Homegrown Gourmet #7

I was so surprised to find out last week that Culinography actually picked my entry for Homegrown Gourmet! Very cool and to be honest I felt like I so cheated. I mean how could all of those other great entries compete against cupcakes for breakfast, right? I took the low road on that one. And in my defense I SWEAR I did NOT know Culinography actually lived in Missouri. Complete fluke. So not only did I luck out, I also cheated. If you could see me right now you would know I'm hanging my humbled head. But I might be grinning just a little too. Woot!
And.
then.
I.
Panicked!
Eek!!

I have to actually choose the next theme. Crap. I'm not good at this stuff. I'm a big dork. The very cool Bean’s Bistro started all the fun with sandwiches, and the Homegrown Gourmet event has featured soups, pies/tarts, stews, and quick breads. I highly recommend bookmarking these posts along with Culinography's breakfast roundup and discovering some amazing dishes.

Uhm, so here goes, *please don't throw things at me*

April is a tough month. It's National Food Month for pete's sake... so anything goes cause not too much is really in season yet. We are stuck between Winter and Spring. Well, here at least. No offense to all of you other lucky bastards who are enjoying your new greens. So like any other barely functioning adult who is just faking normal in their day-to-day life rather than celebrate the new season and all the glorious rebirth that healthy adults embrace... I'm regressing. the next homegrown gourmet can have it. along with May and all of the really cool food holidays. I want, nay need my final comfort food. And when I think comfort food I think...


of potatoes. Oh sweet heavenly soulful comforting potatoes.


Slathered up with butter and cheese, whipped up in your favorite potato-centered entree, or cheat like me and put it in dessert. Highlight and celebrate the potato and you've fit the theme.


In fact~ did you know that the United Nations have officially declared the year 2008 the International Year of the Potato in order to “increase awareness of the importance of the potato as a food in developing nations”?!? Huh? didja? didja? Seems like a winner to me!


Here's some Inspiration~ Eat the Seasons , your Global Potato News and Wikipedia.

So now for the really fun part of all of this- cause I know you have been waiting for them~
THE RULES: {insert loud hand clapping and hurrah's}
1. Anyone can play! except for maybe potato haters. Cause that's not nice. or normal.
2. A theme will be picked by the host. Participants will make a dish that follows the theme and that somehow represents their home region - town, state, area. Representation can feature a local ingredient, be a traditional dish from your area, or be a creative twist.
3. Participants will have 3-4 weeks (host discretion) to complete their recipes and post them to their blog (or email the pics and text), and notify the host. The host will then post the results and then let everyone know via email or message board the results are up!
4. An explanation of your dish is required; it can be a story about the local custom or ingredient, how you came about eating/making the recipe, or an explanation about how your creative dish fits the theme.
5. Fresh and local foods are encouraged!
6. When the round is done, the host will announce their favorite dish by updating their blog. Favorite is completely subjective to the host- no one expects the host to make and taste test all the dishes, it is just something that strikes the host’s fancy! The creator of the fave gets the honor of hosting the next round, if they so choose!

Okay? You ready to rumble already or what?
To participate in Homegrown Gourmet #7, whip up your bestest dish highlighting the glorious, incredible edible Potato! Post about it in your blog and tell the world what makes your recipe Homegrown… be sure to link back to this post. Then send me an email at temperedwomanATgmailDOTcom with “Homegrown Gourmet 7″ in the subject line. Please include the following in your e-mail: your name, your location, your blog name and URL, and a permalink to your entry. Don’t forget to attach a picture (preferably 250 x 250) of your dish to the email. (Not a blogger and still want to enter? Why aren't you blogging already? Come on, you know you want to do it. All the cool kids are doing it these days... what? still no? Ok, email me all the details and I’ll post for you.)

Deadline for the event is WEDNESDAY, April 22, 2008.
Let the amazing cooking begin!
And to get you in the right food battle frame of mind I offer~ the most amazing beautiful intense Food Fight. War as only food could best represent it. Go potatoes!