I quite expect that everyone who has a wood-burning stove, of a similar design, will do as we always do; and bake potatoes either in the fire box itself, or below amongst the ashes (as here).
We are now well into stew/casserole weather, and slow cooked dishes bubble away gently (in cast iron Le Creuset pots) on the top of the stove; whilst below the fire itself, their accompanying spuds bake beneath the embers.
Foil wrapped potatoes produce soft skinned spuds; unwrapped produces crisp. Either way, they are a very welcome, Euro-saving, bi-product of our stove.
During the worst of winter I have even been known to take a baked potato with me, in my pocket, whilst walking the dogs. Not only did it warm my hands, but was a fantastic hot snack whilst trudging through snow.
Are they done? Supper time, methinks.
Foil wrapped potatoes produce soft skinned spuds; unwrapped produces crisp. Either way, they are a very welcome, Euro-saving, bi-product of our stove.
During the worst of winter I have even been known to take a baked potato with me, in my pocket, whilst walking the dogs. Not only did it warm my hands, but was a fantastic hot snack whilst trudging through snow.
Are they done? Supper time, methinks.
Must try that next winter in my cast iron pot bellied stove.
ReplyDeleteThe humble baked potato is my favourite food....I am a real carbohydrate kid, with cheese, bread, pasta and potato being all I need to sustain me, and the ones under your stove look so inviting. A wood burning stove is on my wish list now.....Dear Santa........
ReplyDeleteBaked spuds are magnificent food, and the recipe is so simple!
ReplyDeleteGosh - never thought of doing that! Will definitely give it a go next time we fire up our Jotul.
ReplyDeleteHow funny you should do a post on this.
ReplyDeleteI have just read the book of short stories by H.E.Bates called 'My Uncle Silas' and Uncle Silas cooks his spuds in the ashes under the fire, it prompted me to give it a try .
He also had a liking for Cowslip wine, I think you would enjoy the book, if you haven't already read it.
Briony
x
Baked potato done this way is the BEST. Even our AGA doesn't do them as well. I think a perfect baked potato would be my chosen last meal.
ReplyDeleteLike you, my nan used to walk the 2 miles to school with a hot potato in her pocket to keep her hands warm and then eat it for lunch. Great idea.
Delicious...love the idea of taking one when you go out for a walk
ReplyDeleteThat ounds lovely Cro! I wonder if we could bake some in the ash box of our wood furnace....hmmm...
ReplyDeleteI'm sure you could, as long as it's not TOO hot.
DeleteNecessity is the mother of invention, and this is what I am doing tonight: baking potatoes in my pot iron stove while a coq au vin rests on top...
DeleteWe also had some EXACTLY like the picture above last night.... with a 'sort of' Coq au vin. Nothing better!
DeleteIngenious, as always Cro!
ReplyDeleteNo wood stove here but I always toss in a couple of spuds when there is meat roasting in the oven.
ReplyDeleteThe dogs haven't tried to run off with one yet, have they?
ReplyDeleteone could also tuck a couple of foiled wrapped hot spuds into the bed at night....
ReplyDeleteThat's a brilliant idea Cro. I hadn't thought of it but foil wrapped spuds in the Rayburn ash pan from now on to feed the horde when they descend. Trouble is spuds are like gold nuggets here because of the wet weather and they cost the earth. Perhaps half one each - no beggar it - it's Christmas
ReplyDeleteI come from a long line of spud loving Irish who never let the potato alone long enough to warm the hands. They were usually eaten on the way out the door which is why we always seem to have cold hands and big bellies.
ReplyDeleteA t'other end of the Earth we still like our spuds for Christmas dinner. Many people get them in the ground as early as possible in the spring and then they have a 'tickling' session to get enough for the table on the 25th...Mmmm, tiny, new potatoes with mint and butter... !
ReplyDeleteFunny you posted this, Cro, i was wondering if i could do just this very thing with the woodstove here. I didn't dare try it with the coal stove we had, as the fire ran too hot.
ReplyDeleteWhen we were kids, we'd make a small fire, put the potoates in (usually wrapped in foil) and would go sledding or skating for a bit. We'd take turns feeding or stoking the fire, and when we were done with the skating or sledding, we'd all have potatoes to eat. They were most scrumptious.
Awww, now that brings back memories. My Mum used to bake potatoes in our built-in fireplace. She did onions too!
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