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At first blush, one might think this was just another "potatoes for dummies" type of cookbook. Yes, there are a few standard potato recipes such as Potato Skins, Hash, and Twice-Baked Potatoes, but the vast majority of the recipes go where no potato has gone before and even the ones you might think common are not so common.
Sure we all like potatoes, but do we really need another potato cookbook? Take a look at "The Ultimate Potato Book" and you'll change your opinion of the lowly potato as a side dish. These recipes are all designed as a main course. And no, it's not a vegetarian cookbook, although there are some vegetarian alternatives.
The book begins, appropriately enough, with a short history of the potato as well as the unrelated sweet potato, which is not neglected on this starchy culinary ride. Various potato types are distinguished by description and recommended varietal names. Potato selection and storage basics are covered, along with preparation tips, kitchen equipment, and other necessary ingredients that might not be found in the standard kitchen.
You'll find a delightfully different cornucopia of potato recipes within this not-so-humble potato cookbook. Ethnic dishes such as the African Gesmoorde Vis (a salt cod and potato stew) and Columbian Ajiaco (a chicken vegetable stew) mingle amicably with New England Clam Chowder and Barbecued Pulled Pork with Potatoes.
The book begins, appropriately enough, with a short history of the potato as well as the unrelated sweet potato, which is not neglected on this starchy culinary ride. Various potato types are distinguished by description and recommended varietal names. Potato selection and storage basics are covered, along with preparation tips, kitchen equipment, and other necessary ingredients that might not be found in the standard kitchen.
You'll find a delightfully different cornucopia of potato recipes within this not-so-humble potato cookbook. Ethnic dishes such as the African Gesmoorde Vis (a salt cod and potato stew) and Columbian Ajiaco (a chicken vegetable stew) mingle amicably with New England Clam Chowder and Barbecued Pulled Pork with Potatoes.
And then there are the fusion dishes that make you scratch your head and want to try them, like Coffee Cake using potato dough, Enchiladas with purple potato filling, or Reuben Rolls filled with sauerkraut, Swiss cheese, and corned beef wrapped in potato dough and fried.
Although these innovative recipes could easily stand on their own, each is followed by either additional flavoring ingredients, toppings, and accompaniments or variations substituting different meats or vegetables to create new dishes. You won't find any glossy photos, but the recipes each have an introductory explanatory paragraph and are easy to read and follow. The index, an important feature sadly overlooked by many publishers, is surprisingly well done, making it easy to search for a potential recipe by keyword.
Getting down to the meat of the matter, or potato of the matter as in this case, authors Bruce Weinstein and Mark Scarbrough live up to their ultimate promise in "The Ultimate Potato Book." It's time to look at potatoes in a new light.
Although these innovative recipes could easily stand on their own, each is followed by either additional flavoring ingredients, toppings, and accompaniments or variations substituting different meats or vegetables to create new dishes. You won't find any glossy photos, but the recipes each have an introductory explanatory paragraph and are easy to read and follow. The index, an important feature sadly overlooked by many publishers, is surprisingly well done, making it easy to search for a potential recipe by keyword.
Getting down to the meat of the matter, or potato of the matter as in this case, authors Bruce Weinstein and Mark Scarbrough live up to their ultimate promise in "The Ultimate Potato Book." It's time to look at potatoes in a new light.
