My dear friend Mara is going through a rough patch right now. A few days ago, she asked me for two things: 1) Prayer for her and her family and 2) A guest post.
That was the least thing I could do for her.
When my friends are going through tough times, I’m always at a loss of what to say. I’ve botched up my words too many times to risk saying something totally insensitive or inappropriate. It is during those times that I feel helpless, and I feel helpless thinking about how helpless my friend must be as well.
And that’s why…all I can do, is pray. There are times when words mean little. There are times when words are just extraneous. These are the times when just a kind gesture—be it a warm hug, a thoughtful card, or just sitting next to the person and listening—will do.
My guest post was about making the perfect hash browns.
I chose that specifically because I have a special affinity for potatoes. Not just the taste, but the very virtue this humble tuber seem to represent for me.
I admire the plain broadness of a potato. It’s so bland-looking, that it doesn’t even deserve a contemptuous remark. It’s not even the least bit scandalous like bacon—just a dull-colored, misshaped mound sitting patiently under the earth, waiting to be dug out and tossed into a sack.
A potato does not ever scream out for attention. If you want attention-whores, just look at beets with their gorgeous colors and stripes. Look at asparagus and its elegant angles, and pomegranate for its sensuous crimson nectar.
But a potato? There ain’t nothing sexy or appealing about its looks. Even its taste…is plain. Simple. Utterly unadorned.
Yet the humble potato is the most common staple in households all around the world. It rarely plays center-stage, but it is what forms the base of a good vegetable soup, or a lovely starchy side to a medium-rare steak, or the perfect utensil to lick up some ketchup.
It’s underestimated, indeed, and lurks around in the background to many meals. But its presence is necessary to complete a meal. It may not sprout out pizzazz and wonder, but it certainly provides comfort, nutrition, and warm familiarity.
And that’s what I want to do for all my friends who are going through some personal trials right now. Be a potato. Be a friend whose silent presence can bring comfort and love. Because good friends don’t always have to be fun and loud. 
Do check out my guest post at Mara’s blog. I highlighted the natural, wonderful essence of a potato by making hash browns out of it. And not just any hash brown, no no. It is the perfect hash browns. Because it was made with patience and love.
This is for you, my friend. 
Perfect Hash Browns
from Garlic and Sapphires by Ruth Reichl 
- Lots of starchy potatoes like Russet. I used about 7 medium-large ones.
- 6 tablespoons butter (unsalted!)
- 1/2 small onion, diced finely
- liberal amounts of coarse salt and fresh-ground black pepper
Boil the potatoes for about 10-12 minutes, until they are cooked half-way. Poke to make sure it’s not mushy inside.
Let them cool for a bit, and then chop them up into 1-inch cubes. I neglected to let them cool, but I did enjoy the steam facial: 
Heh heh heh. Okay, after the potato steam facial, melt the butter on a large skillet over medium heat. Then remove 1/4 of the melted butter into a small bowl. I trust that you know not to toss it out…the precious butter will be used later.
Throw the potatoes into skillet, and use a spatula to press down on them, forming them into a flat cake. Keep pressing down on them to cohere them together, while running through the sides so that they don’t stick.
Let the potatoes cook for about 8 minutes until golden and brown underneath. Meanwhile, scatter the diced onions on top. Sprinkle with a small handful of coarse salt and black pepper.
Remove the skillet from heat, cover with a large plate and let the potatoes cook in its own steam for about 2 minutes.
Then, hold the plate and the skillet together and invert so that the potatoes fall into the plate, still forming the shape of a cake. Return skillet to the stove. Pour the remaining butter back into the skillet over medium heat.
Carefully slide the whole cake back into the skillet. Season with salt and pepper again. Cook for a few more minutes until a nice golden crust is formed underneath.
Serve immediately, and enjoy! 
That’s just the recipe. But check out Mara’s blog for the step-by-step pictorial. 
Yes, more pictures of the wonderful, awesome potatoes. 
You know, potatoes can be kind of sexy. I think after a bite of these perfect hash browns, you would agree.
Hugs, love, and prayer to every one of you who needs them right now.
Question of the Day: When you’re feeling down…what is the best way to cheer you up? And what is your favorite potato dish?
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{ 36 comments… read them below or add one }
These sound delicious! Potatoes are one of my most favorite food. I love just a sweet potato roasted at 400 for 2 hours so it gets nice and soft and sweet.
And to cheer me up, a night on the couch with the remote is just what the doctor ordered
Potatoes are the best! I love them so much even though they are so simple. Your recipe looks gorgeous and you are such a truly kind friend. Praying for you, Mara.
It really can be so hard to know what to say or do for those we care for when they’re in need. Sometimes just letting them know you’re there on their terms works. One of my dear friends recently lost her husband. How do you even begin to try to console??? I just let her know I was there when she was ready to talk and she did on her terms.
While I”m utterly obsessed with sweet potatoes now, there’s nothing quite like the a comforting bowl of my grandmothers homemade potato soup. It’s creamy, salty, and almost perfect for a cold winter night! Heck I’d eat it cold too
You are wonderful!
I don’t think I’ve ever explicitly asked anyone for this, but when I’m really feeling bad, all I truly want is someone to sit with me and hold my hand. That’s it. It’s amazing how little we need in comparison to the effort some people make to cheer us up.
Potatoes are not necessarily sexy, and they never make me feel sexy. But I love them. Boy do I adore a good potato dish. I don’t necessarily have a favorite one, but I do love good old roasted red potatoes. They are always nice and sweet. And of course, really delicious french fries are always excellent. Sophia, you are such a great person and a great friend to so many people.
I must try this- I LOVE potato hashes and it happens to be my favorite way to serve them.
Hope Mara cheers up soon and I’m sure she’s grateful that you were able to guest post for her. When I’m upset, it always cheers me up to go see my horse, play with animals, go for a walk, or talk to my family or boyfriend. It’s amazing how much better you feel when just talking to someone (or something in the case of the animals) and getting some fresh air during time for yourself.
Best way to cheer up is with a warm cup of coffee while chatting with the old men at the coffee shop. Best potato dish? It’s a tie between Utz’s Dark Russet Potato chips and a really good load of country potato bread
I’ve never had hash browns and you’ve just made me question why! They look great! I am partial to a boring old baked potato, topped with cheese and baked beans. Also am in love with mashed potato. I could happily eat two bowls for dinner.
I hope Mara feels better soon, she has a wonderful friend in you.
when i was in elementary school fried potatoes were one of the only things i knew how to cook. dice up leftover potatoes, put them in a pan with margarine and garlic salt and i was set!
i had a friend who always thought it was weird how i’d make *food* not just a pjb or some crackers for a snack until i made her fried potatoes. after that, it was all over. fried potatoes for every playdate!
Since I’m allergic/intolerant to just about everything, I can honestly say that the potato is my best friend. I love it! I just like to dice it up, cover in olive oil, and roast for 20 minutes or so. Then I just eat them with ketchup.
I hope that things get better for your friend Mara!
I adore roasted sweets myself… but you make these seemingly ordinary russets look downright Heavenly. And I must say (and I’ll probably tell you every time I comment or read your blog) that you’re writing is wonderful.
I saw this on Mara’s site and drooled!!! You’re brilliant lady.
Seafood always cheers me up. If not, at least I can take my anger out on tearing the heck out of their shells to devour that yummy, juicy, sweetness. That must be partly why I like seafood so much, there must be a hidden beasty savage in me
Going over to check out your guest post right now. Hope your friend feels better soon. Thoughts and prayers to her.
I gotta say, my favorite potato dish is oven fries…with plenty of ketchup. YUM.
This looks SO good!
So sorry to hear that your friend is going through tough times right now. My thoughts and prayers are with her and her family.
I think my pick me up is listening to good music.
Oh girl you are seriously the best friend a girl could have, I’m sure! (And since you’re one of my best blogging friends, I can say this with authority.) You can be my potato any time you want. Unless, of course, I’m planning on making this dish. In which case, I would feel really bad if I had to eat you. So maybe you could be something else that day. Like a kabocha.
being an idahoan myself, i too appreciate the potato. i love this dish, it looks so buttery and crackling!
What a beautifully written post.
I love potatoes for their versatility. I love them mashed, roasted, fried, boiled, baked, and even raw. I have also heard that potatoes are the best nutritional bang for your buck. They really are amazing little wonders.
My favourite potato dish is my great-grandma’s potato soup. She made it during the depression, so it is cheap, and has minimal ingredients (mostly things she grew/had on the farm).
When I am upset, the best way to cheer my up is to invite me to a dinner party
I think those potatoes look ridiculously incredibleee!!
I love hashbrowns. Which reminds me, I need to buy potatoes.
When i’m down, love cheers me up. You totally were and still are awesome with all the health woes with my dad. And family guy helps to….
Ruth is one of my idols. That woman KNOWS her food!
Potatoes are very humble, but I honestly dont think they are that boring on their own. I love yam skins on their lonesome. My all time favorite potato dish would be belgian french fries! yes, there IS a difference between with belgian ones! they fry it twice in certain temps. You know what vegetable is pretentious? Kale! it always takes up so much room and its abused amidst the “health food blogs”! lol!
potatoes are soo underrated! i love them potatoes but i guess koreans are also known to love potatoes they do sell it on the street just roasted.
I don’t like potatoes, believe it or not! The only kind I can stomach is mashed!
I LOVE potatoes….mashed, baked, hash browns, fries…
Potatoes are literally in their own food group in
Yours look sexy, I agree haha!
my diet! I love twice-baked, mashed, hashbrowns, skins,
fries–EVERYTHING potato!
I LOVE potatoes in every shape and form. But I took a LONG break from them. Growing up, I ate soooo many potatoes that I couldn’t stand them for at least 10 years after moving out…
I love hash browns prepared just as you have them. I love when my neighbor gives us potatoes form his garden and fresh eggs from their chickens, because there is nothing better than fresh eggs and hash browns.
This was the first hash brown recipe I ever made and it got me hooked!
“be a potato” – i seriously enjoy this advice.
my favourite potato dish.. i don’t really like potatoes, but i do like spicy fries.
Oh yum! The best tip J taught me about potatoes is to bang them around in the pot a bit after you boil them and cut them up. This makes them all flourly and then they get SUPER crispy!
Wow, I haven’t been here in a WHILE. Phew, sorry about that
Anyway–my brothers love hash browns. I don’t like greasy food though, and since that’s how my mom usually makes it…rawr. But yours look like something worth whipping up
They seem heartier!
Hash browns for me and hash browns for you are very different things. Our hash browns usually look like this: http://www.lutosa.com/files/produits/catalogue/assiettes/large/hash-brown.jpg – it’s the same thing really, but yours always seem a lot more rustic. I think the US also calls them ‘home fries’? Or am I confused?
You are too sweet for doing this post for Mara. Sad I’m missing you this time on my trip, but soon we’ll get to see each other, my darling, soon!
Jax x
Yum, nothing beats a good hash, and it certainly looks like you have considerable talent in that direction. With your love of potatoes have you checked out The Daily Spud, a blogger from Ireland that shares your fondness?
Those definitely look like the perfect hash browns. how nice of you to share them!
This is similar to a way that I make spicy baked fries. I use lots of cumin and chtipole chili pepper, and it tastes great on sweet potato and or yam fries too. I will have to try your version especially with the mustard, yum!