Today’s show is all about one of my favorite comfort foods: potatoes. They are versatile, affordable, nutritious, and delicious. In fact, my new passion this winter is Hasselback Potatoes. Join us! Joining me for “all things spuds” is fellow culinary dietitian Amy Myrdal Miller, a farmer’s daughter, public speaker, author, and president of Farmer’s Daughter Consulting. Together, we will tell you all about potato nutrition, give you potato recipes galore, and explain why potatoes are the perfect gateway for getting other vegetables into your diet. For example, how about a potato bar with crispy Brussels sprouts or crispy shallots? The sky's the limit when it comes to potatoes! Show Highlights: Get to know Amy and her life in CA, running her consulting business and living with her husband and naughty kittens Why Amy, the farm girl from North Dakota, became a dietitian after her childhood diabetes diagnosis How potatoes fit into world cuisine, with possible origins in South America Most common potato varieties include Idaho, Yukon Gold, Fingerling, and Red Bliss (there are over 200 varieties in the US alone!) A few varieties that are well-suited for specific cooking techniques are Colomba, Sifra, Mozart, Mulberry Beauty, and Rickey Russet Dispelling the myth of “potato shame,” potatoes are rich in nutrients like vitamin C, potassium (more than a banana!), and fiber and antioxidants (in the skin) How to use potatoes with other veggies as diverse toppings Why many families are turning to potatoes as a staple during the pandemic Amy’s favorite mashed potatoes are a Yukon Gold-type with milk steeped with fresh rosemary; she also likes a preparation with extra virgin olive oil, sea salt, and pepper, or perhaps milk, sour cream, and cheese How nutrition-packed potatoes compare to rice and pasta as a dinner side dish Liz and Amy compete in a recipe smackdown to name different potato dishes and applications--with over 20 ideas in 60 seconds! Amy’s favorite potato recipe is a childhood favorite: boiled and buttered baby potatoes with fresh dill Liz’s easy prep for Potato Latkes made with pre-baked potatoes How silver linings during the pandemic have shown up with more family cooking and family connections How efficiency in water requirements, growing conditions, and space requirements have made potatoes the 4th most popular crop grown around the world Resources: A Genius Method for Making Latkes (by Joan Nathan): https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/04/dining/hanukkah-latke-recipe.html Potato Wonder: https://www.potatowonder.com/  Potato varieties and breeding: HZPC  https://www.hzpc.com/  Potato Goodness (a great resource for potato nutrition, storage, preparation): https://www.potatogoodness.com/ Potato recipe roundup (TBD ... Liz to add) Liz's Podcast Posse. Join the closed Facebook group!   Hasselback potato slicer on Amazon