My potatoes have produced small green, cherry-sized “potato fruit” this year.
Potatoes, tomatoes, eggplant and peppers are members of the nightshade family and they produce small fruit at the blossom ends.
The fruit is poisonous because of high levels of alkaloids so I would suggest picking the potato fruit and destroying it so no one will be tempted to taste it.
The fruit contains 300 to 500 seeds, which potato plant breeders use for developing new genetic varieties. You could try saving the seeds to grow potatoes for next year but if the variety is a hybrid, the next crop may not be breed true.
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Excessive moisture could be the reason for such fruit this year. Planting different potato varieties close together is another possibility. Some varieties, such as Yukon Gold, also tend to produce more fruit.
Source: www.ubcbotanicalgarden.organdanswers.yahoo.com.
Warm new potato salad with citrus vinaigrette
This dish is a wonderful way to serve new potatoes. It goes well with grilled fish, chicken or red meat.
2 lb. tiny new potatoes, unpeeled and scrubbed 1 kg
2 tsp. salt 10 mL
1 clove garlic, crushed
1/4 c. chopped fresh chives 50 mL
1/4 c. chopped green onions50 mL
1 lemon (grated zest)
1/4 c. fresh squeezedlemon juice50 mL
1/4 c. extra-virgin olive oil 50 mL
2 tsp. grainy mustard 10 mL
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. freshly ground black pepper2 mL
In a medium saucepan, over medium-hi heat, cook potatoes, salt and enough water to cover for 15 to 20 minutes or until tender.
Prepare vinaigrette in a large serving bowl. Whisk together garlic, chives, green onions, lemon zest, lemon juice, olive oil, mustard, salt and pepper. Drain and add to potatoes. Stir well and serve while warm.
Source: Simply Great Food, Dietitians of Canada.
Dear Team: I am looking for a recipe for a cake that doesn’t have eggs, milk, butter, peanuts or cocoa in it. My grandson is allergic to them. He can have rice flour and vegan margarine. I would like to make him a birthday cake. Thanks. B., Delia, Alta.
Dear B.: You can substitute one tablespoon (15 mL) ground flaxseed mixed with three tablespoons (45 mL) water for each egg required in a recipe.
Milled or ground flaxseed can also be used to reduce the amount of fat in a recipe.
To replace a solid fat, such as butter or margarine, use three tablespoons (45 mL) milled flaxseed to replace one tablespoon (15 mL) of a hard fat. When using milled flaxseed, baking will brown more rapidly.
Source:Everything Flax,Saskatchewan Flax Development Commission.
You can also substitute oil for solid fats. You use less oil than fat so can reduce the total fat in the recipe. Baked goods will have a softer and moister texture.
When baking, you can reduce the amount of oil in the recipe by one-third and replace it with an equal amount of prune purée, unsweetened applesauce or other unsweetened fruit purées.
Source:The Dietitians of Canada Simply Great Food.
The wacky cake
Here is a cake recipe that is easy to make and does not contain eggs, butter, milk or cocoa. It is mixed in the cake pan.
Wacky lemon cake
epare in an eight inch (20 cm) square or round cake or double the recipe to fill a 9 x 13 inch (22 x 33) cake pan.
1 3/4 c. flour 425 mL
1 c. sugar 250 mL
1 tsp. baking soda 5 mL
1/2 tsp. salt 2 mL
1 c. cold water 250 mL
2 tbsp. lemon juice 30 mL
1/3 c. oil 75 mL
1 tsp. vanilla 5 mL
2 tbsp. lemon zest 30 mL
Lightly oil the cake pan. Measure the flour, sugar, baking soda and salt into a sifter and sift into the cake pan. Mix these ingredients together with a fork. Make three holes in the flour mixture.
In a small bowl or two cup measure, mix together the water, lemon juice, oil, vanilla and one tablespoon (15 mL) lemon zest. Pour the liquid mixture into the three holes in the flour mixture. Using a fork, mix the dry ingredients and wet ingredients together to a smooth batter, but do not beat. Using a spatula, scrape the sides of the pan. Sprinkle the remaining lemon zest over the top of the cake.
Bake at 350 F (180 C) for 30 to 35 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Serve with sliced fruit or ice for a birthday cake.
Wacky chocolate cake
For chocolate lovers, this cake can be made into a chocolate cake by adding three tablespoons (45 mL) cocoa powder to the dry ingredients and replacing the two tablespoons (30 mL) of lemon juice with one tablespoon (15 mL) white vinegar. Mix and bake as for the lemon cake.
Adapted from a Depression era recipe when eggs and butter were rationed.
Removing rust stains
Dear TEAM: Our water has a lot of rust in it and it stains the bathtub and stainless steel sink. Can you suggest an easy way to remove these stains? C.D., Chitek Lake, Sask.
Dear C.D.: I have found that baking soda on a damp cloth works well to remove most rust. For difficult stains, try using orange drink crystals. Check the package to be sure it contains ascorbic acid or purchase ascorbic acid from a pharmacy. Vitamin C tablets and orange pop will also work.
Create a paste with a little water and spread over the stain, allowing it to sit for three or four hours. Rinse well and repeat if necessary.
Betty Ann Deobald is a home economist from Rosetown, Sask., and a member of Team Resources. Contact: team@producer.com
