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Overloading the Machine
Smashed Potatoes
Based on the Boston Globe Magazine 2005 July 31
Serves 4.
- Olive oil (for sprinkling)
- 14 2-inch yellow or red potatoes, scrubbed
- 2 cups soy milk
- Salt, to taste
Set the oven at 450 degrees. Have on hand a 9-inch baking dish. Oil the dish.
In a large saucepan, combine the potatoes, milk, a large pinch of salt, and enough water to cover the potatoes. Bring to a boil, lower the heat, and simmer for 15 minutes or until the potatoes are tender.
Using a slotted spoon, transfer the potatoes to a large plate. With a fork, smash each potato so it is flattened but still very lumpy. Layer the potatoes in the baking dish with oil.
Cook the potatoes in the oven for 15 minutes or until the top begins to brown and form a crust. Serve at once.
You see, I consider that a man's brain originally is like a little empty
attic, and you have to stock it with such furniture as you choose. A fool
takes in all the lumber of every sort he comes across, so that the knowledge
which might be useful to him gets crowded out, or at best is jumbled up with
a lot of other things, so that he has difficulty in laying his hands upon it.
Now the skilful workman is very careful indeed as to what he takes into his
brain-attic. He will have nothing but the tools which may help him in doing
his work, but of these he has a large assortment, and all in the most perfect
order. It is a mistake to think that that little room has elastic walls and
can distend to any extent. Depend upon it there comes a time when for every
addition of knowledge you forget something that you knew before. It is of
the highest importance, therefore, not to have useless facts elbowing out
the useful ones.
-- Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, "A Study in Scarlet"
This page was last modified on 2011 December 20.