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Sunday, October 2, 2011

cookbook review: 300 Best Potato Recipes by Kathleen Sloan-McIntosh + Spicy Sweet Potato Fries


Publisher: Robert Rose
Soft Cover: 448 Pages
photos: yes

Chapters/Sections:  The Spud from All Angles, A World of Potatoes, Top Twenty Classics, A Bowl of Soup, Salads, Appetizers, Snacks, Small Plates & Light Meals, Sensational Spuds on the Side, Main Courses with Meat, Poultry, Fish & Seafood, Vegetarian Mains to Satisfy, Breads, Biscuits, Scones, Griddle Cakes & More, Desserts & Confections

Fantastic Features:  There are two absolutely fantastic, helpful, informative features in the beginning of this book.  The first is the section entitled The Spud from All Angles which includes History, Legend, and Lore of potatoes as well as information on buying and cooking potatoes...and getting the right potato for the task at hand.  There are also tips of cooking methods and storage, as well as cultivating potatoes (growing your own).  And the second section, A World of Potatoes is a wealth of information on potato types (starchy vs. waxy), how potatoes are named, and other potato terminology.    A twenty page Potato Glossary that separates All-Purpose Potatoes, Floury Potatoes, Waxy Potatoes, and Specialty Potatoes rounds out this section.  Find out why each potato is classified the way it is, its "description", its origin, where it is available, and the best uses for it.

(a few of the many) Recipes Destined for my Kitchen:  Sweet Potato Gnocchi w/ Sage Brown Butter, Pan-Fried Sweet Potatoes w/ Gremolata, Curried Sweet Potato Ravioli w/ Brown Butter & Toasted Cashews, Exotic Spiced Roasties, Potato Noodles, Haystack Potatoes w/ Poached Egg & Smoked Salmon, Potato & Pea Samosas, Potato Fudge, Chocolate Covered Potato Chips

Additional Thoughts:  Sold!  Originally my oldest son was totally psyched for me to start cooking from this book...he's a total potato-a-holic.  After a few minutes of paging through, my excitement matched his.  Like I mentioned in "fantastic features", the beginning alone spoke to the eternal student in me.  I can't resist a chance to relate history and culture to food...and then put it to use in the kitchen.  There are so many mouthwatering recipes that follow the introduction, that I could be using this book for many years to come.  All you spud lovers out there- don't dilly dally...add this book to your collection!

Recipe I have already tried:
Spiced & Baked Sweet Potato Fries
adapted slightly from 300 Best Potato Recipes
yield: 6 servings

6 sweet potatoes, scrubbed
3 Tbs. olive oil
2 Tbs. chipotle chile powder
¼ tsp. smoked paprika
salt and freshly ground pepper

Preheat oven to 425° F.  Slice each sweet potato in half lengthwise, then slice each half into four lengthwise wedges.  Toss wedges with oil, chile powder, and paprika in a bowl or baggie.  Season with salt and pepper.  Toss again to coat.

Arrange wedges on a lined baking sheet.  Roast in preheated oven for ~35 minutes, tossing a few times until cooked through and a bit crisp on the outside.  Serve immediately.

I served mine with sour cream for dipping and a sprinkling of grated lime zest.

about the author (from Cookstr):  Kathleen Sloan-McIntosh, cookbook writer and recipe developer, owns the Black Dog Village Pub and Bistro in Bayfield, Ontario, with her husband, Ted. They also own The Black Dog Pantry, a specialty food shop. Both businesses sit on the main street in downtown Bayfield. The pub is located in an old, restored building built circa 1850.  They also live in Bayfield with their black Lab, Danny.

Kathleen prides herself on running a “true Canadian establishment” and offers a comprehensive list of single malt and Irish whiskeys.  She is also the author of several cookbooks.

*I received a free copy of this book to review from the publisher.  All thoughts and opinions stated in this post are 100% mine.

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Would you like to comment?

  1. This book sounds very a-peeling!

    You're right...I should be beaten for that one:) But the book does sound perfect for me, I never get tired of potatoes.

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  2. I'm not inherently a potato addict...but I potentially could become one if I had this book.

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  3. This book is on the cover of my Good Cooks order form and it had me drooling. I'm all about the potato and from the recipes that you mentioned I know that I would love this one. On my wish list for sure.

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  4. I loves me some potatoes so this book would be dangerous. ;-) Love all the spice on those sweet potatoes--such a good contrast.

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  5. Terrific review, Heather. I cook potatoes often and it would be so interesting to learn more about this veggie with so much history behind it.

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  6. Mmm, potato wedges are my FAVORITE! Thanks so much for this recipe and the additional ideas.

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  7. Sweet potato fries are such a guilty pleasure... But they're not AS guilty as normal fries, right?! At least that's what I always tell myself... ;)

    ~Kayla

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  8. My mouth is watering just at the thought of potatoes!

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  9. I am picking up this book!!! Potatoes are one of my all time favorite foods, potato pancakes, mashed potatoes, potatoes au gratin, baked potatoes, french fries!! Potatoes are good in every form! I've only gotten hooked on sweet potatoes in the last year, I've been cooking them with only olive oil and sprinkling paprika on them, but I'm going to try it with the chile powder and pepper as well now!

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  10. I would like to try some sweet potato recipes.

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  11. Potato is a great vegetarian meal. It really fills you up.

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