But for experimental purposes, we were both pretty keen to try growing our own spuds.
We bought some maris piper seed potatoes, figuring that they would be a pretty versatile potato, and planted 2 in deep grow bags.Clearly, we didn't get an enormous crop, but that colanderful of potatoes lasted the two of us for 3 meals, which is pretty economical I think.
I made some gnocchi, which I panfried with butter, oyster mushrooms, garlic and spinach. They were served on the side of barbecued wild boar fillet, with a red wine and quince reduction. The gnocchi were very good - and the potatoes were perfect for them - but 
the wild boar fillets (from Fen Farm Venison) were so amazing that they totally eclipsed the spuds.I also made a version of Nigella's slow cooked lemon garlic chicken, adding wedges of the potato. I overcooked it, but the potatoes were still excellent in
it. I've never made that dish before and I do think it deserves a rematch.But the final, and greatest usage was in a gratin dauphinois. Utter, utter perfection. Served with barbecued venison haunch and a red currant sauce, it was a first taste of winter cooking to come.
15 comments:
Grow bags! Brilliant! I always end up leaving one or two behind (uninentionally), but they grow into new potatoes.
I never buy seed potatoes, I just plant ones from the kitchen that have sprouted.
OK, it all looks wonderful but that gratin is making me drool all over the keyboard. ;-) Yum!
Heather - I am all about the grow bags now. Living on chalk with all those flints just makes digging too hard! Of course, the problem with hardly ever buying potatoes is we don't have leftovers to sprout.
Deb - who can beat creamy, garlicky potatoes?
I've not used growbags for spuds but I've grown them in bins. There is nothing like a meal of freshly dug spuds IMHO.
I will try the Nigella recipe. Thanks for the tip.
wow your spuds good the royal treatment looks amazing Rebecca
I always wonder who might eat things like "wild boar fillet with homemade gnocchi" for a weekday dinner, but it shouldn't surprise me that it is you! All your meals look delicious and homegrown potatoes must taste absolutely yummy.
Jude - Nigella's recipe doesn't replace your/Diana Henry's thighs!
Rebecca - thank you!
Jo - well, it was a Saturday night not midweek!
Gasp! What amazing meals. The gnocchi with wine and quince reduction and wild boar sounds SO good. I've never made a proper gratin dauphinoise before, always wanted to - all that cream and potato, yum.
We don't eat that many potatoes either - they go green SO fast that I just can't be bothered to keep them around.
mmm. i think cheap bulk fillers are the way to go, whether they're detrimental to society or not! there's a lot of tastiness here--nice work. :)
Oh we love our spuds & can't get enough of them in our house. My favorite way to have them is roast with the chicken so they soak up all that luscious fat!
Laura - that wild boar was really something else. Amazing. I can't believe you've never made dauphinois! It's lovely.
Grace - I don't mind them occasionally myself.
Kat - that sounds good! I want roast chicken now!
They all look excellent uses for homegrown potatoes and the gratin looks divine. Yum!
I eat plenty of carbs, just not potatoes - don't last well in a disorganised household of one!
very very smart. we are planning to grow potatoes in a couple years. right now, I am worried that the girls will get funny and taste the leaves.
C - I keep some frozen mash in the freezer for emergency carb needs!
MM - I'd be more worried about the little berry/fruit things they put out. They look like green tomatoes!
Some sumptuous dining in this post. I must head to the kitchen now....
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