Ring In the Holiday Season with Roots

DENVER, Nov. 16, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Roots: The Definitive Compendium with More than 225 Recipes by award-winning cookbook author Diane Morgan is available now, just in time for the holiday season.  Roots is dedicated to Morgan's love of root vegetables and features a chapter focusing entirely on America's favorite root vegetable: potatoes. 

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20121116/CG15077)

"When you combine the amazing variety of potatoes available at the market, with how versatile and easy they are to prepare, and then add how nutrient-dense and low in calories potatoes are, you have a real winner in the vegetable family," Morgan explains.

Nutrient-dense they are: a single, skin-on medium-sized (5.3 ounce) potato has just 110 calories, more potassium than a banana and almost half your daily value of vitamin C (45 percent) and zero fat, sodium or cholesterol.

The United States potato industry was delighted to learn Morgan is a big fan of the spud and asked her to be one of their ambassadors for "Real Moms, Real Meals," a Facebook community where moms are encouraged to share real dinnertime solutions.

"As a mom of two myself, I am honored to have been selected as a 'Real Mom' and look forward to helping many moms become inspired to put a twist on their traditional holiday menus this season," said Morgan.

As part of the partnership, Morgan shared one of her favorite potato recipes from the new cookbook, Suneeta's Potato Chaat with Cilantro-Mint Chutney.  Chaat is a traditional Indian dish and perfect for bringing to a holiday gathering or even for serving as a pre-holiday meal appetizer, according to Morgan.

To chat with Morgan live, visit the Potatoes, Taters and Spuds Facebook page on Monday, November 26 at 5 p.m. PST/8 p.m. EST. Morgan will make a guest appearance on the U.S. Potato Board's Facebook page to share some of her new recipes along with make-ahead appetizer ideas and classic holiday fare for those upcoming family gatherings and tree-trimming parties. To join the chat, simply "like" the Potatoes, Taters & Spuds Facebook page and begin posting your questions and comments on the page wall at 5 p.m. PST/8 p.m. EST on November 26. Click here to RSVP today.

Also live on the Potatoes, Taters and Spuds Facebook page is a "Hip Holiday Hostess" sweepstakes in which users are invited to solve puzzles for the chance to win one of three holiday entertaining prize packs.

Visit www.potatogoodness.com for hundreds of healthy and creative potato recipes and to sign-up to receive our weekly recipe email to receive a new recipe in your email in-box each week.

About the United States Potato Board
The United States Potato Board (USPB) is the nation's potato marketing and research organization.  Based in Denver, Colorado, the USPB represents more than 2,500 potato growers and handlers across the country. The USPB was established in 1971 by a group of potato growers to promote the benefits of eating potatoes. Today, as the largest vegetable commodity board, the USPB is proud to be recognized as an innovator in the produce industry and dedicated to positioning potatoes as a nutrition powerhouse—truly, goodness unearthed. 

SOURCE United States Potato Board