Potatoes. They are versatile, affordable and delicious-the ultimate addition to any meal. Right?

So why is it that in recent years potatoes have fallen out of favour with Australian diners? In the age of the Paleo and Low Carb diets, there seems to be a bit of a misconception that potatoes are the enemy.

In actual fact, potatoes are a super healthy part of a balance
d diet-they just have to be prepared in the right way! As a WA Fresh Potatoes Health Ambassador, it is my job to help spread the potato love, providing interesting, nutritious and most importantly, yummy recipe ideas.

“Boil ‘em, mash ‘em, stick ‘em in a stew” – Samwise Gamgee, The Lord of the Rings

Last month, the best hockey players from all over the country gathered in Sydney to compete in the Australian Hockey League. As I have been li

ving and training full time in Perth since 2011, I always love when I get the opportunity to rejoin my
Victorian teammates and contest for the AHL title.

Being a competitive bunch of individuals, I thought this was the perfect opportunity to set a bit of a cooking challenge amongst my teammates. The object: showcase the versatility of potatoes! The task delivered a great array of dishes, including classic roasts, mash, tray bakes, healthy chips and even gnocchi.

Results of our Victorian Vipers potato competition

The tournament schedule was pretty full on, playing 6 matches in 8 days, but I like to think our nutrient-packed potato dinners helped fuel our bodies well. We went on to have a fairly successful tournament, narrowly losing the final 2-1 to Queensland.

Now back in Perth, I am loving the opportunity to continue to explore the full potential of potatoes. Did you know that potatoes can even be used to make awesome desserts??? Maybe something for me to explore in the future!

Although it is often fun to experiment with new ideas, sometimes simple is best. My current favourite method of preparation is to grill finely sliced Kipfler potatoes. So quick, easy and extremely delicious, all they need is salt and a bit of oil, a few minutes on the grill pan and they are done. A definite must try!

Being a Potato Ambassador certainly does have a few perks, and recently I was excited to receive a delivery of a bag of seed potatoes! When I have time off I often enjoy pottering around in my backyard, and am slowly starting to develop quite a nice little selection of fresh herbs and vegies. I am looking forward to the challenge of growing my very own crop of potatoes (any tips are welcome!)

So much potato goodness!

That’s all for now, I have some great recipes planned for the coming weeks, so stay tuned!