POTATOES WITH PANCETTA

HOLY CROW!  Did it rain yesterday!  I thought we would float away.  And thunder and lightning!  Just as I was feeling sorry for us in California, I stopped to watch the really horrible happenings in Haiti.  And now another 6.1 after shock.  I realized that our rain was really minor in the great scope of things, and how lucky we are, and how much we have to be thankful for in this country.  Please do whatever you can to help the situation in Haiti.  The smallest donation can help.

Now onto the recipe of the day.  This is just a simple way to fix potatoes.  My Grandmother made this a lot for us.  She mostly made it in the morning before she and my Grandfather and my Dad and Uncles went to pick the vegetables and take them out on the truck.  You can make it to accompany any meal.  If you love potatoes, you will love this dish.

POTATOES WITH PANCETTA

4 or 5 Yukon Gold Potatoes
Pancetta (have your grocer slice a 1/4" round of Pancetta) or if you have a Trader Joe's nearby, they sell it already cut up
1 onion
1 green pepper diced
1/2 tsp hot red pepper or to your taste
about a 1/4 to 1/2 cup of chicken broth
olive oil

Peel the potatoes and boil until fork tender.  Chop the onion and the pepper and cut the pancetta into small pieces. (diced)  In a skillet put about 4 or 5 tablespoons of olive oil, when hot, saute the onions, the peppers, and the pancetta until the pancetta is crisp. Add the hot pepper.  Drain the potatoes and give them a little mash with a fork.  Add the chicken broth to the potatoes and mix and then add them to the skillet.  Add just a pinch of salt (pancetta is a little salty) and some freshly ground pepper.  Mix it all together.  Cook until the bottom is crispy and nicely browned and turn out onto a platter.

Great in the morning with eggs or as a side dish for dinner.  Mangia!

In those days living with my Grandparents, we didn't have much money, but we always had plenty of good food, thanks to our vegetable garden.  I guess that is why I love any kind of vegetable.  But even in Italy, my Mother and Grandmother always said, vegetables are the star of the table!

Thanks for stopping in today
Ciao
Grayce