MADDIE DAY here, with a yummy side dish for your next birthday meal. Who doesn't love fried potatoes?
I've mentioned here before that my paternal grandmother was born on July 4th, 1900. Dorothy -- Dot -- Henderson was a close part of my life growing up.
As a child, it was fun to remember that, after Independence Day, Mama Dot was the same age as the year. As an adult, it was a treat to discover Dot's diary from the trip her family took driving two cars from Indianapolis to Berkley, California in 1918. As the eldest, Dot drove one of the automobiles, and the diary includes the menu for her 18th birthday dinner at a Salt Lake City hotel on Independence Day.
Knowing what a strong person my grandmother was inspired me to create a historical character a bit like her, the lady PI in the Dot and Amelia Mysteries.
I thought I'd bring you one of the items on her birthday menu. I had my whole family here for the 4th weekend.
I cooked so much, I kind of ran out of steam for making anything complicated, so I selected Potatoes Sauté to fix.
Potatoes Sauté
From Dorothy Henderson's 18th birthday dinner, July 4, 1918, at the Hotel Utah Roof Garden restaurant.
Ingredients
3 medium red potatoes, scrubbed and thickly sliced2 tablespoons butter
1 sprig rosemary chopped
1 teaspoon kosher salt
Directions
Steam potatoes (2026 version) in microwave steamer or (1918 version) on stove until nearly tender.
Heat butter in cast iron skillet.
Saute potatoes, turning, until toasty and crisped. Sprinkle on rosemary. Add salt and pepper to taste.
Readers: What's your favorite hot side dish? I'll send one commenter a signed copy of A Case for the Ladies!
🥔🧈🎂
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Maddie Day (aka Edith Maxwell) is a talented amateur chef and holds a PhD in Linguistics from Indiana University. An Agatha Award-winning and bestselling author, she is a member of Sisters in Crime and Mystery Writers of America and also writes award-winning short crime fiction. She lives with her beau and sweet cat Martin north of Boston, where she’s currently working on her next mystery when she isn’t cooking up something delectable in the kitchen.
One of my favorite hot dishes is macaroni and cheese, another is mixed vegetables.
ReplyDeleteBecky Prazak
rjprazak6@gmail.com
Yum!
DeleteMy all time favorite is lobster Mac and cheese!
DeleteKathryn Damren
Kdamren@aol.com
I've never had that but it sounds delicious.
DeleteMy favorite hot side dish is Corn On The Cob
DeleteAll the books look and sound like fantastic reads looking forward to reading them especially in print format
Crystal Stewart
don.stewart@zoominternet.net
Crystal, we had our first local corn on the cob last night, and it was heavenly!
DeleteMy mother was also a Dorothy and our extended family called her Aunt Dot! She was a fabulous home cook known for her cornbread and lemon meringue pie, among other things. My favorite hot side dishes in the summer include ratatouille - served hot or cold - and corn on the cob. My easy recipe for corn on the cob: moisten the cob of corn including husks under the kitchen faucet. Cook it in the microwave for 3 minutes. Let it cool several minutes. Then remove the husks and silk with the help of a cloth kitchen towel - careful, it will still be hot. Give it a try to simplify cooking corn!
ReplyDeleteNancy
allibrary (at) aol (dot) com
Our Dot was also a fabulous cook, Nancy. And I love ratatouille. I've tried that corn method, but I prefer to lightly steam the shucked ears.
DeleteRoast asparagus spears! So easy and so good. Trim woody ends from clear asparagus spears. Spread them in a single layer on a baking sheet.
ReplyDeleteLightly drizzle your favorite oil over the spears - I've used avocado, olive or coconut oil with good success. Dust with Parmesan cheese - put in hot oven (400 degrees) until done as you like. I typically shake the pan to turn the spears after 4 min and cook another 3 minutes. Thank you for the chance to win. madamhawk at gmail dot com
Yum, especially with locally grown asparagus!
DeleteThank you for the reminder that tasty dishes don't have to be complicated. I can remember my Granny making a very similar dish.
ReplyDeleteI can remember when we never sat down to supper that there wasn't potatoes in one form or other on the table. Now, not so much, but they still remain my favorite side dish.
With us to harvest around 1,000 ears of sweet corn this next week (if it's on the corns schedule), I'd have to say corn on the cob is one of my favorites. I can remember my Granny also making what we called fried corn, which is corn cut of the cob and then fried in butter on the stove top, that is heavenly as well.
2clowns at arkansas dot net
1000 ears, Kay? OMG. If you don't sell or give it away, that's a heck of a lot to process!
DeleteHubby planted it at a friends (due to garden space and our zillion squirrels that make planting it here impossible). They are a family of 8 plus his brother's family of 6 live just down the road. It will all be eaten, frozen or processed some way or other. Dale will pick it and I'm sure the other two adults along with us with get it all shucked in no time.
DeleteMy grandmother's birthday was also on July 4th, as was one of my aunts! Thanks for the easy potato side dish, Edith! I've never thought to steam the potatoes ahead of time before sautéing them - I'm sure that really speeds up getting the potatoes to the table.
ReplyDeleteIt does, Kim. Nobody wants an underdone potato!
DeleteThese potatoes look perfect, Edith. Thanks for the easy recipe.
ReplyDeleteMy pleasure!
DeleteGrowing up, my favorite hot side dish was Cream Corn. I liked it so much, I could eat it any time, Even by itself. johnlong83@rocketmail.com
ReplyDeleteYummy, John.
DeleteMy favorite hot side is roasted veggies. I love a good mix with sweet peppers, cauliflower, brussels sprouts and green beans. If we are thinking potatoes, au gratin would be my choice, but I have go give these a try. Rosemary makes everything tastier! makennedyinaz at hotmail dot com
ReplyDeleteI agree about rosemary, but I have to use it subtly if I'm cooking for both Hugh and me - he doesn't care for it if he can taste it!
Deleteso much fun that you have all that from your grandmother!
ReplyDeleteIt is, Roberta. My cousin's husband is a document conservator, and he fixed up the diary for me so it will last into the future!
DeleteThese are HAPPY potatoes, Edith! They want to jump out of my screen so I can taste them! This recipe is so easy, and the rosemary has to add so much flavor to them. One of my favorite sides are mashed or oven baked potatoes, but I am betting your sauteed potatoes will be right up there! I have read and enjoyed all of your books and even re-read most of your country store books, but for some reason A CASE FOR THE LADIES has been on my TBR list for so long. I must correct that, since I know it will be so enjoyable. JOY!!! luis at ole dot travel
ReplyDeleteI hear your joy, Luis.
DeleteMy favorite side dish is mashed potatoes, I do love baked and fried potatoes also. Thank you Deborah dortega229@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteCrispy potatoes in any form. But, then, mashed and scalloped are pretty darn good, too.
ReplyDeletelibbydodd at comcast dot net
I like roasted vegetables
ReplyDeleteWskwared(at)yahoo(dot)com
My favorite side dish is creamy mashed potatoes.
ReplyDeletelsemler69(@)gmail(dot)com