What Did the Potato Say from the Pantry
Were you looking for a punch line to a joke? Sorry to disappoint. This story is literally about a potato “calling” in distress from the pantry. You’ve probably had your own potatoes seeking attention. You know, the ones that smell like rotting rodents buried below the potato pile, forcing you to carefully lift each one, face scrunched with fear at the thought of finger poking through the liquid decay hidden behind the still-intact peel. The potato to which I refer above arrived at our house from our “farm.”
We are members of a CSA, or Community Supported Agriculture, farm. We pay the farmer before the planting season for a weekly share of summer’s bounty. I give each year a theme based on the plant that rises to the top as “most prolific.” Broccoli and kale have been past winners. This year, potatoes were king.
I’ve quartered, oiled, and grilled them with bell peppers. I’ve hashed and fried them with onions. When the cold, wet wind blew across the prairie, I turned them into soup.
I loathe the short daylight ushered by autumn winds, but I do love a good one-pot meal that fills the house like a hug. During my most recent dinner prep, I peeled potatoes while the tender whites of aromatic leeks sauteed in the pot. Checkers-the-cat perched on the far end of the counter top. Shiloh-the-dog sat ready at my feet. Both expecting my presence in the kitchen to produce a between-meal treat.
Glancing at their wanting faces helped me remember that even the faintest of “voice” can inspire action. The potato couldn’t talk, but it did alert me to a need. Checkers and Shiloh don’t speak my language, but their intent was loud and clear.
Got kids or pets? How about a partner? Have they been trying to get your attention? Put the soup on simmer and take a few moments to check-in. Imagine the richness of your meal when you sprinkle it with connection.
1. Carol Gelles wrote the James Beard Award winning cookbook 1,000 Vegetarian Recipes. I’ve cracked it open so many times the pages practically turn themselves to our family-favorite recipes. I was pleasantly pleased when I came upon an online option for Carol’s Vichyssoise recipe to share with you. I like to cook vegan when I can. I substituted cashew butter for the butter and added coconut milk in place of the half-and-half. Serve warm. Yum!
2. I met teacup Charles in the park across from work. He donned Tartan plaid dog boot suspenders and a matching quilted coat. As cute as the ensemble was on the snow-white Maltese, I was drawn to the suspenders. What a brilliant idea! Charles’s mom exclaimed how easy it was to slide his tiny toes into the boots. The suspenders kept him from shaking them off. Here’s a link to a general page on dog boot suspenders.
3. I’m a realist. I gravitate towards solutions that don’t rest on one shoulder but many. When it comes to reducing the impacts of people-induced climate change, we can all be part of the solution. So too can cows. I really like this article by Scott McFetridge and David Goldman for the Associated Press on one Texas rancher’s efforts to be a force for positive change.
4. Got ADHD? I like this investigation by ADDitude magazine about harnessing the power of digital technology and games to expand working memory, increase concentration, and improve ADHD symptoms. Sounds like the perfect excuse for screen time!
5. While the holidays are a time of joy, they can also be a time of stress. Dogs and cats are keenly aware when your mood is on edge. Distract them from your tension and stimulate their brain with a challenging snuffle mat. These custom-crafted snuffle mats from MrMcFlooypants make excellent enrichment gifts for the pets on your holiday shopping list. (I make no money promoting these. I just love Katie’s creativity!)
6. Need a gift for a teacher? Consider Teachers and Therapy Dog Teams: Innovative Collaborations to Make a Difference for Children by Barbara Vokatis and Lucinda Ormiston. The authors bring to life the power of dogs to increase student engagement, lower anxiety, and improve social, emotional and learning skills.
7. Three potato jokes
a. “Why did the potato cross the road? She saw a fork up ahead.”
b. “What do you call a potato at a football game? A spec-tater!”
c. “Why do potatoes make good detectives? Because they keep their eyes peeled!”
Friends: A Poem by Mia, 4th Grade
You get the towels
and I’ll get the swimsuits,
and we’ll go swimming together.
You get the microphones
and I’ll get the
costumes and we’ll have a concert together.
You get the horses
and I’ll get the
saddles and we’ll go
riding together.