.
Another Reason to Eat Your Veggies
March 25th, 2008 
By Katherine Beals, PhD, RD
In an article soon to be published in the peer-reviewed journal Nutrition, researchers from the Galician Public Foundation for Health Emergencies in Spain found that consuming just one serving of green leafy vegetables per day was associated with a significant reduction in lung cancer risk. Similar protection was also observed for an increased intake of potatoes, cabbage, turnip tops, and lettuce. The researchers speculate the protective effect of vegetables stems from their unique nutrient content, specifically the antioxidant nutrients such as beta-carotene, vitamin C and vitamin E.
To see the abstract of the article, click here.
The Importance of Potassium for Cardiovascular Health
March 20th, 2008 
An often overlooked nutrient, potassium may have far reaching benefits for heart health. According to Marie Spano, MS, RD of Today’s Dietitian, potassium may be beneficial in reducing cardiovascular disease (CVD), the number one cause of morbidity and mortality in the United States. Research indicates that a significant proportion of Americans live day to day with a moderate potassium deficit, which poses long term cardiovascular health risks. This condition appears to be largely the result of a dearth of potassium in the typical, American diet, which has become heavy in processed, high-sodium foods. The only way to truly increase potassium levels is to eat potassium-rich foods.
Potatoes are not only fat-, cholesterol- and sodium-free, but they also rank highest in potassium among the top 20 most frequently consumed raw vegetables and the 20 top most frequently consumed raw fruits. One serving of skin-on potatoes contains 620 mg of potassium, making it a good source of potassium by USDA standards.
To see the full article and learn more about ways to reduce the risk of CVD, visit Today’s Dietitian online.
Enjoy Irish Food at Home With St. Patrick’s Day Potato Recipes
March 11th, 2008 
Don’t forget potatoes when serving the traditional corned beef and cabbage and green beer this St. Patrick’s Day. Potatoes and Ireland are inextricably linked, and few cultures in the world have created so many recipes for serving the sensational spud. There’s champ (mashed potatoes with scallions), colcannon (mashed potato cakes featuring cabbage or another leafy green), Dublin coddle (chunks of potatoes sautéed with sausage and bacon), and a potato pancake that’s so popular, boxty, it’s inspired a favorite childhood nursery rhyme: “Boxty in the griddle, Boxty in the pan, If you can’t make boxty, You’ll never get a man!”
On this side of the pond, potatoes are no less appreciated. In fact, potatoes are America’s favorite vegetable, probably because of their positive nutrition profile and versatility. One medium (5.3 ounce) potato is an excellent source of the antioxidant vitamin C (45% of the Daily Value), and when eaten with skin, a good source of potassium (18% of the Daily Value). Potatoes are fat-, cholesterol-, and sodium-free.
Or, perhaps this love of potatoes in the U.S. is a result of the fact that so many Americans claim Irish blood? According to History.com, there are 34.7 million U.S. residents who claim Irish ancestry. This number is almost 9 times the population of Ireland itself!
COLCANNON CHOWDER
1 and 1/3 pounds (4 medium) russet potatoes, peeled and cut into ¾-inch chunks
14-ounce can nonfat, reduced-sodium chicken broth
1 cup water
Salt
2 tablespoons canola oil
3 cups coarsely chopped green cabbage
¾ cup finely chopped onion
8 ounces smoked chicken or turkey sausage, sliced ¼ inch thick
1 medium carrot, shredded
½ cup 1 percent milk (about)
Pepper, to taste
In 3-quart saucepan, cover potatoes with broth and water; add 1 teaspoon salt. Bring to boiling over high heat; reduce heat, cover and cook until potatoes are tender, 12 to 15 minutes. Set aside.
Meanwhile, heat oil in 10-inch nonstick skillet over medium-high heat; add cabbage and onion. Sauté 10 minutes, tossing occasionally. Add sausage; continue to sauté, about 10 minutes, tossing occasionally, until vegetables and sausage begin to brown. Add carrot; set aside.
With slotted spoon, remove about ¾ cup potato pieces and add to skillet. In electric blender, blend remaining potatoes and liquid until smooth, being careful to hold blender lid down with kitchen towel; return to saucepan. Add contents of skillet; mix in enough milk for consistency desired. Heat to simmering. Season with salt and pepper.
Makes 4 main-dish servings (about 6 cups).
Nutrition information per serving: 357 calories; 15 g protein; 54 g carbohydrate; 10 g fat; 24 mg cholesterol; 587 mg sodium; 6 g fiber.
IRISH POTATO BREAD (pictured at top of entry)
Recipe created by Bruce Weinstein and Mark Scarbrough, authors of The Ultimate Potato Book
2 3/4-pound russet potatoes
1 large egg plus 1 large egg white
1/3 cup canola oil, plus additional for greasing the baking sheet
3/4 cup fat-free milk
2 tablespoons minced chives (or the green part of a scallion)
1/2 teaspoon caraway seeds
3 1/4 cups all-purpose flour, plus additional for dusting and kneading
1 1/2 tablespoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
Bring 1 inch of water to a boil over high heat in a vegetable steamer or a large saucepan fitted with a portable vegetable steamer. Peel one potato and cut into eighths; steam the pieces until tender when pierced with a fork, about 15 minutes. Rice or mash pieces in a large bowl; set aside to cool for 15 minutes.
Position the rack in the center of the oven; preheat the oven to 375F. Lightly oil a large baking sheet with canola oil dabbed on a paper towel.
Peel the other potato and grate it through the large holes of a box grater. Squeeze off any excess moisture; add to the riced or mashed potatoes.
Stir in the egg, egg white, oil, milk, chives, and caraway seeds until fairly smooth. Add 3 1/4 cups flour, baking powder, and salt; stir with a wooden spoon until the mixture forms a soft but sticky dough.
Lightly flour a clean work surface as well as your cleaned and dried hands. Turn the dough out onto the floured surface and knead for 1 minute, adding flour in 1-tablespoon increments to keep the dough from turning too sticky. Too much flour and the dough turns tough; it should remain a little tacky but workable. Shape into an 8-inch circle, flatten slightly keeping the loaf mounded at its center, and place on the prepared baking sheet. Use a sharp knife to slash an X in the top of the dough, cutting into dough about 1/2 inch.
Bake until golden brown, firm to the touch, and somewhat hollow sounding when tapped, about 55 minutes. Cool 1 hour on a wire rack before slicing and serving.
Makes 1 large loaf (16 slices).
Nutrition information per slice: 183 calories; 5 g fat; 14 mg cholesterol; 298 mg sodium; 30 g carbohydrates; 1 g fiber; 5 g protein; 222 mg potassium; 6 mg vitamin C.
IRISH POTATO CAKES WITH SOUR CREAM SAUCE
Sour Cream Sauce
1/2 cup low-fat sour cream
2 tablespoons chopped green onions (about 2 onions)
1/2 teaspoon minced garlic
1/2 teaspoon lemon juice
Few drops hot pepper sauce
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Pinch cayenne pepper
Irish Potato Cakes
1 1/4 pounds yellow flesh potatoes, peeled and cut into 1” pieces (about 4 medium potatoes)
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
3 tablespoons milk
1/2 teaspoon minced garlic
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 cup grated mild Cheddar cheese
1/4 cup sliced green onions (about 4 onions)
1/2 cup panko (Japanese bread crumbs)
4 tablespoons vegetable oil
To make Sour Cream Sauce, in mixing bowl, gently whisk together all sauce ingredients. Refrigerate.
To make Irish Potato Cakes, in medium saucepan cook potatoes in 2 inches boiling water, covered, 12 to 15 minutes or until tender. Drain, then shake potatoes over low heat 1 to 2 minutes to dry thoroughly. With electric hand mixer or potato masher, mash potatoes until smooth. Beat in butter, milk and garlic until blended. Season with salt and pepper. Allow potatoes to cool; mix in cheese and green onions. To form potato cakes, shape 1/2-cup portions of potato mixture into patties; coat on all sides with bread crumbs. Place on wax paper-lined baking sheet and refrigerate at least 1 hour.
In heavy non-stick skillet, heat oil over medium heat. Add potato cakes and cook about 5
minutes, turning once, or until heated through and golden on both sides. Place on serving platter or 6 individual plates; top each potato cake with 1 tablespoon Sour Cream Sauce.
Serves 6.
Nutrition Information Per Serving: 292 calories; 18g fat; 27mg cholesterol; 529mg sodium; 28g carbohydrate; 2g fiber; 6g protein
For additional healthy potato recipes, visit www.potatogoodness.com. Happy St. Patrick’s Day from America’s potato growers!
Propitious Esculent: The Potato In World History
March 5th, 2008We read about a new potato book in this month’s Economist. Sounds like a good read for all you potato lovers out there!
Here’s the review from the March 1 issue of The Economist:
“ON THE face of it, John Reader’s new biography of the potato seems to have a silly title—“propitious esculent” is just a fancy way to say “helpful food”—and an even sillier subtitle. But that is because the virtues of the world’s fourth biggest food crop (after maize, wheat and rice) and its influence on world history are easily overlooked. “I used to take potatoes for granted,” the author writes. His aim is to discourage readers from doing likewise.
The key to the potato’s value lies in its high yield and its almost perfect balance of nutrients. Potatoes can produce more energy per unit area per day than any other crop, and it is possible (though tedious) to subsist on a diet of spuds and very little else.
First domesticated in the Andes, the potato was carried to Europe in the 16th century. At first Europeans were suspicious: the potato was variously thought to be an aphrodisiac, to cause leprosy or to be poisonous. But it slowly caught on as its merits in times of famine and war became apparent (it is more reliable than grain and remains hidden underground until harvested). By the late 18th century it was being hailed as a wonder-food—for the poor, at least. Marie Antoinette promoted potatoes by wearing their flowers in her hair.
People then started to worry that the potato was too popular, and that its abundance was causing an unsustainable increase in population. Exhibit A was Ireland, where the booming population subsisted almost entirely on potatoes. The danger of such dependency was starkly revealed by the Irish potato famine of 1845: at least a million people died, and another million emigrated.
Mr Reader’s tale ends with the modern efforts to understand the genetics of the potato, which could lead to more disease-resistant varieties. The propitious esculent, he explains, is likely to feature in the diets of space-farers who will have to grow their own food.
The all-potato diet will not appeal to all readers, but this accessible account embraces the latest scholarship and addresses the failings of previous works on the subject. Indeed the book, like the tuber it describes, fills a void: the spud now has the biography it deserves.”
Pass the Potatoes!
February 21st, 2008
Image courtesty of Prevention, March 2008
If you haven’t received your March 2008 issue of Prevention yet, you can get a sneak peek of D. Milton Stokes, RD, feature “Why carbs are the new diet craze” at MSNBC’s Web site. The article highlights foods that contain resistant-starch, including potatoes. Just another reason not to resist America’s favorite vegetable!
Contributors
- Larry Alsum
Wisconsin potato grower
- Bart Connors
Washington potato grower
- Cheryl Koompin
Idaho potato grower
- Tim O'Connor
USPB staff
- Linda McCashion
USPB staff
- Meredith Myers
USPB staff
- David Fairbourn
USPB staff
- Amy Kull
PR consultant
- Kris Caputo Hurley
PR consultant
- Brittany Mohr
PR Consultant
- Katherine Beals, Ph.D., R.D., F.A.S.C.M.
Nutrition consultant
- Tim Straus
Innovation consultant