>>Wait a minute - England is not known for having delicious food but every potato dish you have mentioned sounds absolutely scrumptious! I could go home and fix nothing but potato dishes for a week!
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>Oh yeah, and here's one of my favorites.
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>Potato kugel (pudding)
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>
>Grate a few potatoes.
>Add about half as many eggs (or a little more).
>Add flour or matzo meal to make a mixture that holds together.
>Add salt and pepper.
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>Pour into a baking dish that has been coated with oil. Bake at 350 for about an hour, longer for more, maybe shorter for less.
>

Sounds like a terrific diet! Or maybe something to insulate your attic with.

All right, I'm through.

Actually, no, I will add one more thing. When my daughters and I were in Maine a couple of weeks ago my dad took us to breakfast at Espan's, the place where he eats breakfast 5 or 6 days a week. It's a bit of a greasy spoon and is owned by a Greek couple my dad has known for over 40 years. My brother described it aptly -- it's like Cheers. Everybody knows your name and a lot more. The conversation flows in all directions and there are lots of laughs. Anyway, they make hash browns the way God intended, diced leftover potatoes with seasoning. Not those limp stringy things most restaurants pass off as hash browns.