…or rather, these spuds are for one of you.
Yes, hang around here long enough and you’re likely to be the proud recipient of something spud-like, in this case a hamper of goodies – including a selection of crisps and easy-cook potato family packs – from those spud innovators, Keogh’s, whose second National Potato Day – this coming Saturday, August 25th – is nigh upon us.
The full extent of the festivities for the event will be revealed in the coming days and though – lucky girl that I am – I have been privy to a sneak preview of same, I have also been sworn to official secrecy on the matter. Suffice to say, however, that there will be no shortage of splendiferous spuddery on the day. In the meantime, while you attempt to keep the inevitable excitement at bay, there are a number of things you can do:
(1) Add a comment below sometime before midnight (GMT) next Sunday, August 26th, if you’d like your name in the hat for the spuddy hamper pictured above and if you are the proud possessor of an address in the Republic of Ireland to which it can be sent. I’ll pick a winner and notify the happy recipient on Monday August 27th and the spuds and crisps and I-love-spuds paraphernalia will be on their way.
(2) Pop over to Keogh’s and sign their petition to make the spud the official national vegetable of Ireland.
(3) To be in with a chance of other goodies, check out potato.ie and enter their National Potato Day quiz – with the rather fabulous prize of a short break for two in Catherine Fulvio’s Ballyknocken House and Cookery School, which includes one night’s accommodation with breakfast, a four course dinner (with spuds I hope!) plus pre-dinner drink as well as places on a half-day weekend cookery class. Wouldn’t mind winning that little lot myself!
Patriotic Potato Salad (with Mint & Orange Dressing)
In honour of the aforementioned National Potato Day, I thought I’d leave you with a little patriotic something, inspired by those colours that you’ll find prominent in that Irish flag of ours.
The recipe for this is more or less in the title – newly boiled potatoes are tossed in a yoghurt-based dressing flavoured with fresh mint and orange zest, giving a salad gently flecked with the green and the orange of the tricolour.
When boiling the potatoes, do make sure that the boiling water is well salted, and add a few mint leaves and perhaps a few lightly crushed cloves of garlic to the boiling water to bring a little extra flavour to the pot.
You’ll need:
- 6 tblsp natural yoghurt
- 2 tblsp finely chopped mint leaves
- 2 tsp orange juice (or more to taste)
- 0.5 tsp orange zest
- 1 tsp finely chopped chives (or more to taste)
- pinch of salt
- freshly ground black pepper
- 800g potatoes, preferably waxy or new potatoes, boiled or steamed until tender
You’ll also need:
- Not a lot, really. A fork to eat it all would be handy I ‘spose.
The Steps:
- Mix together the yoghurt, mint, orange juice and zest and chives. Season to taste with a little salt and black pepper, toss with the still-warm potatoes et voilà, you’re done.
The Variations:
- Instead of boiled or steamed potatoes, try this dressing with roasted potato chunks instead.
The Results:
- Serves around 4 as a side dish
Sounds like a lovely fresh take on potato salad. The mint and chives are taking over parts of the garden so I’ll be trying this out with some Queens. Thanks, Aoife.
Fingers crossed on the goodies front!
Always nice to try something a little different on the potato salad front Fiona – especially if you’ve got mint and chives aplenty. Best of luck in the competition!
Rather a more’ish sounding salad that; very patriotic
That’s me Rufus, always flying the flag or diggin’ them patriotic potatoes :D
That looks so fresh and tasty.
Yip, after living away from home for a few years and rcently coming back I have so much appreciation for the good old spud. When we lived in the UK my parents in law would give us a huge bag to drive back to the UK. We lived in a tiny one bedroom flat so we used to have to keep the spuds on the in the middle of the living area. lol
@Cathal: thanks – that it is!
@Gemma: “livin’ with the spuds” – gotta love that :D
There’s two types of spud being prepared in the kitchen right now (not by me). Spud as part of a veggie thai curry, and roast spuds (for me, as im not in the mood for curry). Safe to say that we <3 spuds in this house.
Dear goddess of spuds, Potato salad may be my favorite style of the potato, I know there are fancier presentations but the combination of a good old PEI spud and your favorite mixture of dressing just hits the spot. this dressing mixture is quite different than I’m used to, going to give it a try and report back.
Cheers,
Brian.
@Triona: …and I <3 people who <3 spuds :)
@Brian: always worth trying something different - that's not to say that you couldn't add a little mayonnaise in here for something closer to your classic potato salad - and it goes without saying that you can play around with the quantities so that you get a dressing that's just right for you p.s. am now going off to polish up my 'goddess' title :D
Would love to try something different and it would be lovely to bring some of your potato salad on our last picnic before the end of the school hols.
What a lovely thought Crena (well – the bit about picnics and bringing the potato salad at any rate; not quite so fond of thinking about the end of school hols and, therefore, the end of the summer (such as it was) – but such is life!)
Aoife – love all things spuddy
Would love to win t-shirt ! My youngster loves potatoes – any way – any style – and with lots of butter.
Have signed Keoghs petition :)
thanks Aine
Looks delicious. I love anything with mint in it- I will definitely have to try this recipe!
@Aine: Glad to hear the young lad loves his spuds – a man after my own heart! Hope yiz are all keeping well.
@David: I love anything with mint in it too – especially spuds :)
A nice take on the potato salad :), will try this recipe out for myself. Love the t-shirt, and everyone in the house loves spuds
Thanks Sabina, sounds like my kind of household :)
Mmmmmm. Looks lovely! Always looking for new ways to get my daily dose!
If that’s the case Ruth, you’ve come to the right place :)
Count me in please! YUM!
I’m sitting here researching picnic recipes for tomorrow that – come rain or shine (and let’s face it, we know it’s going to be rain) – we can pack up and take for a picnic. As it will probably be the last before the kids go back to school I think this looks like a perfect sunny-looking number to go out on. Looking forward to it already. Ok, now to hit the kitchen :)
@Eimear: absolutely, consider yourself in!
@Yvonne: enjoy and here’s hoping that the sun will shine on your picnic tomorrow
Oh I love a good spud and yummy recipe! I’d love to be entered into this competition please! :)
Aoife
pieandlies.blogspot.ie
Oh what a nice change for potato salad, I’ve been looking for some inspiration for school lunch boxes and this will go down and treat. Many thanks.
@Aoife: I’m fond of a good spud and the odd yummy recipe myself (as you may have guessed :)) – best of luck in the competition
@Lisa: you’re welcome, hope you enjoy it!
Sounds yummy! Thanks for the chance to win!
No problem Jessica and good luck!
your hamper looks wonderful..i’ve heard so many good things about Keogh’s crisps. And i really DO love spuds!!!:)
Well, it’s all true about the Keogh’s crisps Sophie – you’ll have to give them a whirl, hamper or no!
What a great fresh recipe! Love the orange in it! Great idea.
Great giveaway too :-)
Thanks Peggy, glad you like it – and I’m liking the giveaway too :)
I love spuds
Good man yourself, Niall – that’s what I like to hear!
Great idea adding orange to the salad, would never have thought of that. Will have to give it a go soon.
Great recepie will be trying it, fab prize also
Count me in, can’t beat spuds!
The salad sounds wonderful. I’ve been looking for a nice potato salad recipe that doesn’t contain mayo for ages now, cheers.
lovely recipe love pototo salad think i’m addicted lol
Yum yum yum let’s hope we get the nice weather to have this with a bbq
What a lovely recipe will have to give it a go soon. Looking forward to national potato day!!
Hello Spud,
Count me in for the hamper.
Check out my blog over the coming days for a delicious potato recipe to celebrate NPD.
Dermie
thanks all for the entries, keep ’em coming – and looking forward to that potato recipe Dermie!
is maith love spuds
Can’t get enough of those shamrock Crisps!!
Great to see how widely available Keogh’s Crisps have become :-)
Popped out to my little veggie garden and dug up some Spuds, not very big mind you, but they were delicious, the taste of the earth was still in them, a dollop of REAL butter, Happy out.
Yeah can’t beat a Spud!!
Love your crips too youve done the Spud proud :)
you can’t beat a spud straight out of the ground Bebe – the best ever!
Miss my Stout crisps. At least the empty bag still smells amazing. Great that you are doing the giveaway.
Made pesto the other day, had a salad with baby boilers, bacon, sun dried tomatoes, pesto and Parmesan .it was lovely
had lovely new potatoes last night and it’s great to find new and interesting potato recipes. This is one that I’m definitely trying out.
So many ways to eat spuds. I ll have to try this one. Sounds really tasty !