From Soil to Stomach - a children’s event celebrating the International Year of the Potato

Gary Thomas, a leading member of the Spud Brigade, has developed an event for A Taste of Slow at Federation Square on Saturday 23rd and Sunday 24th February 2007.

Here's the planning at the moment:

Garden beds to be assembled some with growing potato plants and alternate beds with hidden potatoes that children can retrieve. There is the possibility of having a farmer’s truck onsite to profile crates of different varieties, shapes and size potatoes.

Groups of children would participate in the event in sessions. They would dig for the potatoes and then spend some time with a slow food producer to explain different varieties, nutritional value and how the humble potato could be used in cooking.

There would be an opportunity for a representative from Burnley to add value to this with growing and gardening information.

Boiled potatoes smothered in mint

In preparation for the March harvest, we'll start posting recipes - it's actually wishful thinking - wishing for the first of the new potatoes.

Boiled Potatoes Smothered in Mint
1kg small waxy potatoes (eg kipfler, dutch cream, nicola)
2 cups loosely packed mint leaves, coarsely chopped, plus 3 extra sprigs
1/4 cup lemon-infused olive oil

Cook potatoes and extra mint in a large saucepan of boiling salted water until potatoes are tender. Drain and peel while still warm, add olive oil and mint (if you don't have lemon-infused olive oil squeeze half a lemon along with the olive oil), season to taste with sea salt and freshly ground black pepper and toss to combine. Serve immediately.