In defense of potatoes, eating cheaply.
Written by allep10 on May 21, 2008 – 12:32 am -Spuds, which my departed Dad used to call them, are nutritious and good food. His favorites were fried potatoes and onions and potato soup. They were simple but delicious. That was essentially all he knew how to cook, but Mom was good at that part and did the rest. I was well fed as a child.
I eat cheaply because I have to, I’m poor, and also have a couple of habits I’d rather not give up. So, I eat cheaply. One of my favorites is a simple potato-gravy dish I make almost every day. The potato is done in the microwave, no problem, the gravy is a simple and cheap dish that I adapted to my own tastes. This turns out very like a mashed potatoes and gravy dish with very little effort. The soy sauce adds a bit of a savory taste, as you might experience when the gravy was done with meat drippings. It gives a “fullness” to the flavor. Soy sauce does contain MSG, so be careful if you are sensitive.
I make the gravy heating a pan over medium heat, with a tablespoon of oil or two (enough to liquify the flour, but if you prefer you can skip the oil and just brown the flour, a rounded one-third cup) and a minced clove of garlic. The garlic and flour brown at about the same rate. When you see the garlic browning, add two cups of liquid, your choice (mine is one cup of milk, one of water). I then add a bit of soy sauce to the mix, a tablespoon or two (which turns it brown). Stir and cook until thickened, and the stirring does need constant attention. After I’ve browned the flour, garlic, and added the liquids, I turn up the heat a bit to expedite things.
This gravy can be easily be saved by simple refrigeration, and lasts for a week or two, to assist with other potatoes you might cook, or other things that enjoy a gravy. I haven’t tried a white gravy using this basic recipe, but I’m sure it would be good, with some salt and pepper.
For my 60 years of age, I’m slim and trim, male, six feet tall and around 160 pounds. And I’ve been eating starches and grains as my primary source of foods for ten years. Trust me, you won’t get fat eating beans and rice and potatoes. At least if you have some limits, and watch the fat.
My apologies to any whom I may have offended with this post. It’s late tonight, so I won’t be back until tomorrow to respond.
Tags: , Food, Frugality, Recipes
Posted in Food, Frugality, Recipes |
19 Comments
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I do like eat cheap. I can buy a bag of beans, a bag of brown rice, 5 pounds of masa, and with the things I grow (or buy cheaply) have a good diet. And I’ll get out of the store for less than ten bucks. That will last me, a single person, for close to a month, and if you’re a good cook, it’s quite tasty. Experiment!
I meant that as “I do like to eat cheap.” Apologies for the double post.
Good heavens no, we (at least speaking for me) aren’t offended. The gentle “potato-free” tease at AAF in the Purple Lizard Lounge was because he’s been posting lots of potato recipes lately.
Blame Vigilant Meerkat & donnamarie for the profusion of potato recipes ;.)
Next week I’ll post my Spanish potato omelet! Beware!
Thanks! I can’t wait. I love those omelets.
I meant no offense, Kate, but spuds are such a part of my life that I had to respond. My Dad’s potato soup was simply an onion, chopped, a few potatoes, diced, covered with water and boiled until very tender. He’d then add some milk to it, probably a cup or two. He enjoyed his soup with some diced tomatoes from a can, but Mom didn’t like that version so he served them separately. They were good folks and parents, both gone now. But they were healthy until their passing!
Many people *can* eat exactly the way you describe and enjoy vibrant health and long lives.
I can’t. I wish I could, but I can’t. I have some marks against me, including strong family history of diabetes, a lifelong history of hypoglycemia and unfortunately the somewhat classic diabetic body type - in particular, I’ve never had a waist.
So I watch it pretty closely.
*But* not everybody has my particularly configuration (so to speak), and I really disagree with dietary mandates - I don’t believe everyone should low carb, iow. I *know* people who can live on potatoes and bread, and enjoy great health.
But I think the fact that I carb binged this past Sunday for the specific reason of tranquilizing myself into a stupor and the fact that it worked speaks volumes.
All that said, it is expensive to eat like I do. Fortunately right now, I can afford it. But that hasn’t always been the case. I honestly just have to do without when I can’t afford it - and by without, I mean without movies, new socks, satellite television, long distance calls, etc. I’m pretty frugal - I’m probably the last person on earth without a cell phone, for example. But it’s what I have to do, and I do it.
But nothing you’ve said is at all offensive to me. Each of us is different in at least some way, and each of us has to find the way that works the best for us.
Btw, if I could live on biscuits and gravy, I would. OMG, my favorite food!!
Thanks for your reply, biscuit, and I’m sorry for your health problems. We can only do the best we can with what we’re given.
Potatoes and beans rule! Good diary.
Absolutely, and rice, and grains. All cheap and nourishing.
Great diary, I like it when people describe their food habits, and their frugality.
And thank you, AAF, for the honor to post here. Community has many benefits, and cooking well can create a community.
Thanks, mango, for your reply.
Thanks, allep10, for your advice, I love fixin’ red beans and rice, pinto beans and cornbread with a fresh tomato and scallions, navy beans with white cornbread, black beans with yellow saffron rice (Cuban style), white chili, potato and leek soup, chicken and rice or chicken and noodle soup. All good at using up ingredients and freezing for the future.
Thanks, Scotia48 for your reply. All of those things sound delicious. I’ll try some of them. I have good recipies for the red beans and rice and the potato-leek soup already! I’ll post another diary tomorrow about my current favorite vegan style meal.
Oh, I can hardly wait. I’ll post a Julia Child Potato and Leek Soup that is soooo simple!
I also like the idea of someone not giving up a couple of habits. We all need something.
I simply can’t give up tobacco (tried several times, with years of doing without, but always went back). I’ve learned to smoke cheaply too, using a pipe and the cheapest bulk tobacco available. Alcohol is my other habit, it’s a sort of mini-vacation at night, but I can do without it easily if I must (heaven forbid!).
I’m afraid they’ll have to pry my coffee beans out of my cold, dead hands.
I know what you mean, red wine’s the drug for me.