Mashed Potatoes

I’m trying to mix it up this week and have some main dishes and some sides.  Who doesn’t like mashed potatoes?  It is the ultimate comfort food and always makes me think of the winter holidays.  My parents each have fantastic recipes for this dish but those recipes are definitely ‘sometimes’ recipes.  So, when Dan brought home 10 lbs of potatoes (for $1.27!) we needed to get creative and stay healthy.

We found this Everyday mashed potatoes recipe in the most recent issue of Martha Stewart’s Every Day Food magazine.  I got this magazine for free for doing three reviews of my wedding venues on weddingwire.com.  What a great deal!

Now onto the recipe. 

Ingredients:

• 2 pounds potatoes (yukon gold recommended or russet baking potatoes) Peel and cut the potatoes into 1/2 inch pieces.
• salt and peppers
• 1/4 c cold unsalted butter, cut into pieces.
• 1 1/4 c milk, warmed

Instructions:

• In a large pot, cover potatoes with 2 inches with salted water.  Bring to a boil; reduce to a simmer and cook until potatoes are tender.  This should take about 12 minutes.  Drain completely and return the potatoes to the pot.  Mash the potatoes with a fork or potato masher (or kitchen aid mixer or a potato ricer) until they reach the desired texture.
• Turn the burner on low and add butter and stir until melted.  Continue to stir constantly, until potatoes are stiff.  This should take about a minute.  Gradually stir in one cup of milk.  Add the final 1/4 c of milk if it is needed.  Season potatoes with salt and pepper

Nutritionals: Calories: 200, Fat: 9.2, Carb: 28.9, Fiber: 3.1, Protein: 5.8.

I eventually added a wedge of laughing cow cheese.  These potatoes are a great plain canvas for any kinds of seasonings.  And yes, these are just as good the next day!

What are your favorite additions to mashed potatoes?