Posted on 03/31/2023 6:07:03 AM PDT by Red Badger
(Last Updated On: March 24, 2023)
If you like your spuds, National Tater Day on March 31st is for you! The day recognizes all kinds of potatoes which provide us with essential vitamins, minerals, and fiber.
#NationalTaterDay
Potatoes are quite versatile, which might explain why so many people like them. They are the number one consumed vegetable in the United States. And when you consider how many ways we can eat the over 200 different kinds of potatoes in the United States, you shouldn’t be surprised.
First off, we can bake them. Who doesn’t like a baked potato? Yeah, we see you in back. Put your hand down. The rest of us absolutely love the baked spud. Plus those baked potatoes? You can bake them twice with all sorts of delicious toppings. Twice! Secondly, we can boil them. And from the boiled potatoes we can make soups, salads, or make one of the world’s all-time favorite potato dishes – mashed potatoes. And did you know, mashed potatoes have numerous different recipes, too? You can’t have shepherd’s pie without mashed potatoes. Dice them and slice them and we can make scalloped, fried, or even hashbrowns. And then, there’s potato dumplings and pancakes.
Beyond all the ways we use potatoes, this day may have originally had a different meaning. At the beginning of April, parts of Kentucky celebrated the sweet potato (Tater Day). Sweet potatoes are one of the main cash crops in that area. Tater Day started way back in the early 1840s with the trading and selling of sweet potatoes. It is the oldest continuous trade day in the United States.
Worldwide, there are more than four thousand potato varieties.
Since the time potatoes were shipped from Europe to the colonies in the early 17th century, their consumption has been a major part of the North American diet.
HOW TO OBSERVE NATIONAL TATER DAY
Have your potato, tater, or spud the way you like it.
Sprinkle them with herbs, cheese, or just a hint of salt.
Try a new recipe.
What’s really important is that you celebrate this humble vegetable.
Share your favorite potato recipe.
Use #NationalTaterDay to post on social media.
NATIONAL TATER DAY HISTORY
The day may have originated in Kentucky where they have celebrated Tater Day for some time. However, our research was unable to find the creator of National Tater Day.
Tater FAQ
Q. Where is the world’s largest potato?
A. Potatoes are a popular record goal for people around the world. Not only do they try to out-grow the competition, but people also try to out-bake, out-peel and out-serve potatoes. Check out these potato-related records:
2011 – Peter Glazebrook of the UK grows the world’s heaviest potato weighing in at 10 pounds 14 ounces (4.98 kilograms).
2012 – Have you ever tried to peel a potato in one long, continuous strip? If so, your new challenge is to achieve the longest potato peel. The current record is held by Alastair Galpin of New Zealand. His peel came in at 5 feet 2.28 inches (1.582 meters) long.
2016 – Feuerwehr Dettingen cooked the world’s largest potato pancake. The Dettinggen, Germany pancake measured 7 feet 11 inches (2.42 meters) in diameter.
2020 – Patrick Huyskens of Belgium grew the world’s tallest potato plan measuring 57 inches (145 centimeters) tall.
When I used to make them, I left the skins on too. Chop, boil, and place in blender with whatever seasonings (salt and pepper for me) and some warmed milk. Oh, yeah, and butter.
I’ve always saved some of the potato water once they were drained. Then add it back in a little at a time. I use either milk, half n half, or evaporated milk first. The right consistency is key. Butter is a big yes, plus the salt and pepper. Sometimes I’ll add sour cream or chives, and every once in a while, a dash of garlic powder.
So good with butter or your favorite homemade gravy. I make great gravy too. You just need some of the meat drippings to get you started there. I must have observed my mom, because I make gravy just like she did, to rave reviews. I use corn starch in a little water to thicken the pan drippings. Add that in a little at a time over heat, stirring quickly. If you over thicken it, you can always add a bit of water back in.
I can see her daddy in her face.
I love Allrecipes and use it all the time.
There is a name for that casserole in the mid-West - “Hot Dish” ? Not sure, I’ll have to contact my Indiana family to get the name they use - it’s REALLY popular in that area.
Looks like a recipe my family would LOVE, especially the males.
“She talks to her food!”
Let me know what they call it. I didn’t grow up in the Midwest so I don’t always know those nicknames.
The funniest one to me when we first moved was to hear people saying they ran the “sweeper”. I wasn’t sure if they were talking about a broom, a carpet sweeper, or a vacuum. I don’t think I have figured it out yet, either, because sometimes they say Kirby. I know Hoover is a vacuum (a Kirby is also) but those are brands. I just call each different thing what it is, and don’t lump them together.
Gotta go back and watch that one
Thanks
I asked and it’s called “Hot Dish” sometimes spelled “Hotdish” - it’s made with tater tots and covered with gravy - it seems lots of things are covered with gravy in the midwest - I know it is in my relatives’ homes.
My aunt used to makes desserts called “dumps” or “slumps” which also seem to be popular in that area of the country. I love the pork tenderloin sandwiches the most - can’t wait to go get one whenever I visit.
I love most regional cooking - my relatives want to eat “authentic” Mexican food when they visit me (California) -as long as it isn’t spicy.
I saved that You Tube video - that looks exactly like something my family would love - maybe even for this Sunday’s dinner!
Very interesting. Even though I’ve been in the Midwest longer than I was in the South, I find that there’s still plenty of new things to learn about here.
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