Posts Tagged ‘ Potato ’

Best Potato Salad Recipe

September 8, 2010
By

“Pray for peace and grace and spiritual food,
For wisdom and guidance, for all these are good,
but don’t forget the potatoes.” ~ John Tyler Pettee in “Prayer and Potatoes”.

Potatoes are undoubtedly one of the best creations of God and I am yet to taste another more versatile food item. You can breakfast, snack, lunch and dine on potatoes and each time you shall be satiated to the fullest. I personally can never have enough potatoes. It’s amazing how you can do just anything to this otherwise bland and colorless root and almost never go wrong with it. Let’s take a salad for instance. Talk to any chef from any part of the globe and they will tell you how difficult it is to actually come up with a perfect salad dressing. Every thing has to be just right to bring out the flavor of every ingredient in this apparently easy to prepare dish. Even in such a case potatoes conveniently take on all the aromas and tastes that they are expected to, in salads of varied genres, be it in cold potato salad recipes or German potato salad recipes. They are the most complying vegetables ever, with no particular flavor of their own. It was probably for this effortless versatility of potatoes that England’s monarch, Henry IV’s favorite salad was one with diced boiled potatoes with sardines and herb dressing. While eating it, I am sure that the thought of potatoes being a foreign food item, that traveled from North America to Europe, thanks to the Spanish conquistadors, to never have crossed his mind. So, here are some of the best potato salad recipes for you to try out as you ponder on the fact that unlike the fact that soy sauce gives a Chinese touch to food and oregano leaves that Italian taste in the palette, potato becomes that country’s, in which it is being cooked!

Honey Mustard Potato Salad

Ingredients:

Thin-skinned potato, 200 g
Red bell pepper, 20 g (diced)
Celery, 10 g (sliced)
Leek, 1 (minced)
Honey, 1/4 teaspoon
Dijon mustard, ¼ teaspoon
Salt and pepper, to taste
Procedure:
This potato recipe requires you to begin by scrubbing the potatoes and cutting them into cubes. Do not peel off the skin. Then put them to steam. In the mean while mix the bell pepper, celery, leek, honey and mustard in another vessel. Sprinkle a dash of salt and freshly crushed black pepper on the mixture. Now remove the potatoes from the stove when they are cooked but not soft and squashy. Drain the water and put the firm potatoes in the bowl of mixture. Toss enough to blend everything and serve. It is really that easy a delicacy to concoct!

French Potato Salad Recipe

Ingredients:
Potatoes, 1.5 kg (not peeled)
Parsley, 2/3rd of a cup (shredded)
Leek, 2/3rd of a cup (minced)
Almonds, 1/3rd of a cup (slivered and toasted at 180°C for 10 minutes)
White wine vinegar, 50 ml
Tarragon, 21/2 tablespoons (crushed)
Olive oil, ½ a cup
Salt and pepper, to taste
Procedure:
Wash the potatoes very well and then bring them to a boil in salt water. When they become soft, drain the water and allow them to dry. Peel and cut them into cubes and keep aside. Now mix the parsley, leek, vinegar and tarragon with the help of the olive oil and sprinkle some salt and pepper on top. Place the potato cubes in the mixture and toss well. Allow it to stand undisturbed for about 45 minutes and then add the golden brown almonds. You will have to make this salad a little in advance as after the almonds are added to the salad, you have to place a lid on the salad and store it in a cool, dry place for a minimum of 3 hours. After that it is ready to be served.

Creamy Potato Salad with Dill

Ingredients:
Potatoes, 16 oz (boiled)
Dill, 2 teaspoons (shredded)
Eggs, 3 (hard boiled and quartered)Onion, 2 tablespoons (minced)
Celery, 1/4th of a cup
Sour cream, 1/4th of a cup
Red wine vinegar, 1 tablespoon
Dijon mustard, 1 tablespoon
Olive oil, 1/4th a cup
Salt and pepper, to taste
Procedure:
Cube the potatoes and keep aside. Now, mix the cream, vinegar, mustard, onions, eggs and potatoes with the help of the oil. Toss for a while and then add the dill and the celery and toss again. Finally add dash of salt and pepper and voila! You’re done with this recipe for creamy potato salad.

Potato salads are simply delicious and are the most fun to eat during the summers. Today, one single person in the US consumes about 125 pounds of this distant relative of tomato and tobacco, on an average, annually. So, season your palette with more potato delicacies by trying out these delectably best potato salad recipes.

Potato Nutrition Facts

May 12, 2010
By
Potato Nutrition Facts

It is wrong to consider potatoes as fattening food. You can avail numerous potato nutritional benefits if you eat potatoes in a correct manner. In fact, potato is a nutritious food item which can improve your health in several ways. Potato is a tuberous crop which grows underground and belongs to the Solanaceae family. It was first discovered in Peru, thousands of years before and now potato turns out to be world’s fourth largest crop. Around 5,000 types of potatoes are popular all over the world. The potato nutrition facts, described in the following paragraphs will help assess the potato nutritional value.

If you want to avail all the potato health benefits, you should consume potatoes in right form and proportion. Potatoes are a rich source of vitamin C, vitamin B6, copper and manganese. The potato nutrition facts are so amazing that you will be surprised when you would come to know that potatoes enhance the functions of the brain. Potatoes are actually low in fats but French fries are responsible for blacklisting of potatoes by the people. Each one of us loves to eat French fries and baked potatoes. Believe me, potato is nutrients dense food but a baked potato with a dollop of sour cream and bacon on the side or a huge plate of French fries can not provide you the required nutrients and also can result in uncontrollable weight gain. Instead, if you have mashed potato salad with lots of fresh vegetables, fish or fruits and if you add a little bit of olive oil in it, it will be a nutritious and healthy dish for you. Read more on mashed potatoes nutrition facts. You should keep it in mind that potato nutrition facts vary according to the method of preparation. As I wish from the bottom of my heart that you should eat potatoes, here is a table describing potato nutrition facts.

Potato Nutrition Facts

The following table informs you about the potato nutrition facts and potato calories, present in raw potatoes of different sizes, with the skin.

Size
Approx. Quantity
Calories
Water
Carbs
Dietary Fiber
Fats
Proteins
Vitamin B6
Vitamin C
Mg
P
K
Cu
Mn
1 Small -Dia-1¾” to 2½”170 g
131
135 g
31.3 g
3.7 g
0.2 g
3.4 g
0.5 mg
33.5 mg
39.1 mg
96.9 mg
716 mg
0.2 mg
0.3 mg
1 Medium, Dia-2¼” to 3¼”
213 g
164
169 g
39.2 g
4.7 g
0.2 g
4.3 g
0.6 mg
42 mg
49 mg
121 mg
897 mg
0.2 mg
0.3 mg
1 Large, Dia-3″ to 4¼”
369 g
284
293 g
68 g
8.1 g
0.3 g
7.5 g
1.1 mg
72.7 mg
84.9 mg
210 mg
1554 mg
0.4 mg
0.6 mg

Mg – Magnesium
P – Phosphorous
K – Potassium
Cu – Copper
Mn – Manganese

Here are potato nutritional benefits.

Potato Nutritional Benefits
Potatoes are recommended to cure intestinal and stomach inflammation. Even those who suffer from mouth ulcers should eat potatoes to get rid of the problem.
As potatoes are rich in potassium they can keep blood pressure levels under control. Thus they play an important role in controlling and preventing cardiovascular diseases.
You can directly apply potato to your skin. Potato applied this way or potato ingested is good for the skin. The antioxidants from potatoes can offer you glowing skin. Potatoes protect your skin from pimples and spots.
Potatoes are packed with vitamin C which can strengthen your immune system. Vitamin C has antioxidant properties and it can help you prevent diseases like scurvy, gout, etc. Vitamin B6 from potatoes is useful for developing new cells in the body. Vitamin A, though present in small amounts in potatoes, can keep you away from some types of cancer.
Carbohydrates present in potatoes are significant as they keep the glucose levels normal and are responsible for smooth functioning of your brain. As potatoes are rich in vitamin B6, they enhance brain cell activity by helping to produce serotonin, that can keep depression away and melatonin, that can offer good sleep. You don’t have to face mood swings as vitamin B6 also helps to produce epinephrine and norepinephrine which guide the body about how to deal successfully with stress.
If your digestive system is weakened and you are unable to digest hard foods, then it is beneficial to eat potatoes because the rich carbohydrate content in potatoes is easily digestible and you can easily get the required energy from potatoes. Potato is considered as a good source of dietary fibers, which help to improve digestive health. You should include potatoes in your diet so as to make your diet a high fiber diet which can improve food-digestion. The high carbohydrate content, when taken in proper proportion can help you in losing weight also.
I hope this article succeeds in convincing you of the potato nutritional benefits. Taking into consideration the nutrition facts of potatoes, if you start consuming more and more potatoes, it can cause acidity and can lead to an increase in blood glucose levels, which is harmful for diabetic patients. Also excessive consumption of potatoes can result in weight gain and in that case, the power of potatoes to protect your body from heart diseases can be badly affected.

You may like to read more on:
Potato Recipes
Calories in a Baked Potato
I hope you find the above information about potato nutrition facts helpful. Nutrition experts do recommend potatoes in both weight loss and weight gain diets, depending upon the situation. What matters is the quantity of potatoes and the way you eat potatoes.

For a New Snacking Twist, Try Potato Sticks Instead of Chips

May 5, 2010
By

(ARA) – “Mom, what’s to eat?”

Those words can strike fear into the hearts of mothers across America, especially after school and on weekends. To make matters worse, it may not be only the kids: husbands who work up ravenous appetites watching football and friends arriving for holiday parties also look to you to provide snacks that taste great and are fun to eat. And with a hectic schedule, adding “portability” to the snacking issue only makes it more difficult.

What’s a mother to do? For a new twist on an old snacking stand-by, try French’s Potato Sticks.

Potato Sticks offer the great taste of chips in regular or barbecue flavor, but are more fun, more convenient and less messy. Need a quick snack while you’re on your way to soccer practice? Something for the long drive to grandma’s for the weekend? How about a quick snack to add to school lunches? Potato Sticks come in a resealable canister and in single-serving bags, so they can go anywhere, anytime to satisfy the snacking needs of your family.

Other great ideas for Potato Sticks include using them to add a fun crunch as a topper for sandwiches, or as an exciting Halloween treat for neighborhood kids.

Here are two recipes you can make ahead of time. One will suit the tastes of younger children and the other is easy enough for teens to make on their own.

Teddy Bear Party Mix

Prep Time: 5 minutes Cook Time: 12 minutes

4 cups crisp cinnamon graham cereal

2 cups honey flavored teddy-shaped graham snacks

1 can (1 1/2 ounces) French’s Potato Sticks

3 tablespoon butter, melted

2 tablespoon French’s Worcestershire Sauce

1 tablespoon packed brown sugar

1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1 cup sweetened dried cranberries or raisins

1/2 cup chocolate, peanut butter or carob chips

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly spray jelly-roll pan with nonstick cooking spray. Combine cereal, graham snacks and potato sticks in large bowl.

2. Combine butter, Worcestershire, sugar and cinnamon in small bowl; toss with cereal mixture. Transfer to prepared pan. Bake 12 minutes. Cool completely.

3. Stir in dried cranberries and chips. Store in an air-tight container.

Makes about 7 cups

Zesty Party Snack Mix

Prep Time: 10 minutes Cook Time: 6 minutes

4 cups oven-toasted corn cereal squares

2 cans (1-1/2 ounces each) French’s Potato Sticks

1 cup honey roasted peanuts

1/4 cup French’s Worcestershire Sauce

2 tablespoon Frank’s Original RedHot Cayenne Pepper Sauce

3 tablespoon melted butter or corn oil

1/2 teaspoon seasoned salt

1. Place cereal, potato sticks and peanuts in 3-quart microwave-safe bowl. Combine melted butter, Worcestershire, RedHot sauce and seasoned salt in small bowl; mix well. Pour butter mixture over cereal mixture. Toss well to coat evenly.

2. Microwave, uncovered, on high for 6 minutes, stirring well every 2 minutes. Transfer to paper towels, cool completely. Store in airtight container.

Makes about 6 cups.

French’s Potato Sticks and Frank’s Original RedHot Cayenne Pepper Sauce are registered trademarks of Reckitt Benckiser Inc.

Courtesy ARA Content, www.ARAcontent.com, e-mail: info@ARAcontent.com

Sweet Potato Fries

March 5, 2010
By
Sweet Potato Fries

Just the idea of giving up fries is depressing. However, when you find the calories from that binge eating episode have landed at your hips, you might be motivated to give them up. However, being on a diet should not mean giving up the foods you love. My solution is to replace the objectionable foods with healthier alternatives and better cooking methods. If you cant do that, then make them an occasional treat to yourself. But it is more than just those who are battling the bulge that need to give up fries. For people who are diabetics with cholesterol problems, both the potato and the frying pose a problem. Which is why, sweet potato fries offer the perfect solution. However, if sweet potato fries calories are a concern, you can always bake them. Granted, they aren’t exactly the same as regular fries, but most people love them nonetheless. Read on potato recipes.

Sweet potato fries nutrition info will tell you that they are healthier than regular French fries as they are high in fiber and Vitamin A. Also, if you are making them at home, they won’t be deep-fried in hydrogenated vegetable oil, which is a huge bonus. Here are some ways of how to make sweet potato fries.

Sweet Potato Fries Recipe

Ingredients
2 large sweet potatoes (about 3 pounds in all)
½ tsp salt
2 quarts vegetable oil
Pinch cayenne
1 tbsp brown sugar
Pinch cinnamon
Directions

To cook sweet potatoes, boil them in a covered pot of water for 10 minutes. Cool, peel and slice into ¼”x¼” thick strips. Heat oil over medium-low heat in a pot or Dutch oven fitted with a thermometer, until the thermometer goes to 300°F. Raise the heat to medium-high and ease in the fries, a handful at a time, to the pot. Be careful that the oil does not splutter onto you. As the begin to fry, keep turning them, so they get cooked on all sides, and turn soft and limp and begin to brown. Take them out using a slotted spoon, and transfer them to paper towels. In a large bowl mix together the brown sugar, salt, cayenne and cinnamon in a large bowl. Add the fries and toss to coat. Serve hot. Read on appetizer recipes.

Sweet Potato Fries and Dip

Ingredients
5 sweet potatoes
1 tbsp lemon juice
3 tbsp olive oil
1 clove garlic, minced
2 tbsp chopped fresh basil leaves
¾ cup mayonnaise
2 tsp kosher salt
½ tsp freshly ground black pepper
Directions

Heat the oven to 400°F. Slice the potato into about 1”x5” fries, coat with olive oil and place on a foil-lined baking sheet. Bake for about 45 minutes, until golden brown (turn halfway through). Mix together the basil, salt, and pepper in a small bowl. In a separate dip bowl, mix the mayonnaise, garlic, and lemon juice. When the sweet potato fries are done take them out of the oven and sprinkle them with the basil salt while hot, and serve with the garlic mayonnaise dip. Know about other healthy snacks.

Baked Sweet Potato Fries

Ingredients
2 large (about 1½ pounds) sweet potatoes
½ tsp ground cumin
1 tbsp vegetable oil
½ tsp salt
½ teaspoon paprika
Directions

Heat the oven to 400°F. Combine the cumin, salt, and paprika in a bowl and set aside. Peel each potato and then cut it into two halves lengthwise. Slice each half into 6 wedges. Transfer the wedges to a large bowl and add in the oil and spice mixture. Toss to coat potatoes, and transfer to baking sheet, in a single layer. Place on the middle shelf of the oven and bake for about 30 minutes. When ready, edges should be crisp and potatoes cooked through.

Read About:
Sweet Potato Casserole
Sweet Potato Pie Recipe
Sweet Potato Recipes
Pick a sweet potato fries recipe based on whether you have a palate for the bland or flavorful. Experiment with seasoning and come up with your own original sweet potato fries recipe!

Calories in Sweet Potato

March 5, 2010
By
Calories in Sweet Potato

The sweet potato plant belongs to the family Convolvulaceae. Sweet potatoes are the large, starchy and sweet tasting roots of the plant. It is commonly consumed as a root vegetable and there is slight difference between yams and sweet potatoes. The softer and relatively moist orange sweet potatoes are called ‘yams’ in parts of north America, just to differentiate them from firm white sweet potatoes.

Sweet potatoes are being used since at least 5000 years. These days, the health-conscious food consumers enjoy sweet potatoes for its versatility. Sweet potatoes have secured their place in the family weekly diet as people prefer natural healthy foods. Sweet potatoes are used in main dishes, casseroles, salads, breads, desserts and processed baby foods as they add color to the meal, along with increasing the nutritional value of the meal. Baked, boiled, fried, broiled, canned or frozen sweet potatoes can be used for the preparation of delicious dishes. They can also be cooked in the microwave oven. Before discussing about the calories in sweet potato, let us first have a look at the nutritional facts of sweet potatoes.

Nutritional Facts About Sweet Potatoes
Sweet potatoes are rich in vitamin A and vitamin C.
They are an excellent source of starch.
Beta carotene received from sweet potato helps in reducing the risk of cancer.
Sweet potatoes are packed with manganese, copper, dietary fiber, vitamin B6, beta carotene, complex carbohydrates, protein, potassium, calcium and iron.
Sweet potatoes offer the lowest glycemic index rating, amongst all root vegetables. The fiber rich sweet potato is digested slowly, causing a gradual rise in blood sugar, offering you a feeling of satiation for longer period of time. Sweet potatoes are included in the ‘good’ carb list. Sweet potatoes are thus beneficial for diabetes, in spite of the name ‘sweet’. They help to stabilize blood sugar levels and to lower insulin resistance.
Following table will answer your question ‘how many calories are in a sweet potato’ and it will also describe the calories in sweet potato baked, calories in sweet potato chips or calories in other varieties of sweet potatoes.

Calories in Sweet Potatoes

Type of Sweet Potato
Quantity Served
Calories
Steamed Sweet Potato
1 oz. (28 gm)
24
Raw Sweet Potato
1 Cup (135 gm)
114
Canned Mashed Sweet Potatoes
1 Cup (255 gm)
255
Sweet Potatoes Cooked, Boiled, Without Skin, Without Salt
1 Cup Mashed (330 gm)
250
Baked Sweet Potatoes
1 oz. (28 gm)
32
Micro Baker Yams
1 (230 gm)
280
Sweet Potato Fries
109 gm
190
Terra Sweet Potato Chips
1 oz (28 gm, about 17 Chips )
160
Baked Sweet Potato Chips
From 1 ½ Cup
33
Low Fat Carrot and Sweet Potato Soup
1 Soup Bowl
145
Sweet Potato Pie
130 gm
340

Here is a table describing the detailed nutrition facts of 200 gm of sweet potato, cooked, baked with skin, without salt.

Nutritional Facts About Baked Sweet Potato

Element
Amount per Serving
Calories
180
Calories from Fat
3
Cholesterol
Nil
Sodium
72 mg (3 %)
Total Carbohydrates
41 gm (14 %)
Total Fat
Nil
Saturated Fat
Nil
Proteins
4 gm
Vitamin A
769%
Calcium
8%
Iron
8%
Vitamin C
65%
Sugars
13 gm
Dietary Fiber
7 gm
Magnesium
54 mgPhosphorus
108 mg
Water
152 gm
You may like to read more on
Microwave Sweet Potato
Healthy Sweet Potato Recipes
Sweet potato is a nutritious and economical food. From the above tables, it is safe to conclude that one baked sweet potato (3 ½ ounce serving) provides over 8,800 IU of vitamin A or about twice the recommended daily allowance, yet it contains only 141 calories making it valuable for the weight watcher. Calories in sweet potato are helpful for weight loss as well as weight gain, depending upon how you consume it. Do you know that sweet potato plant is an attractive house plant? Put a sweet potato in a jar of water and within 10 days, the stem will start to grow. Then, you may place the jar in a sunny window and let the vine trail or climb. Thus, sweet potatoes can help decorate your house too!

The Potato Diet: Is It Good for You?

January 22, 2010
By

Potatoes are high in proteins, vitamins A and B, potash, soda, and alkaline salts, but is a potato diet the best choice for you? Although it is used in the treatment of some disorders like intestinal toxemia, renal calculi, constipation, stone and dropsy, or uric acid diseases, potato-based diets are not indicated for obese people.

The potato diet may help you lose weight and stay in shape. However, remember that what`s good for others may not be good for you, and seek medical advice before you start a diet.

Day one:
Breakfast: Seven ounces of washed fruits like apples, oranges, or mandarins mixed up with five ounces of low-fat yogurt and three spoons of cereals.
Snack: Five ounces of yogurt
Lunch: Wash, clean, and boil four big potatoes. Cut in chunks a tomato and two peppers and put two ounces of rubbed cheese. Add salt and pepper, take two potatoes, cut them in four and put them into a pan along with the tomato, peppers, and cheese and leave them in the oven for ten minutes. Keep the other two potatoes for later.
Snack: an apple
Dinner: Cut the two potatoes from lunch, a red onion, and three ounces of pickled cucumbers into pieces and mix them with small cut parsley. Make a sauce from two spoons of low-fat yogurt, salt, white pepper, a little pound garlic, and a spoon of olive oil. Leave the sauce over the salad for ten minutes.

Day two:
Breakfast: A slice of toast with two ounce of low-fat cottage cheese and an orange.
Snack: A glass of low-fat milk
Lunch: Extinguish seven ounces of cauliflower, boil five ounces of potatoes in salt water, cut in stripes one ounce of boiled ham and mix it with two spoons of low-fat milk and half a tea spoon of olive oil. Spice it with nutmeg and the juice from half a lemon. Remove the cauliflower from the water, drain it, and put the blend above. The potatoes are served along with the cauliflower.
Snack: A slice of bread with two ounces of cottage cheese.
Dinner: Make a soup from three ounces of potatoes, a small carrot, half of teaspoon of butter, spices, one ounce of sliced ham, and parsley. The vegetables are boiling while the ham is broiling in butter. Put in the soup the ham, parsley, salt, and pepper.

Day three:
Breakfast: Five ounces of low-fat yogurt, a kiwi, and an orange.
Snack: a glass of fresh orange juice.
Lunch: Put seven ounces of boiled and sliced potatoes, an onion that is small cut and some sliced tomatoes into a pan. Lam an egg, mix it with three spoons of milk and one ounce of rubbed cheese, add salt pepper, and put it over the vegetables. Leave it in the oven for fifteen-twenty minutes.
Snack: A glass of tomato juice
Dinner: Bake two potatoes covered in aluminum sheet for thirty or thirty-five minutes and cut them in four. Mix two ounces of cottage cheese with a spoon of low-fat milk, some salt, pepper, lemon juice, and small cut parsley. Serve it with the potatoes.

Day four:
Breakfast: A slice of toast with two sliced of chicken chest and a grapefruit. You may have a tea if you want.
Snack: A glass of carrots juice and a slice of toast.
Lunch: Boil for ten minutes four ounces of sliced potatoes. Cut two peppers in slices, cut an onion in small pieces and harden it with a teaspoon of oil, then put the potatoes, peppers, and five ounces of canned sliced tomatoes and leave it in the oven for fifteen minutes.
Snack: An orange and an apple
Dinner: Boil three potatoes in their peal, cut in small pieces half an onion, and some garlic. Mix the onion and garlic with two ounces of low-fat cottage cheese, two ounces of yogurt, and two teaspoons of lemon juice. Put salt, pepper and serve it next to the potatoes.

Day five:
Breakfast: Four ounces of low-fat yogurt, an orange, and a chuck
Snack: Two apples
Snack: Five ounces low-fat yogurt and a slice of toast
Dinner: Bake in the oven for thirty minutes nine ounces of potatoes then cut them in half. Mix four ounces of cottage cheese with a spoon of yogurt, half an onion cut really small, salt, pepper, and the juice from a lemon. You serve it with the potatoes.
Although this diet does not guarantee weight loss, the foods may have a positive influence by helping you stay in shape. Always consult a specialist before starting any diet program.

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