The Plucky Housewives

I love anything potato.  I did not have an Italian grandma who taught me how to make these (I sure wish I did).  I ate them once, fell in love with them.  Im German and Irish, like I wouldn't love anything with so much potato???? I discovered that they are not as difficult as they seem and they are just so good.  Its also that making fresh dough thing.  There is something very therapeutic about it.   Gnocchi 4 large Idaho Baking Potatoes 2 Eggs 1 t salt 1/2 t pepper 1-1/2 Flour Wash and pierce the potatoes with a fork.  Bake in a 350 degree oven for about 45 minutes, until tender and done.  Remove from the oven and allow to cool enough to handle.  Cut the potatoes lengthwise, in half.  Scoop out the flesh.  (Set the skins aside and make some Smokey Potato Skins).  Do not cool the potatoes too long.  You want to work with the potatoes while they are still warm.  It helps in making a light and pillowy gnocchi. ...

Delicious Smoky Potato Skins I set out last weekend to make some homemade gnocchi.  Every now and then I like to immerse my hands in dough, be it bread dough or pasta dough.  I think it’s the touch and taste and smell combination.  It is also very therapeutic.  But, anyway, where was I going with this?  I made gnocchi.   I bake my potatoes (instead of boiling them) and I was scooping out the flesh, when I realized I had a stack of potato skins.  I hate wasting anything lately and wondered what would I do with these.  Sort of a duh moment, don’t you think?  So I foraged the fridge.  I had no bacon, but did have polish smoked sausage.  I found cheese and sour cream.  I also had 2 avocados perfectly ripe and some green onions and heirloom tomatoes.    Needless to say, we had scrumptious baked potato skins for dinner that night.  The gnocchi, I ate some too, but gave most of it away to a friend for thei...

I love potato pancakes. My mother made the best potato pancakes and when I lived in New York in the early to mid 80s, I refined by potato pancake making abilities! My children (especially one daughter in particular) could love and could live off potato pancakes. My husband now loves potato pancakes. So here, try our potato pancakes! You can eat them alone, or with a meat (they go well with a brisket or a pork chop (for those that eat pork). They are good for breakfast, lunch, or dinner! 8 medium Idaho potatoes, peeled 1 sweet (Vidalia) onion Lemon juice 1 c flour 1 c half and half (whole milk can be substituted) 2 eggs, slightly beaten 1 T baking powder (or matzo added to the flour) 2 T melted butter Salt and pepper to taste Grate potatoes using a food processor or the large-hole side of a hand grater. Chop onion into a size similar to the grated potato. Combine onion and potatoes. Sprinkle with lemon juice and let drain. Mix flour, half and half, eggs baking...