Since last Thursday I’ve eaten very little: toast, dabs of oatmeal, a cup of tomato soup, hard-boiled eggs, a bit of yogurt. In part that’s because nothing tastes good when you’re sick. But it’s also because prolonged coughing spells left my abdominal muscles so strained I frequently felt queasy.
All I could manage this morning was some cocoa, and nothing after that until almost 2 p.m. At that time I knew I should eat something, but what? More oatmeal? Yum.
That’s when I saw the German Butterball spuds DF had brought up from the basement storage. My mind went instantly to mashed potatoes with plenty of butter and salt and pepper.
Too rich? I wondered even as I reached for the cutting board and a paring knife. Who cares? I answered myself as I chose the smallest potatoes and cut them in half. Within minutes they were boiling away and I was rummaging in the freezer for some peas.
I am happy to report that a dish of home-grown, skin-on mashed potatoes was exactly the right choice.
A classic comfort food
Plenty of butter and seasonings, as indicated above, plus the drained peas poured on top. Stirring both vegetables together, I felt like a five-year-old. After eating them, I felt almost like a human being.
Potatoes featured prominently in my childhood diet because they were so cheap. We learned to eat quickly, because if you cleaned your plate and there were still potatoes left you could get a second helping. With five other people eyeing the same bowl of Irish dirt berries, it didn’t pay to dawdle.
As an adult, I sometimes had nothing but mashed potatoes and corn for supper. Forget the meat, bring on the veg.
There’s something wonderfully comforting about freshly bashed spuds after days of invalid food. I won’t say I’m cured – still barking like a seal from time to time, but DF says the cough sounds better today. The headache is gone and the fatigue is much improved.
Maybe that would have happened without the German Butterballs. Maybe not. Never underestimate the healing power of mashed potatoes.
Related reading:
- The boiling bag
- Junk food: Sometimes it just tastes good
- A mess of beans
- Chowder: It’s not just for breakfast anymore
Don’t care for mashed. Always skip even at Thanksgiving. LOVE baked or roasted or pancakes.
Reading this, I had to laugh. I had a trip to the ER last week and was admitted for a day, then pushed to go home. It was a partial bowel obstruction. Painful and NOT fun. My mom (several states away) was very worried. I called her once home, and mentioned not being able to have anything other than liquids for awhile. She said, “Well mashed potatoes are kind of a liquid, especially with enough gravy.” LOL! LOL! Still haven’t tried mashed potatoes, but was able to have a bagel thin toasted last night with a light smattering of cream cheese.
Remember what Erma Bombeck said: “In my family, gravy was considered a beverage.”
Hope you feel better soon.
I’m so glad to hear that you are feeling better!
I worked in oceanography for 12 years, the last couple of which I suffered from seasickness. I found that mashed potatoes was one of the few foods that I could ever eat when I was sick. Luckily, we always had understanding and sympathetic chefs.
The odd thing was that I never liked mashed potatoes before that; now they are one of my favorite foods.
I interviewed a mountain climber once who said her favorite meal on McKinley was ramen mixed with instant mashed potatoes. Ack.
I could eat mashed potatoes (or any kind of potato) until the cows come home!
So glad that you are feeling better. Anything grown at home and prepared with love always tastes better.
So glad that you are feeling better.
I used to think people who touted “fresh” potatoes were overstating it. Then I tasted potatoes that were out of the ground only a few minutes before we ate them. You know what? There IS a difference.
They’re still tasty all these months later, but the fresh ones…man, they’re good.
Potatoes rule. I’ll eat them boiled, mashed, baked, fried, au gratin, scalloped… they always agree with me, even thru a gall bladder removal and 2 pregnancies. Pretzels are a close second.
Soft pretzels? Stick pretzels? Big crunchy sourdough pretzels? Yeah, me too. A side of mustard doesn’t hurt.
When I was pregnant with each of my three kids, mash potatoes were the only thing I really had cravings for and the one thing to settle my queasiness.
Late to the party here, but I just have to say that as a child of the 1970’s, instant mashed potatoes are my favorite comfort food. Yes, instant ones. (Although of course I adore the kind made from scratch, as well, and nowadays I buy organic instant mashed potatoes instead of the cheapest brand.) Many years ago, I was studying with Hebrew teacher who was really mean and also taking classes with a rabbi who completely intimidated me. I ate instant mashed potatoes for dinner each night before those classes. It was the only way I survived!
I hope you now eat them for happiness vs. to prevent/recover from emotional distress. There’s just something about a spud.
Thanks for reading, and for leaving a comment.