Simple Mashed Potatoes

Olives are one of the oldest foods and thought to have originated in Crete or Syria between five and seven thousand years ago. The olive tree has provided food,since ancient time, also provided fuel, timber and medicine for many civilizations, and has been regarded as a symbol of peace. The venerable oil of the olive has been consumed since as early as 3,000 B.C. 


It's unknown how olive trees arrived in the America, but it's clear that the time was much later, during the 1500 - 1700's. Spanish colonizers of N. America definitely brought olive trees across the Atlantic Ocean during the 1500 - 1700's, and while some may have been brought directly to the region which is now California, olive trees could also have been brought to the region from Mexico, where cultivation by the Spanish was already underway.

Olive oil has been and still is a staple in the diet of many Mediterranean countries. The recent discovery that the Mediterranean diet, which features the oil, may be linked to a reduced risk of heart disease and other health conditions has caused olive oil to become very popular in the America in the past few decades. Today, much of the commercial cultivation of olive oil is still centered in the Mediterranean region in such countries as Spain. Italy, and Greece.
Research Source: WH Foods 

Simple and tasty mashed potatoes. Perfect for any dinner table.

Simple Mashed Potatoes

Recipe by Christine Lamb (Christine's Pantry), 2015

Ingredients:

1 pound potatoes, chopped

1 teaspoon salt

1 tablespoon (or more) extra virgin olive oil

1 teaspoon garlic powder

salt and pepper, to taste

Directions:

In medium saucepan, cook the potatoes in salted water, until tender, about 15 to 17 minutes. Drain potatoes. Return to pot.

Add extra virgin olive oil, garlic powder, salt and pepper. Using a potato masher, mash potatoes until blended. Add more extra virgin olive oil, until desired consistency. Taste and salt and pepper, if needed, Serve and enjoy!