It’s white outside. Really white. Our trees are white, our ground is white, our roofs are white, and so are our roads. Our snowbanks are still growing, and this week’s storm may have been beautiful to behold, but at this time of year, not entirely welcome except by the kids who discovered it was marvelous snowman snow. My mom would call it heart-attack snow. The nor’easter that is currently hitting the Boston area looks like it will miss us with perhaps a couple new inches, and I’m fine with that.
There’s always the sunrises and sunsets
White. But we have color in our beautiful sunrises and sunsets, I never get tired of viewing them, this week we were delighted by a stunning pink and gold sunrise. It almost looked like it could have been in a fairy tale, and we spent a long time gazing at its beauty.
Lots of colorful vegetables
In the kitchen, we’ve plenty of colorful local treasures that will keep us fascinated, and much of the color matched the beautiful sunrise. They are all roots, yes, but what a selection, and among them is my favorite vegetable, the potato.
A unique variety
We ate a lot of potatoes when I was growing up, nearly every night, and no one complained. Everyone ate a lot of potatoes back then, they were filling and nutritious and seldom garnered complaints. My dad loved growing potatoes. His favorite pastime was hilling them up; I will always have wonderful images of him doing so, I think it was his own zen pastime, along with fishing. He was also a trickster. One day, he brought mom a basket of new potatoes and had slipped in this stone that looked remarkably like the potatoes. He had this chuckle as he handed her his harvest, she surveyed the contents and didn’t say a word. Guess what potato was proudly placed on dad’s plate that night? Oh, complete with a big old tab of melting butter on top.
Never tire of them
Definitely one of my desert island foods, I could eat them every day and not tire of them. Because they are a starchy vegetable, they’ve had a lot of bad publicity, but they are filled with fiber and lots of vitamins, antioxidants, and minerals, so good for us, and no fat. Mash them, roast them, boil them, scallop them, purée them, turn them into home-fries or hash-browns, chips, or French fries. Where would a stew be without them? Many a soup? A salad Niçoise, or mom’s potato egg salad?
Let’s try steaming
We even love them steamed. Yes, steamed quickly and enhanced (as if they need to be improved, but hey it’s February and we need a little variety) and we can create a delightful side dish. Add a few other root vegetables, mix up the colors, let them absorb some extra flavor, and it’s all good.
Lots from which to choose
At the co-op this week, not only did I find beautiful dark all-blue potatoes, but some lovely vibrant pink ones as well. No shortage of fabulous, colorful roots this week. We also found candy striped ‘Chioggia’ beets, dark red and golden beets, purple and orange sweet potatoes, purple, black, and watermelon radishes, and carrots of many colors. A rainbow of roots, and as you know the deeper the color the higher the mineral and antioxidant content of the vegetable, and the lower the glycemic index, so they are a good choice for diabetics. So good for us!
Let’s keep this about the potatoes
For this dish, I chose pink, purple, and yellow potatoes because I wanted this to be mostly about the potatoes. I added a few watermelon radishes and a big fat orange carrot. I also found some fresh pea shoots from the local greenhouse, so I decided to keep my potato dish on the lighter side for a feeling of spring; steaming seemed like the perfect method rather than boiling or roasting. Steaming also makes the potatoes a little less likely to fall apart and turn to mush, and they easily soak up anything you top them with. In this case, lemon and garlic.
There’s always an alternative
Can’t find pink potatoes? Never fear, just use whatever colorful roots you have in your area for this dish, and you’ll find plenty even in the regular supermarkets. What do you like best? It will all work. If you can’t find pea shoots, use some other shoots, or arugula or watercress, something green and vibrant. You could even use fresh parsley and a handful of frozen baby peas. The flavors here remind me of my mom’s spring pea and potato dish that was simply the two vegetables with a drizzle of vinegar.
A taste of spring
This is quick to put together, fresh tasting and spring-like, and totally potato satisfying. It will keep you happy well into mud season, and with all the snow we’ve got, it’s bound to be a doozy! More on that later…
Seamed Rainbow Potatoes with Pea Shoots
- About 1 ½ lbs. (660 g.) potatoes, mixed colors if possible, sliced
- 1 large carrot, any color, sliced
- 2 or 3 watermelon or other radishes, sliced
- 2 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 lemon, zest and juice
- 2 ½ ounces (75 g.) pea shoots or other tender green, chopped
Cut the potatoes into 1 cm. thick slices (scant half-inch), no need to peel them but remove any eyes or bad spots. Slice the other vegetables into similar size.
Set up your steamer pan and basket, add the water and bring to a boil. Place the vegetables, except the radishes, in the steamer basket and cover. Set you timer for five minutes. Check and if the vegetables are nearly done, add the radishes and set the timer another five minutes. The age and thickness of the vegetables will determine the actual time, so test with a fork.
While the vegetables are cooking, in a small sauté pan, heat the olive oil and add the garlic. Let this become fragrant, but not browned. Remove from heat and add the zest and juice of the lemon.
Once the vegetables are cooked, place in a large shallow bowl and add the garlic/lemon oil, every drop, and salt and pepper to taste. Toss in the pea shoots, mix everything gently, cover and let sit for five minutes. The potatoes will absorb the liquid and all its flavor, and the greens will wilt.
Tumble onto a serving platter (maybe one with matching pastel colors), garnish with a few more pea shoots, and a last little sprinkle of salt.
Now, is anyone ready for some pink mashed potatoes? All stones removed, of course.
“My idea of heaven is a great big baked potato and someone to share it with.” ~ Oprah Winfrey
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Note to Oprah: I NEVER share my baked potato.
Oh no, I’m with you! I want my own. My very own to make the way I want it!
Beautiful! You dad looks like he had a big personality!
That he did Mimi! A joker, a storyteller, with a good helping of Irish blarney mixed in.
So you are of Irish descent, too.
Oh yes, Irish, Scots, English, with fully half French!
My wife calls herself. “lover of potatoes” on her Instagram feed, so she would love this! I always forget how many unique and colorful potatoes exist out there – thanks for the reminder and the terrific recipe!
Thanks John! Never met a potato I didn’t like. Actually, that’s not true. There was these very gummy pureed potatoes I had in a questionable restaurant once that stretched like mozzarella; and I had some canned potatoes once. Please don’t bother to look for them or try them.
HA! Remember what I accidentally bought in the early days of the pandemic? A 106 oz can of baby potatoes…oh my did I learn a valuable lesson there – terrible!
Nothing like a potato. I can’t even describe it!
Gorgeous, D! Love that photo of your dad!
His was a mischievous soul! Always with a twinkle in his eye.
Sounds a lot like my dad.
Thank you, Dorothy, I have vegetables every day, and potatoes are my beloved, every day dish!
Joanna
So good, and we never tire of them.
You had my attention at “potato”! Love the colorful potatoes and also the addition of lemon and garlic, sounds wonderful!
Thanks Jan! So simple, but truly delicious!
Colorful veggies are the best.
They delight the eyes first!
I am my Irish Father’s daughter! We grew up on Potatoes every dinner and any other time they could be used. Always a meal in a Potato. When the beautiful Potato was pronounced as ‘bad for you’ I couldn’t imagine life without this wonderful versatile tuber!! BRING ON THE SPUD!!
Mary :))
Here, here! I will always love them!
Looks fun (and delicious)! 👀🍃
Thanks Gail!
I wish I could get my hands on vegetables like this. 👏
Well, you could go on a little foraging trip to Vermont…
That would be an unforgettable experience, that’s for sure. 🍃🌎
Any time my friend!
Blessings. 🦋🍃
Firstly – What a colourful soul your father. He looks quite the imp! I laughed out loud at the thought of your mother serving him the rock/potato; garnished, of course. And then there’s the incredible images. That sunrise looks spectacular. This brings me to the colourful potatoes. We can easily buy different coloured sweet potatoes, yum. But potatoes? I definitely feel I’m missing out.
Oh, the world is small, they will make their way to your table soon, I’m sure! In the meantime, those purple sweet potatoes are so good for you, and very pretty too!
Wow, what marvelous and colourful potatoes. We only have white potatoes here. Your story made me smile.
Thanks! Dad had quite a sense of humor, and so did mom!
Potatoes and a rainbow in one dish? Count me in!
Your chair is waiting!
Wow great winter photos, you make it look pretty 🙂 I love beets and never thought to steam potatoes. They look so yummy with all this white <3
We’ve had lots of opportunity this year for those snow shots, haven’t we?
I steam lots of veggies to preserve their nutrients, and potatoes steam beautifully. Keeps their lovely color!
For sure! Yes I will try doing more steaming so I can swallow less supplements 🙂
Your parents were cuter than cute! Love the stone story.
And eating the sunset/sunrise is so fun.
Great recipe thanks!
Thanks Nancy! My dad was a trickster, but somehow Mom always prevailed!
So delicious! And so beautiful! Stay warm!
We’re trying Julie!
Wowsah, count me in! After all, I am the great -granddaughter of potato farmers. Like you, I never grow tired of eating potatoes. Great story about the rock in the potato basket.
Thanks Laurie. You and me both! Potatoes at every meal? Why not?
Deliciousness!
I was laughing so hard about the potato story that I read it to my husband. I love the design on the root vegetables and another beautiful sunset.
My dad was a joker, for sure!
Steamed potatoes are the best!
The softest baby potatoes deserve center stage this time of the year! The dish does match your images! I loved your rock on the plate story – dads are the best!
Yes they are, right along with moms!
You certainly have had a lot of snow, haven’t you, Dorothy? We have none! I love the stone potato story. Your parents were playful with each other, which is lovely for their children to witness.
They really liked each other, and had a great time.
I am ready for your Steamed Rainbow Potatoes with Pea Shoots
They are waiting for you!
My family also ate lots of potatoes when I was a child. I have warm memories of helping my grandfather harvest potatoes. He raised some of the old-time white and red potato varieties (Kennebec, Red Pontiac, etc.).
Yes, the potatoes we grew were limited to those as well. We have so many more heirloom varieties available to us now.
Gorgeous sunset and sunrise, Dorothy. The colours are amazing even in a small photo on my wordpress feed.
The veggie dish looks so tempting as well. Simple good food and tasty and wholesome. I would cook this for my other half but would have to add a smothering of white sauce on top -then he would devour it all.
A little white sauce goes a long way!
This is the time of year that while beautiful to behold does make you long for mud season. 😊 I’ve never had a potato that I didn’t like and I know I would enjoy your pretty creation.
Thanks Karen! Potatoes are at the top of my list always!
I’m a potato girl through and through. A little butter and sour cream – divine. Loved the sweet stories about your dad and his potato patch. And the Oprah’s idea of heaven. Spot on. Sounds like you had adorable parents. I think that the best gift in life. Hugs, C
Nothing better than having parents that you admired!
I love all the different colors that some veggies come in, like carrots, potaotes and beets–they make such eye-appealing dishes! These Rainbow Potatoes look so good! 🙂
I’m definitely drawn to them too. I found some scarlet turnips today at the farmers market; never saw those before!
I love potatoes – of any kind at all! And your winter photos are glorious! Especially that top image – so atmospheric. Love Celi
Thanks so much Celi! Winter has such glorious photographic subjects, but I really am quite done with it now!