This week in our Plant to Plate series with Wile’s Lake Farm Market we are talking about potatoes. The potato can sometimes be overlooked, but are very nutritious, inexpensive and versatile. A great source of fibre, there are endless options when it comes to preparing and using them in your kitchen. In the summer, I love making potatoes on the barbecue and this year I am excited to try my hand at planting seed potatoes.
Wile’s Lake Farm Market has several varieties of seed potatoes for you to choose from. Once home, you are going to cut them in half, place them on some cardboard and leave them out so the flesh area can dry out. Place them out of the direct sun, but in an area where they will be able to dry a bit. The eyes will then begin to sprout and that will give them a bit of a start when you put them in the ground.
The traditional way is to plant them in long rows, but you can experiment with planting them in a container…with drainage holes…or even in a stack of tires filled with soil.
A good tip is to buy seed potatoes that compliment how you like to use them in your kitchen. So take into consideration if you typically like roasted, mashed or even French fries, and that will determine which type of seed potatoes you should be planting. Perhaps even consider a River John Blue, which would add some beautiful colour to your plate.
You can watch our Facebook Live where Elspeth goes over tips and considerations when it comes to planting seed potatoes.
If you’re looking for some inspiration when it comes to using potatoes in the kitchen, Elspeth has graciously shared her Gratin Dauphinois recipe which is a classic French style scallop potato dish.
- 2 lbs. potatoes, peeled and thinly sliced
- 1 tbsp. butter
- 1 tbsp. olive oil
- 1 clove of garlic, minced
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 2 ½ cups milk
- ½ tsp. salt
- ¼ tsp. pepper
- ⅛ tsp. nutmeg, freshly grated
- ½ cup parmesan cheese, freshly grated
- Melt the butter and add the olive oil in a medium sized pot
- Add the garlic and onion and saute on medium heat until softened
- Add the potatoes and milk and cook slowly over medium heat until slightly softened – 10-12 minutes after the mixture starts to simmer
- Stir often as the potatoes and milk can burn on the bottom of the pot
- Pour the potato milk mixture into a 9”x11” shallow baking dish and top with parmesan cheese
- Finish in the oven at 350 degree for 25 minutes or until the potatoes are completely baked and the top is a nice golden brown
- This dish can be made ahead and reheated.
Are you planting seed potatoes this year? Do you do them in rows or in a container or even tires? We’d love to know! Leave a comment and share your plans or tell us your favourite way to enjoy potatoes.
*Plant to Plate is sponsored by Wile’s Lake Farm Market located in Wileville, Nova Scotia. Wile’s Lake Farm Market has several varieties of certified seed potatoes available now at the market. Their knowledgeable staff is also available to answer any questions you may have.
