A lot of people in my hometown called potatoes “spuds.” As near as I can tell, potatoes are called "spuds" because of a tool once used in their cultivation. The term "spud" originally referred to a type of small digging tool used to remove weeds or prepare soil for planting, and it eventually became associated with digging up potatoes. In 19th-century English slang, "spud" came to mean the potato itself, likely because of this connection with digging up tubers.
My apologies to all the potatoes out
there, but they are not terribly romantic. Potatoes are rather thick and
bulky—not sexy like string beans or curvy like peppers. And, remember, they
once caused a famine in Ireland. Yet, given the proper treatment, they can
carry the weight of a good meal. Yesterday, Desiree and I worked together to
produce a brace of perfectly beautiful baked potatoes. This required bacon, of
course, and a three-part cooking regimen involving the microwave, oven, and an
active finish on the grill outside.
I am sharing a picture of Desiree
with our lovely spuds.
—Mitchell Hegman
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