This most incredible veggie that conquered the whole world. It is cultivated all around the world and for many nations is most used and most important vegetable on table.
First to cultivate potatoes were Inca indians in Peru in about 200 BC.
Among modern botanists there is an agreement that potatoe originated in
Andes. When in 1536 spanish conquistadors conquered Peru, they
discovered this vegetable and bring it back to Europe. Fisrt to
cultivate potatoe in Europe was Basque sailors.
Sir Walter
Raleigh introduced potatoes to Ireland in 1589 near Cork on the 40,000
acres of land given to him by Queen Elizabeth I in 1581.
French
scientist Antoine-Augustin Parmentier had a big influence of
popolarizing potatoes in Europe. He also created a feast where only
potatoe dishes were served.
Marie Antoinette wife of Louis XV was known to wear potato blossoms as a hair decoration.
French
Fries were introduced to the U.S. when Thomas Jefferson served them in
the White House during his Presidency of 1801-1809.
In October
1995, the potato became the first vegetable to be grown in space. NASA
and the University of Wisconsin, Madison, created the technology with
the goal of feeding astronauts on long space voyages, and eventually,
feeding future space colonies.
Potato plants grow high to the ground and bear yellow to silver flowers with yellow stamens.
Peruvian Cuisine naturally contains the potato as a primary ingredient in many dishes, as around 3,000 varieties of this tuber are grown there. Some of the more famous dishes include Papa a la huancaina, Papa rellena, Ocopa, Carapulcra, Causa and Cau Cau among many others.
In Britain potatoes form part of the traditional staple fish and chips. Colcannon is a traditional Irish dish involving mashed potato combined with shredded cabbage and onion. In Northern Europe, especially Denmark, Norway, Sweden and Finland, newly harvested, early ripening varieties are considered a special delicacy. In Latvia we are eating them with soar cream and dill wead. In Western Europe, especially in Belgium, sliced potatoes are fried to get frieten, the original French fried potatoes. In the United States, potatoes have become one of the most widely consumed crops, and thus have a variety of preparation methods and condiments.
The United Nations have officially declared the year 2008 the International Year of the Potato in order to "increase awareness of the importance of the potato as a food in developing nations".
Some nice potatoe recepies:
Creamy Twice-Baked Potatoes
Oven-Crisped Potatoes
Baked Potato Salad I
Creamy Potato Casserole
Cheesy Potato Salad
Fluffy Potato Casserole
