Perfect Mashed Potatoes

[hassified]

This recipe is a family favorite. This is NC eating at its best.

2 qt. Potatoes, peeled and cubed
1 Stick butter
8 oz Sour cream
1 cup Grated cheddar cheese
Salt and Pepper (to taste)

Boil potatoes until fork tender and drain.
Combine potatoes and other ingredients into mixing bowl.
Blend until smooth. If to thick, add more sour cream or butter.

Eat up North Carolina!!!!!!!!

[advoca]

Ah! But what sort of potatoes? It makes a very big difference.

[Goodweed of the North]

Substitute that sour cream with browned butter and evaporated milk, or creme' fresh, and toss in some caramelized onion and you'll have the favorite smashed spuds in these parts. My youngest also likes to use plain yogurt in place of sour cream. She says it's easier to control the sour componant. All I know is that there are a thousand ways to make mashed potatoes, and every one of them is a favorite of someone's. Me, take russets, boil until cooked through, but not mushy. Force through a potato ricer, add salted real butter, a touch of garlic, truffle salt, and serve them up with some gorgeous, meat gravy, preferably made from a roux.

Seeeeeeya; Goodweed of the North

[kamp]

Try to bake the potatoes in the oven (sliced in to) and then mash them. Nothing is better :D

[Vanilla Bean]

Quote:

Originally Posted by kamp Try to bake the potatoes in the oven (sliced in to) and then mash them. Nothing is better :D

that's the way I have done them! They ARE good!

[Goodweed of the North]

Quote:

Originally Posted by kamp Try to bake the potatoes in the oven (sliced in to) and then mash them. Nothing is better :D

Recently, I cooked a large russet in the microwave (I was in a hurry and didnt' want to wait for the oven to heat, or water to boil) and then scooped the potato meat from the skins and mashed them. Like you state with the baked spuds, they are great. For those who haven't tried this method, the reason they are great is that the potato flavor is more robust. And, as a bonus, you can stuff the skins and make twice baked potatoes if you desire, or just put a bit of butter in the skins and munch them, or make fried potato skins from them, etc.

Anyway, try making your smashed spuds from baked potatoes, either from the oven, or microwave. They are truly great.

Seeeeya; Godoweed of the North

[samue1eb]

I have tried baking russets in the oven too and then turning them into mashed potatoes. They did have a strong potato flavor than the boiled like another posted said. I would recommend to anyone if you haven't tried it, given it a whirl.

If I do boil the potatos I try to take Alton Brown's advice and use a combo of russets and reds.

[kadesma]

My gang loves the potatoes cooked and mashed with peel on a rough chop so that there are hunks or good sized pieces of potatoes. Usually Yukon Golds at times russets. Then we add salt and pepper and several sticks of butter. Other times I peel them boil, rice them. But first I take several cups of cream, about 20 cloves of garlic and put them in a sauce pan and heat to boiling turn to a simmer and cook a good hour or so reducing the cream and letting the garlic get soft. When potatoes are done to my liking I mash them with a fork, then add several sticks of butter and slowly add some of the cream and all the garlic cloves...We never have left overs...
kadesma

[Goodweed of the North]

Methinks the mob around here like rich flavors. Now is that an understatement or what?

Seeeeeya; Goodweed of the North

[PattY1]

I always use russet and rice them.