US schools plan to phase out potatoes - deems it a less healthy vegetable

Agricultural Department is attempting to phase out the humble spud – RECIPES

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From now on school cafeteria workers will be putting fewer potatoes on kids’ plates as per the US Agriculture Department and federal guidelines.

The spud is getting the cuts as the government plans to have more fruits, vegetables, and whole grains in the kids meals and less sodium, fats, and starches.

The US Agriculture Department is currently formulating a proposal, according to Georgia Public Broadcasting, that will take effect next summer.  The plan is to banish potatoes from school breakfasts and reduce them greatly in school lunches.

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Spokesman for coastal Glynn County schools, Jim Weidhass said that although the proposal isn’t final, potatoes are now only being served once a week.

He said, “We're just looking to phase them out and replace them with things like whole grain macaroni and cheese, knowing this will be the type of stuff that comes down from the federal guidelines. You have to try to put something that kids actually will eat on the table."

Of course, potato lobbyist and potato-state Senators are fighting. Critics are saying that the spud is being targeted unfairly.

In defiance of these restrictions on the much loved spud here’s two of our favorite Irish potato recipes – Colcannon and Boxty.

Colcannon Recipe

Ingredients:

4 lbs (1.8kg) potatoes, or about 7-8 large potatoes (‘old’ potatoes or russet potatoes are best, waxy potatoes won’t do)
1 green cabbage or Kale
1 cup ( 7 fl oz, 240 ml) milk (or cream)
1 stick (4oz, 120g) butter, divided into three parts
4-5 scallions (green onions), chopped
Salt and Pepper
Fresh Parsley or chives
*Not everyone adds scallions to colcannon, but they do add something worth having in my opinion.

Method:

Peel and boil the potatoes. Remove the core from the cabbage, slice it thinly, and put into a large saucepan.

Cover with boiling water from the kettle and keep at a slow rolling boil until the cabbage is just wilted and has turned a darker green. This can take anything from 3-5 minutes depending on the cabbage. Test it and don’t let it overcook, if anything it should be slightly undercooked.

When the cabbage is cooked, drain it well, squeeze to get any excess moisture out, then return to the saucepan. Add one third of the butter and cover. Leave it covered and in a warm place, but not on a burner, with the butter melting gently into it while you continue.

When the potatoes are soft, drain and return the saucepan with the drained potatoes in, to a low burner, leaving the lid off so that any excess moisture can evaporate. When they are perfectly dry, add the milk to the saucepan along with a third of the butter and the chopped scallions if you are using them.

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