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Potato cakes Quarantine

'Boxty in a griddle boxty in a pan, if you can.t make boxty you'll never keep a man'



In these dark days of quarantine food can be both a tension as people worry about (a mostly intact) supply chain and  a comfort home cooking is one of the few activities that is mostly unaffected.  as such i am trowing open this blog to the public when it was previously a hidden archive of family and favorite recipes being collected in anticipation of a heartwarming (yet crucially cheap) Christmas gift for the family. 

The following recipe is a lovely brunch constructed by my brother and me. it consists of potato cakes (boxty pancakes, tatty scones, potato farl or any one of many names)

The potato cakes  

If you want it to be more of a breakfast than a brunch I'd suggest making the potato cakes up the night before and reheating them in the oven.

Four potatoes (cut in half)
One cup of self raising flour (don't worry too much)
Butter (3 teaspoons)
Chives (a few, finely chopped)

  1. Boil your potatoes in their skins until they are tender.  Then drain them and leave them to steam and cool. 
  2. Once your potatoes are cool mash them with the melted butter. 
  3. Mash in your flour and chives. This is your last chance for seasoning so salt and white pepper here folks.  
  4. Combine until everything is incorporated.
  5. Turn the dough out onto a floured surface and kneed it until you have a cohesive if soft dough (less than five minuets)
  6. Roll into a quarter inch thickness then cut into your desired shapes. 
  7. Dust them with flour then fry them gently on a griddle or skillet on each until they are browned on either side. 
  8. Put in an oven at about 200 degrees. for around 15 minuets     

The spinach

Spinach (fresh or frozen)
Butter
Garlic (minced)
Nutmeg (a fair gating)


  1. Wilt the spinach in the butter along with the garlic. 
  2. Add a sprinkle of nutmeg and salt to taste. 

The dressing 

Olive oil (one part)
Pickle juice (one part)
Lemon (half of one)
Sugar (a teaspoon)
Chives (chopped)
Mustard (a teaspoon)
salt and pepper

  1. This is difficult to give proportions for mix the ingredients together in a jar sake it up. 
  2. taste and adjust proportions until it tastes good. 

Construct the dish with potato cakes on the bottom, followed by the spinach, then an egg (poached or fried) top it off with a drizzle of the dressing.





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