I am haunted by the memory of a potato sandwich. Until now, I had never tried to eat one. But before I shared this story with you, I had to know what a mashed potato sandwich tasted like. Because of the haunting. Maybe I can clear my conscience.
Back in the economically challenged decade following the Great Depression, public swimming was allowed at Horseshoe Island, on the city side of the North West Arm, in Halifax. The water was considered safe back then, and without a membership at one of the private boat clubs, where was a young girl to swim?
One day I met this girl. Although I don't remember her name, we had fun together, splashing around in the water, and then sunning ourselves before we took another dip.
Lunchtime came and I said I had to go home. But because she had walked a very long way – from the harbour side of the Commons, all the way west on Quinpool Road – she had brought her lunch. I lived in the city's west end, and although it was also a fairly long walk, I was expected to be home for lunch.
She begged me not to go. She would share her sandwich. So, I lingered while she went up to the changing rooms to fetch it. All I needed was one look at that sandwich.
And this is where the haunting begins. I had never before seen a sandwich made of cold mashed potatoes between two slices of white bread. I hoped it wasn't obvious when I turned up a finicky nose, but I said I had better go home.
I don't think I was a food snob. I just didn't like many foods. And that day, just by looking at it, I decided a plain mashed potato sandwich was high on the list of things to avoid.
I have often thought about this and still feel shamed by refusing the generous offer of a girl who probably had little enough food, yet was willing to share what she had.
Is she out there somewhere reading this? If so, I can only say I wish I had stayed, even if it meant eating cold mashed potatoes on dry bread.
So, it's in her memory that I offer this potato menu.
There are lots of delicious options-good news, now that the potato is back in favour after being shunned by low-carb diets. To lose a few pounds, I did my own share of shunning. But I missed my potatoes, served hot in soup and side dishes, and yes, even cold, as a sweet treat. Is it any surprise that such a friendly and versatile vegetable grows in such abundance here in the Atlantic Provinces?
Just skip the sandwich.