Potato Soup for St. Patrick's Day

The 17th of March

by Martin Shaw

st. Patrick's Day's a special Day,
When everyone wears green,
When shamrocks and wee Leprechauns,
Are very often seen.

It's time when people sing and dance,
Tell jokes and tall tales too,
For on the seventeenth of March,
That's just what people do.

Today is St. Patrick's Day, time to remember Irish ancestors and history with food and legend. I always think of potatoes as one of the foods we get from our Irish backgrounds. 

The potato was introduced to Ireland by the late 1500s. Within 200 years it had replaced older staples, including oats and dairy products. The potato became the mainstay of the Irish diet. In the 1840s, the country's heavy reliance on potatoes led to the disaster known as the Irish Potato Famine. Most Irish farmers grew one particular variety of potato, which turned out to be highly sensitive to disease. A potato blight that had started in Belgium swept the country. It destroyed one-third of Ireland's potato crop in 1845 and triggered widespread famine. In the next two years, two-thirds of the crop was destroyed. More than one million people died as a result of the potato blight, and two million emigrated (moved away) to other countries. Even though they had suffered through the Irish Potato Famine (also called the Great Famine), Irish people continued to love potatoes. As soon as the spread of the disease stopped, the potato returned its place as the staple food in the Irish diet. Farmers began to spray their crops with chemicals to protect them from disease. As of 2001 the Irish were consuming more potatoes than most countries in the world.

We in the U.S. consume our fair share of potatoes also, and it doesn't all have to be potato chips and french fries. Here's a recipe for potato soup mix that is easy to make, easy to store and makes a great gift. We like to keep a jar of the mix for a quick supper. For a thicker hardier soup, chop a baked potato onto a couple of servings and sprinkle shredded cheese on the top. 

Potato Soup Mix

2 1/2 cups instant mashed potatoes

1 1/4 cups powdered coffee creamer

1 packet chicken gravy mix

2 tsp. salt-free seasoning (i.e. Mrs. Dash)

2 tsp. dried minced onion

2 tsp. chicken bouillon granules

1/2 tsp. pepper

Place all ingredients in a large bowl and mix well. Divide into individual servings of 1/2 cup each in plastic bags; or store in a larger airtight container. To use place 1/2 cup Potato Soup Mix in a mug or bowl. Add 1 cup boiling water. Stir well. Let stand 3 minutes until thickened. Optional - sprinkle with shredded cheese or bacon bits.