Mashed Potatoes: A Creamy Specialty Of Every Household

One of the best and most popular side dishes to the dinner table has been the mashed potato

. Mashed potatoes have come down through generations and has even had a major role in a movie, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, and what would Thanksgiving be without them. The are supposed to present as smooth and creamy but most of the time they may have some delicious lumps of potato and no one seems to mind.

Mashed potatoes can be simple with just a bit of butter, milk, salt and pepper added or they can be a little more complicated with garlic, green onions, or cheese added. Some recipes get very complicated adding a variety of other vegetables, meat product like bacon, and gourmet cheese and then they are baked again making the twice baked potato that is actually mashed potatoes heated up twice.

There are even instant mashed potatoes, although not nearly as tasty as real ones. They haven't been around all that long either being patented in'62 by Canadian scientist Edward Asselbergs. He invented the process of dehydrating mashed potatoes that is used today even though some earlier methods were patented in'12 and'54. Today we can even go to the grocery store and purchase tubs of real potatoes that have been already mashed for us and all we have to do is heat them up in the microwave.

A method of making mashed potatoes is to just boil them and mash it with a fork adding only butter. People that like this method enjoy the true flavor of the potato and say that processing it in a mixer damages the potato making it too sticky and starchy. Lots of people like that sticky and starchy texture and this is the way they make them. Some people mash with a wire masher first and then add things to the potatoes or they put them in an electric mixer. An old way to make them is to use an old fashion ricer which is a metal basket with holes in it with a handle and blade. You put the potatoes in the basket and turn the handle which moves the blade squishing the potatoes through the small holes in the basket. The bi product can be whipped up easily making a very smooth mashed potato.

A simple mashed potato recipe uses russet potatoes but other good potatoes to use for mashed are Idaho and Yukon Gold. The ingredients needed to make Simple Mashed Potatoes are:Two and one half pounds potatoes, peeled and cut in chunksOne fourth cup milk, One fourth cup butter, One half teaspoon salt, One half teaspoon black pepper. Instructions are as follows: Place potato chunks in 4 quarts of water and bring to a boil over medium high heat. Once it boils reduce heat to medium low and cover the pot. Let it simmer for about 15 to 20 minutes or until poked with a fork the potatoes feel soft. Drain potatoes and transfer to a large bowl and mash with a wire masher or place in a mixer bowl and whip them for a few minutes. Add milk, butter, salt and pepper and mix until potatoes become smooth and creamy. This will serve about six people.

Try this more complicated method of making mashed potatoes if you are in the mood for something different using cheese and sour cream. Ingredients include 8 to 10 potatoes that have been peeled and cut in chunks measuring about 3 pounds, eight ounce package of cream cheese that has come to room temperature, half of a sixteen ounce tub of sour cream, six tablespoons of butter, one fourth teaspoon of garlic salt, one fourth teaspoon of pepper and one half cup of Cheddar cheese that has been shredded. Place the potatoes in a large pan and cover them with water. Bring them to a boil then simmer for about 20 minutes or until the potato is soft when pierced with a fork. Drain them well and put them in the bowl to your mixer. Add the cream cheese, sour cream, and butter and mix on high. Add the garlic salt and pepper and mix very well until a light and fluffy consistency. You have the choice to add the Cheddar and whip it in or just sprinkle it over top and let it melt over the mashed potatoes.

Always employ and down motion when using a wire masher instead of a side to side so that the cells of the potato do not release all the starch. Never use cold butter on mashed potatoes; instead it should be softened at room temperature. You can warm your milk before adding but never let it boil. This will ensure your potatoes are warm when you serve them. Use chicken stock instead of milk to give a different flavor but make sure to taste before adding any salt. The stock has salt in it already and you may make them too salty.

Mashed potatoes are great for a side dish with dinner and your family will just love having them. Add in bacon, chives, onions, and other things to give them more interest or just serve them plain. Use butter, sour cream or a little cheese to give them some vitality or you can top them with gravy. One guarantee, there probably will not be any left after dinner is over.

by: Ben Cook.

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