A+ Irish Potatoes

Everyone knows the Irish love their potatoes. A common Irish potato dish is Colcannon. Oh my, it is so delicious and makes a perfect side dish for any meal.  This is true comfort food. If you are a gravy fan, gravy goes well with this potato dish too, but I like it without gravy. Colcannon is so tasty you really don’t need anything else to dress-up the flavor. You might be asking what makes this dish so good, and I am almost afraid to tell you. So get ready, and keep an open mind. Typical Irish Colcannon is made with potatoes and kale. Don’t shut down your computer because I said kale. Be brave and try it. Think your kids won’t like the idea of kale? We know kale is super healthy so call this dish Speckled Potatoes, or something else appealing to get your kids to dig in. Cabbage or spinach can be substituted for the kale. I like to keep the kale roughly chopped but you can finely chop it for a smoother product.  I love serving Colcannon with my favorite meatloaf.  However you serve it, just give it a try and get ready to add A+ Irish Potatoes to your list of favorites.

4-cups potatoes (I like to use a variety of potatoes for color.)

2-cups coarsely chopped kale

1 medium chopped onion

1 large clove of garlic

2-tablespoons olive oil

½-cup fat-free milk

1/2–teaspoon black pepper

¾-teaspoon salt

Scrub your potatoes and cut into large chunks, leaving the peel on. (You may peel the potatoes if you must!) Cook the potatoes in salted, boiling water until tender.  Remove the potatoes and place in large bowl.  In a large pan heat the oil on medium heat. Add the chopped onion and cook 3 minutes.  Add the diced garlic to the onion and cook an additional 2 minutes.  Add the black pepper and salt.  Separate the kale leaves from the stems and roughly chop.  Add the kale to the onion mixture and cook until the kale is soft and has reduced in size, about 3-4 minutes. Add the milk and the cooked potatoes to the kale mixture.  Using a large fork or spoon roughly mash the potatoes and kale mixture together until you reach your desired consistency.  This can be served mashed coarsely or smooth. Serve warm and enjoy!