Year of the potato 

Potatoes must be doing a pretty good job, since the United Nations has deemed 2008, “The International Year of the Potato, calling the potato – “The Hidden Treasure”. They chose the potato for several reasons: 
1) Food prices are soaring worldwide and global attention is turning to this age-old crop that could help ease the strain of food price inflation.
2) The potato is already an integral part of the global food system. It is the world's number one non-grain food commodity, with production reaching a record 320 million tons in 2007. Potato consumption is expanding strongly in developing countries, which now account for more than half of the global harvest and where the potato’s ease of cultivation and high energy content have made it a valuable cash crop for millions of farmers.
3) The potato is not a globally traded commodity. Only a fraction of total production enters foreign trade, and potato prices are determined usually by local production costs, not the vagaries of international markets. It is, therefore, a highly recommended food security crop that can help low-income farmers and vulnerable consumers ride out current turmoil in world food supply and demand.
4) Potatoes are “Food of the Future”. The International Year of the Potato is raising awareness of the key role played by the "humble tuber" in agriculture, the economy and world food security.
5) Potatoes feed the hungry. The potato should be a major component in strategies aimed at providing nutritious food for the poor and hungry.
6) Potatoes are good for you. Potatoes are rich in carbohydrates, making them a good source of energy. They have the highest protein content (around 2.1 percent on a fresh weight basis) in the family of root and tuber crops, and protein of a fairly high quality, with an amino-acid pattern that is well matched to human requirements. They are also very rich in vitamin C - a single medium-sized potato contains about half the recommended daily intake - and contain a fifth of the recommended daily value of potassium.

Here’s an interesting Potato Pudding recipe from South Africa:

Ingredients (6 servings)

2lbpotatoes                                                                                  

6 well-beaten eggs

Sugar to taste

Salt                                                                                          

Essence of vanilla, almond or lemon

Butter

Grated nutmeg

Preparation
Boil the potatoes, then mash. Add the eggs, sugar and a pinch of salt to taste. Flavor with vanilla, chopped almonds or lemon essence. Put dabs of butter on top and finish off with grated nutmeg. Bake the pudding until light brown www.potato2008.org .