Friday, August 14, 2015

The Potato Ban For Freaky Friday...!

The potato got off to a rough start as a favorite food of many. In fact, it was even banned for a while from the palace in England. Crazy, right?

But wait! It gets even worse for the poor spud. How the potato made it this far is beyond me. I'm certainly glad that it did, hgowever.

Eating Potatoes In Court



In ancient times, the potato was met with superstitions wherever it was introduced. Opponents of the potato labeled it poisonous, strange, and, in extreme cases, evil. In France, it was fingered as the cause of leprosy, syphilis, narcosis, scrofula, premature death, and impotence. It was also accused of destroying the soil in which it grew. In Besancon, France, it was against the law to plant potatoes.

The potato found its way to England when Sir Walter Raleigh, an English explorer, planted it on his estate. He later offered it as a gift to Queen Elizabeth I, who invited several nobles and landowners to a banquet with the potato on its menu. Unfortunately for everyone present at the banquet, the cooks threw away the edible tubers and cooked the leaves and stems, which are poisonous, as it turns out. Everyone who ate the meal ended up sick, and the innocent potato was banned from being served in the palace.

Guess you can't blame them for being a little spooked by the potato, but in this case the food and it's supporters won. Thank goodness!

Coffee out on the patio this morning, providing it doesn't rain!

6 comments:

Sixbears said...

Potatoes are in the deadly nightshade family so that's reason enough for concern -and the greens are not edible so there's that. I am amused that they threw away the edible part and cooked the greens. Had they been a bit more poisonous history would have been totally different.

Chickenmom said...

And some people still eat potatoes if they have turned green!!! Duh!!!

linda m said...

Thank goodness the potato made a comeback. Where would we be without French Fries? i especially love roasted potatoes and potato salad. Have a great weekend. Glad the power is back on.

JO said...

I'm glad they made it too love potatoes made any way.

Almost nice enough for the patio but still so humid

Dizzy-Dick said...

My Dad was a meat and potato man. I wonder if that is why he died at 60? I love potatoes and they can be served in so many different ways.

HermitJim said...

Hey Sixbears...
I'm thinking maybe he should have included some "how to cook" directions with the potatoes.
Thanks for stopping by today!


Hey Phyllis...
Sometimes a little knowledge (or lack of it ) is a dangerous thing.
Thanks for coming over today!


Hey Linda...
I pretty much like potatoes any way they can be fixede. Good stuff!
Thanks for the visit this morning!


Hey Jo...
Food concepts have only changed for the better, I reckon!
Thanks, sweetie, for the visit today!


Hey Dizzy...
They are certainly versatile, no doubt! Any way they can be fixed, I'm a big fan!
Thanks for coming over today!