Lab Log

Nutrition Tour with the Small Potatoes

Mon, 31 Oct 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Due to unforeseen circumstances the Glasgow Road Show on Friday 4th November has been cancelled.

However, we have added an extra date in Edinburgh. We will be at Castle Street Edinburgh on both Thursday 3rd and Friday 4th November so do please come along.

Potato Council Teams up with 'Small Potatoes'

Mon, 03 Oct 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Potato Council and TV production company Little Airplane Productions, the team behind 3^rd & Bird and The Wonder Pets, have joined forces to take ‘Small Potatoes’ on an interactive tour of the country, and introduce children and their parents to the enjoyment of potatoes this autumn. The ‘Small Potatoes’ series, which is shown on CBeebies, features four adorable animated spud stars who travel the world and sing about different topics in each episode. The programme takes young viewers on an exploration of imaginative play and builds an appreciation of a variety of music genres.

Recognising that the small potato characters held a real affinity with its young audience, Potato Council reached an agreement with Little Airplane Productions for them to be a part of its consumer roadshow and family focused activity. While parents will be invited to join a registered dietician for sessions including meal demonstrations and sampling, Ten Top Tips for happy and healthy eating, quick fire Q&As and advice. The children will get to meet two of the ‘Small Potatoes’ characters ‘Ruby’ and ‘Nate’. Here they will be encouraged to take part in sing-a-longs, games and colouring competitions. The winners will receive a specially customised ‘Photato’ image.

The costume characters and Potato Council promotional vehicle will be stopping at venues across England, Wales and Scotland during October. Fully equipped with a kitchen, classroom facilities and seating, the unit will be fully branded with a mix of ‘Small Potatoes’ and healthy eating message boards.

Caroline Evans, Potato Council Head of Marketing and Corporate Affairs, said: “We’re absolutely delighted to have the stars of ‘Small Potatoes’ joining our autumn roadshow. As parents are educated about the health benefits of fresh potatoes and inspired with tasty recipes, pre-school children will be entertained by the fun characters – after all it’s never too early to be introduced to the delights of potatoes!”

"We are thrilled to be joining forces with Potato Council by taking our Small Potatoes' stars Ruby and Nate out on the road to help encourage families to eat healthily," said Josh Selig, President of Little Airplane Productions. “Any friend of the potato is a friend of mine."

The roadshow dates are:

13th October: West Quay Retail Park, Southampton

14th October: Gun Wharf Quay, Portsmouth

20th October: Fort Shopping Park, Birmingham

21st October: Chapelfields Shopping Park, Norwich

27th October: White Rose Centre, Leeds

28th October: Monks Cross Shopping Park, York

3rd November: Castle Street, Edinburgh

4th November: Castle Street, Edinburgh*

*Please note due to unforeseen circumstances the Glasgow Road Show has been cancelled, however we will be at Castle Street Edinburgh on both the 3rd and the 4th November instead.

Meet our Master Spud winners

Thu, 30 Jun 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Recently we launched a competition to find Master Spud 2011. Contestants were required to submit their favourite potato recipes on Many Faces of Potatoes, those who had their potato recipes selected then had to battle it out with other contestants at a regional roadshows, and finally only five were selected.

Here are the lucky five winners who have not only had the pleasure of cooking for Jean-Christophe, but are currently starring in a TV advertisement with him too!

DANIEL TURNER - Duchess Potatoes

Daniel lives in Chichester and enjoys playing sports and socialising. He entered his recipe, 'Duchess Potatoes', into the Master Spud competition and was the winning contestant from the Lakeside show. Daniel finds potatoes a good source of energy before playing sport and his recipe is an ideal quick mid-week meal option; which is always a hit with his girlfriend!

FI SCIOLTI - Mashed Potato with Pesto and Mackerel Fillets

Fi lives in North Lincolnshire with her husband and four children. She entered her recipe, 'Mashed potatoes with Pesto & Fresh Mackerel' into the Master Spud competition and not only won the Manchester roadshow, but she went onto win the overall competition! She was chosen by Jean-Christophe Novelli at the end of the Potato Council's national TV advert. Potatoes are very popular in her household and are something she includes on her family's menus at least four times a week.

Fi says, “With such a large family, who all have their own busy lives, I like to ensure we all sit down together to eat our evening meal. With six different people to please, potatoes are a firm base to a huge menu of quick and easy mid-week meals. I loved taking part in the TV ad, the whole day was fantastic and to go away as the overall winner, was an absolute dream come true”.

FIONA SUTHERLAND - Creamy Cheesy Bake

Fiona lives in Newbridge, Edinburgh with her husband and two children. Her hobbies include cooking, line dancing and growing her own herbs. She entered the Master Spud competition with her recipe, ‘Creamy Cheesy Bake’ and won the Glasgow roadshow.

She’s a big fan of cooking with natural ingredients and she likes to use potatoes because they are so versatile and can accompany most dishes.

Fiona says, “I am a busy working mum, and I am always looking for new and exciting recipes to create mid-week. The great thing about potatoes is that they don’t take very long to cook and go with just about everything. I’m was so excited to make it through to the final stage of Master Spud 2011 and filming the TV ad was an amazing once-in-a-lifetime experience!”.

ANITA SHARMA-JAMES - Vegetable Pakora

Anita is a busy working mum from Hereford and Worcester, who lives with her husband and daughter. She entered the Master Spud competition with a traditional Indian recipe, ‘Delicately Spiced Pakora’ and won the Cardiff regional roadshow.

Anita says, “Potatoes are used every day in Indian Cooking, and the Delicately Spiced Pakoras are perfect straight from the oven, or even re-heated as a snack in between meals. I really want to encourage people to try cooking traditional Indian dishes from home and not just using ready-made sauces.

“Starring in the TV ad with Jean-Christophe was brilliant, I enjoyed every moment and hope that the viewers will see how simple my Delicately Spiced Pakora’s are to make and that it inspires many more home cooks to have a go themselves.”

JULIAN ROGERS - Spanish Omelette

Julian, from Northamptonshire, lives with his wife and two children and enjoys cooking and playing golf. He entered the Master Spud competition with his recipe, ‘Spanish Omelette’ and won the Birmingham roadshow.

He is passionate about cooking with fresh and natural ingredients, and wants to pass this onto his children. His recipe is a real winner with the kids, not only is it delicious straight from the pan, but any left-overs can be included into next day’s school lunch box.

Julian says, “I am a firm advocate of cooking from scratch, but I also believe that enjoyable recipes don’t necessarily need to be complicated ones. My Spanish omelette is very versatile as the ingredients can be made up from any left-overs in the fridge, and it is still ready and on the table in a flash.”

To view the Master Spud TV advert CLICK HERE

Visit the Many Faces of Potatoes website for more delicious recipes

Sing for your supper with Chip Factor!

Mon, 21 Feb 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Win a plate of chips anywhere in the world to celebrate National Chip Week 2011! The phrase ‘singing for your supper’ is going to become a reality for one lucky chip lover who is going to be munching a plate of chips at their dream destination somewhere in the world - thanks to the launch of... (dry ice and drumroll please...) ‘Chip Factor’ by X-Factor’s ‘singing dustman’, Andy Abraham.

We want people to literally sing for their chip supper and celebrate their love of chips by belting out a chip-themed song in their local chippie.

All chip lovers will have to do is sing one of Andy’s chip-themed songs in a style that is worthy of ‘Chip Factor’!
The winning entry, voted for by the public, will win the chance to eat a plate of chips anywhere in the world... all they have to do is choose their favourite chip ditty, capture it on film and then upload it onto www.lovechips.co.uk.

Chippies around the country will be hosting ‘auditions’ to encourage people to sing for their chip suppers whilst queuing for their chips. Find out where your nearest ‘audition centre’ chip shop is.

Here’s how to take part:

For chip lovers to win the chance to eat chips absolutely anywhere in the world all you have to do is:
   •   Choose your favourite chip-related song
   •   Check where your nearest participating chippie is or decide to film yourself at home
   •   Get a mate to film you singing your song
   •   Upload it onto www.lovechips.co.uk with your entry detail
   •   Get ready to pack your salt ‘n’ vinegar in your suitcase because your could be eating a plate of chips anywhere in the world!

BECOME A MASTER SPUD

Wed, 16 Feb 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Star with Jean Christophe Novelli on the Telly!

We’ve teamed up with French Fancy Jean Christophe Novelli, who has launched a competition to star along side him on national TV!

Find out more

DAWN PORTER COOKERY DEMO - Garlic, Feta and Potato Bake

Wed, 06 Oct 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Dawn Porter shows how to make one of her favourite potato dishes, from her 28 day potato plan, Garlic, Feta and Potato Bake. Watch it now!

WHEN DAWN MET WALTER

Wed, 06 Oct 2010 00:00:00 +0000

You've watched Dawn follow the potato plan over the last 28 days, now watch when Dawn met Walter Simon, our potato ambassador for Wales.

DAWN'S FULL PLAN IS RELEASED!

Wed, 22 Sep 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Here it is - Dawn Porter's full 28 day potato plan as created by top dietitian Sian Porter! Click download to get the full time-saving potato plan as a free pdf download.

The healthy potato plan details 3 meals a day and 2 snacks that will put you on the road to good health and a happy wholesome approach to food.

A potato dish a day, leaves Dawn feeling the right way

Tue, 21 Sep 2010 00:00:00 +0000

The self-professed UK’s biggest potato fan, Dawn Porter, has just finished her latest challenge, to cook and eat a potato dish every day for a month. This followed research that showed that many young adults don’t realise how quick and easy potatoes are to cook, or how nutritious they are.

So how did this girl-about-town get on when Potato Council asked her to follow a healthy eating potato plan for 28 days featuring her favourite food? When she’s not attending events, filming shows or writing columns and blogs, Dawn can be found flying between her homes in London and LA – yet she not only completed the challenge with flying colours, her diary shows she felt – and looked – better too!

According to a recent survey only 1 in 6 people would choose potatoes for a quick meal over rice or pasta and nearly half (44%) didn’t believe they could be ready in under ten minutes. In fact:

Less than a quarter of adults realised boiled (24%) or jacket (22%) potatoes can be cooked in ten minutes
The average time people claim they would spend cooking and preparing potatoes is 27.2 minutes

Which is why Dawn was only too happy to show others how easy it is to cook and enjoy potatoes in a meal every day - from spicy Mexican eggs and diced potatoes for breakfast, to Greek potato and feta salad for lunch, and good old fashioned sausage, mash and onion gravy in the evening..

Dawn said: “I want to tell the world how simple and tasty spuds are. People think potatoes are complicated but they’re really easy and quick to cook and can be made into lots of different meals. They’re a saviour for someone like me. I’ve moved home twice and had to work from two different countries in the past month and potatoes have stopped me relying on takeaways. I’ve been excited for every meal and have even impressed my friends with the dishes I’ve cooked up.”

As well as saving time, the plan, devised by top dietitian Sian Porter, had a number of health benefits too. Dawn commented: “Following the Potato Challenge has left my skin and hair feeling good, I’ve had more energy and I’ve felt bright, alert and healthy within myself. I definitely plan to continue eating this way. The great thing is I haven’t felt hungry at all as I’ve been eating proper meals that fill me up. At the same time though, I haven’t put on any weight.”

Consultant Dietitian Sian Porter added: “For Dawn this plan has meant she could look and feel great without having to fuss or spend hours shopping and cooking. Nearly half of adults (49%) think carbs make you fat but Dawn has shown that carbs, including potatoes, can be enjoyed daily without weight gain as part of a balanced diet. Since Dawn started following this plan she’s increased her intake of key vitamins and minerals found in potatoes like folate, potassium, vitamin C, iron, zinc, and other B vitamins. Because she’s been regulating what she eats she’s had constant amounts of energy, rather than highs and lows – and given her life she certainly needs it!”

Dawn has recorded her journey every step of the way. Watch her video blogs and try the potato recipes Dawn cooked for yourself!

WEEK FOUR: Dawn Does Potatoes

Tue, 31 Aug 2010 00:00:00 +0000

It's been my FINAL WEEK of my time-saving potato plan! I've loved that there's always something to eat in the fridge, I can turn potatoes into anything and as I've been cooking whole dishes, that's a nice lunch always in the fridge from the night before's dinner!

I made this quick and easy moussaka this week, a real hearty, healthy dinner. Meat and potato in their many forms must be one of the BEST combinations!

I also made these Bubble & Squeak cakes - super easy, super yummy, they look quite impressive. But they're actually no bother to make at all!

So after 4 weeks on the plan, how do I feel? To be honest it's not really the end of the plan, I'm going to carry on eating like this. I'm not going to have potato dishes every single day, but I imagine I'm going to have them almost everyday in some capacity.

It's been really fun to be on the plan, knowing that I'm being really healthy. I have not been hungry, my skin's really good and I feel really healthy. The best thing about potatoes, and I hope I've proved this over the last 4 weeks, is that they're just so versatile, you can have a light meal, to a main meal, to a side dish or anything. And they're just so healthy!

Potatoes are IMPRESSIVE too - I have spent very little time cooking and turned out some really impressive food! So really high in my boyfriend's good books at the moment!

My relationship with potatoes is going to go on, and on! I shall continue to love them and eat them and make tasty recipes with them.

They're just so easy and so yummy, go on!