I’ve been watching the Tastemaker Challenge put on by the United States Potato Board with some interest.
1. I like potatoes
2. I have celiac, which means my starch options are compromised (see #1)
3. Several of my awesome friends were part of this potato-off, and submitted their excellent recipes to the challenge. I rooted for Jennifer of Savor The Thyme , Lindsay of Rock and Roll Mama, Jodi of Mom’s Favorite Stuff and Jim of Busy Dad Blog (call me fickle but I couldn’t choose just one).
However.
I could not help but notice what was missing from the Tastemaker challenge. We had women and men, an Asian tastemaker (Busydad Jim did double demographic duty there, Kudos to you for that and for your hysterical potato recipe videos too!) we had a Latina tastemaker and an African American. We had Northerners and Southerners. East and West Coasters. Not represented at the Blissdom bake off? The Jews.
Perhaps potatoes are not the first thing that comes to mind when you think Jewish food but let me remind you of the venerable latke. Do a google search on “Jewish Potato” and you’ll get a page full of latke love. But wait. There’s more. So much more. The oft overlooked knish. And what about that staple of every Jewish mama’s kitchen, elevated into the Jewish hall of food fame: The Kugel. You thought the Kabbalah was a mystical experience? You’ve never tasted a really good kugel.
What happened potato peeps? Were you afraid that a people as ancient as Moses would have too many culinary secrets? That our borekas and faux kishkas would be an unfair advantage to those who think “twice baked” is all there is to the humble spud? It’s almost like you left out the Irish… A potato challenge without a Kugel-er is not a fair fight!
I’m offering a featured spot on my blog next friday for the best kugel recipe I hear about within the next week. Go bug your Bubbe and send me your video, photos or just leave a comment. Side note: You don’t have to be Jewish to send me your kugel recipe. You can be asian, hispanic, caucasian, african-american, indian, or any other ethnicity you can think of. You can even be a man. Even if your kugel is chock full of interplanetary goodness, I say bring it!
Meanwhile here is Rachel of A Southern Fairy Tale’s winning potato recipe. It actually looks quite tasty despite the twice baked-ness. I have to give her props for using smoked salmon in an earlier potato challenge as well. Who else is fond of smoked salmon? Hmmmm…. Cough. Bagel & Cream Cheese. Cough. ‘Nuff said.
Watch all the videos from the tastemaker challenge on the Potato Goodness Channel (no I did not make that up, there really is a Potato Goodness Channel).
And finally, in case you missed the humor in my post, I am not actually mad that there were no Jews involved in the challenge. I just thought it was funny. So send me your recipe!
Kugel Photo Credit: The Gifted Photographer on Flickr - click thru for recipe!
Related posts:
