Writer Nora Ephron wisely said, “People need more mashed potatoes in their lives.” She called the silky, smooth spuds, “God’s shaving cream.”
Mashed Potatoes: Then and Now
I fondly remember my mother’s mashed potatoes. They were enhanced by nothing more than butter, milk, salt and pepper. That’s exactly how I made mine for many years, preparing them, as she did, with a wooden-handled potato masher. Some lumps remained, but those just added texture.
Then I moved onto an electric hand mixer. The handy kitchen gadget whipped the potatoes so perfectly they took on the look of a spud smoothie. Today I use a ricer.
A potato ricer takes a good grip and some muscle power.
Loaded Potatoes
I’ve made other changes to my mother’s recipe. It’s now acceptable to load up the bland root vegetable with decadent extras, at least, at Thanksgiving. In addition to the butter, I add roasted garlic, half and half cream, and Boursin cheese (or cream cheese) to my holiday potatoes. They’re superb! (Recipe here)
Favorite Comfort Food
The Winner is . . .
Some years ago on this blog, I asked for responses to the question: “What is your favorite comfort food?” Mashed potatoes was the hands down winner, garnering twice the number of votes as its nearest rivals.
In a virtual tie for second place was mac & cheese, tomato and potato soups, cornbread, roast beef, and grilled cheese. To my surprise pizza, meatloaf, beef stew, and fried chicken all hovered around third place.
Serve from a Bowl or from a Shell?
Twice-baked potatoes ready for the oven.
On many a Thanksgiving plate, you’ll find mashed potatoes nudged up against the turkey and dressing and all overlaid with a puddle of gravy.
But there are other ways to serve the ubiquitous spuds. When I mentioned my Thanksgiving side dish to Cyndy last year, she had a different take.
“I make them about the same way you do,” she said, “with Boursin cheese, butter, garlic and light cream. But then I put them back into the shell with a sprinkle of cheese and green onions before twice baking.”
Either way works for me.
