European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - March 13, 1986, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Food stuffed baked potatoes and the scalloped version Are american favourites but for variety try pc some by Roger Modon special to stripes Magazine the potato or Irish potato As it is often called came to us originally from the mountains of Peru and Chili. Although it was probably brought Back to Europe by Spanish conquistadors its discovery is popularly attributed to sir Walter Raleigh. Potatoes were being cultivated in Ireland and England before the end of the 17th Century. They were brought to North America in the Early 1700s by Irish and English immigrants. When the potato was first cultivated in Europe it was considered More of a curiosity than a food item. It was thought to be poisonous and to cause All sorts of illnesses if eaten. There was some basis for this belief As potatoes belong to the Plant family called nightshade. Many other plants in this family Are poisonous and in fact so Are the Green portions of the potato Plant. According to some accounts the popularity of potatoes As a foodstuff did t really Start until Antoine Parmentier a French pharmacist started working to get it accepted. He convinced Louis Xvi that its cultivation could help solve France s hunger problems. They decided on a ruse to try to get French Farmers to grow potatoes. They planted a Field of potatoes at Les salons one of the Gates of Paris. During the Day they had the Field guarded by soldiers. At night the guards went Home. The trick worked. At night Farmers snuck in to find out what the King had growing. It had to be something special or the King would t have had it guarded. Slowly the effects spread out and it gained popularity. Since then the potato has become one of the Staple crops of the United states and Europe. It is eaten in countless variations. In France the name Parmentier is still associated with potatoes. Today s recipes serve about four. Many of the recipes mix potato with Dairy products. This makes a Complete protein so it is Good for vegetarians. Colcannon 2 pounds potatoes a Pound White cabbage 3 Tablespoons butter 11/2 pounds lean ground beef 1 medium onion Salt Pepper stripes Magazine March 13,1986