Potatoes!

From The Hot Potato
http://www.thehotpotato.com/english/potato_facts.htm

Potato Trivia

• A potato is about 80% water and 20% solid.
• Henry Spalding first planted potatoes in Idaho in 1837
• "French Fries" were introduced to America when Thomas Jefferson served them at a Whitehouse dinner.
• United States potato lovers consumed more than 4 million tons of French Fries in various shapes and sizes.
• Potatoes are a powerful aphrodisiac, says a physician in Ireland.
• The average American eats 140 pounds of potatoes per year. Germans eat more than 200 pounds per year.
• The largest potato grown was 18 pounds and 4 ounces according to the Guinness Book of World Records. It was grown in England in 1795.
• The highest volume baked potato restaurant, The Hot Potato, is located in Plaza las Americas in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
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From Cook's Thesaurus:
http://www.foodsubs.com/Potatoes.html

Best for baking: russet potato

Best for potato salads, gratins, and scalloped potatoes: Yellow Finn potato, new potato, red-skinned potato, white round potato, and purple potato

Best for mashing: russet potato, Yukon gold potato, Caribe potato, and purple potato

Best for soups and chowders: Yukon gold potato, Yellow Finn potato, red-skinned potato, white round potato, and purple potato

Best for pan-frying: red-skinned potatoes, white round potatoes, new potatoes, and fingerling potatoes

Best for French fries: russet potato, purple potato, Bintje potato

Best for purees: fingerling potatoes

Best for roasting: new potatoes, Bintje potatoes

Best for steaming: new potatoes, Yukon gold potatoes

Best for potato pancakes: russet potato, Yukon Gold potato