Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1884-12-12
THE POTATO.
Interesting Information About its Birth
and Many Vtrtuss-Nore than q Dozen
Ways of Cooking Potatoes.


It would be the height Of prescmp-
ton to expect to present any new ideas
in reference to this vegetable. Hasn't it
been handled by millions and elaborate
ly treated in hundreds Of books on cook
cry? Every one can claim d palate &C.
quaintance and has criticised its con-
dition. It is the commonest of escu-
Tents, and because Of it's universally the
benefcent character of this vegetable
is not appreciated.
OF American birth, it journeyed to
Europe about three centuries since
where it was grown as a curiosity from
across the water. Cultivation did not
enhance the outward attractiveness Of
the foreigner, but there were the beds
of tubers, why not utilize them? The
stomachs of cattle and swine not reject
ing them, of course they were fit to sus-
stain peasant life. Famine was now avert
ell. Gathering to itself the best it could
assimilate in the broader fields of cul-
ture, at length the potato was recognized
as fit for the table of kings; but true TO
the instincts of product of republi-
can America, it felt its mission was to
bless the masses and hurrying to north
ern Europe banished scurvy from it's
borders. To over estimate the value of
these thickened stems in our own land
is scarcely possible We have alluded
to the excellences Of our common friend
with the hope that reiteration Of facts
already part of the common treasury
of knowledge might so intensity in our
minds the worth Of this fruit of the
earth as to secure it proper attention.
Notwithstanding it's many virtues.
like many another useful thing there is
tainted blood in its veins. Exposure
to the rays Of the sun develops the poi
sonous element; hence the necessity Of
removal to some dark locality as soon
as taken from the soil. If dependent
upon the grocer for pomme de terre,
suggest that this vegetable prefers the
darkness and seclusion of it's early home,
and insist upon having your supply di-
rect from the cellar and covered during
transportation.
Before attending to the toilet of
these tubers, besides the basin of cold
water, it is we'll to supply oneself with
pair of rubber gloves and scrubbing-
brush. The latter may be vigorously
applied, as it is the fingers that need
protection, supersensitiveness not being
g pota to weakness.
The latest culinary publications rec
ommend removing the Jackets Of pota-
toes before boiling, but as excellent SCI
entitic authority as W. Mattieu Will
Jams favors cooking them with their
robe on, and offers as a reason that the
skin res1sts the passage into the water
of the potash they contain-an impor
tant element OF the blood, and which
renders them antiscorbutic in character.
All outward impe1 fections should be
removed if they are not propelled, and
those exhibiting any symptoms of de-
cay cast aside Dressed potatoes
should be placed ilr clear cold water
until ready for the kettle as they turn
black upon exposure to- the air and late
in spring it is we'll TO soak all potatoes in
cold water before cooking. Pour the wa
ter from potatoes as soon as they are
done, which condition has been reached
if a fork will penetrate them easily, and
leave them uncovered Solanine, the
poison already alluded to, as becoming
active through heat. passes off IN the
steam; for this reason it is by some
thought best to pinch an opening in
baked potatoes to permit the escape Of
steam. The water in which potatoes
are boiled becomes impregnated with
this noxious principle, it is said, and
should never he used in the preparation
of any article of diet. By cutting raw
potatoes for frying into thin slices and
dropping into cold water the starch is
washed from the cells and a large
amount Of cell surface exposed. which
hardens on coming in contact with the
hot fat, making the circlets crisp. Re-
move the outer moisture by wrapping
IN towel before frying.
Potatoes occasionally get chilled in
winter. When this happens endeavor
to keep them frozen until wanted for
the table, then extract the frost by
soaking in cold water. or cook immedi-
ately. The swedish taste then obser-
vable in the Solanum tuberosum is due
to the conversion Of starch into sugar.
The natural sweetness Of the southern
potato seems to be the best preserved
by baking. Any. cold ones make an
apetizing dish Drowned in butter.
But this talk is already too extended.
We will only say that all care in pre-
pairing potatoes will be wasted unless
;hey are served hot and an overdone
potato is worthless.
Following are some methods of cook
ing potatoes separately and in combina-
zion with other things:
FRIED POTATOES. Cover the bottom
Of hot spider containing little but.
ter, or pork or bacon fat, with thick
slices of cold boiled potatoes. When
Drowned on both sides, send to the
table. ,,.... .,... $500
PoTATo SoUP.-Chop fine five large
onions, one quart Of potatoes and a half
pound of bacon; season with salt and
pepper; put in a kettle with three quarts
of water. Boil one hour anil half.
STEwED PoTAToEs.--Pare and cut
into lengthwise strips, cover with boil.
ing water, and stew twenty minutes.
Turn off nearly all of the water, put in
\ cupful cold milk with salt.
BOILED PoTAToEs.-Wash the tubers
thoroughly, cut away all outward i'm
PROJECTIONS, and rinse in cold water ;
then place them in sufficient boiling
water slightly sailed to nearly cover
them. It viii require about thirty
minutes to cook these thickened root
stems. When done, pour off the water,
place the kettle where the potatoes will
remain hot, remove the cover to permit
the steam to escape, and peel just before
sending to the table. -..-...~.~. -.-.-4 -.