Comfort food on Earth Day
“Only two things in this world are too serious to be jested on–potatoes and matrimony.”
– Irish saying
Around the world, potatoes are growing in popularity as the price of wheat and rice continues to rise. Potatoes are not only rich in carbohydrates, protein, vitamin C, and potassium, but they can produce more food, on a smaller amount of land and in harsher climates, than any other major food crop. Up to 85% of the potato plant can be consumed, compared to only 50% of cereal crop plants!
So it seemed appropriate in this, the UN’s International Year of the Potato, to make the humble spud the star of the show for our simple but warming (and 99.9% local) dinner on Earth Day.
(Earth Day) Irish Colcannon
- 2lbs potatoes, quartered
- 8oz crisp green cabbage (you could also use curly kale, in season)
- 2 green onions, chopped (I used some of the brave little chives poking their heads out of the snow in my garden)
- butter
- fresh nutmeg, grated
- salt and ground black pepper
- 4 large eggs
- 3oz mature cheddar cheese, grated
Boil and mash the potatoes. Gently cook the cabbage until tender but still crisp. Preheat oven to 375F. Drain the cabbage and mix into the potato with the onions/chives, butter and nutmeg. Season to taste. Spoon the mixture into a shallow ovenproof dish and make four hollows in the mixture. Crack an egg into each hollow and season well.
Bake for 12 minutes or until eggs are just set, and serve sprinkled with cheddar cheese, alongside a simple green salad.
(from Roz Denny’s Ultimate Vegetarian Cookbook)
(Serves 4)
Ingredient sources: Simpkins Market Garden, Wally’s Urban Market Garden, Grandora Gardens (Saskatoon Farmers’ Market), my garden, Armstrong/Saputo (local), Sunview Acres (local), Sifto (local), Orchard del Sol (Bulkcheese Warehouse)
