How to Make Mashed Potatoes

Can you believe we're down to 3 days till Thanksgiving?? It came so fast! I love this time of year. I can't wait to see my family and my husband's family!

There's nothing quite like real mashed Idaho potatoes with Thanksgiving dinner. I love how creamy they are. I have to admit, being an Idaho gal myself we don't always make mashed potatoes with the real thing. That's embarrassing to admit but it makes me feel better to get that out there. However, we ALWAYS make them with the real thing on Thanksgiving. No if's, and's, or but's about that one!

I recently received an e-mail from a reader asking how to make the perfect mashed potatoes for turkey day. We're talking creamy and perfect for the big day. This right here is what I think is a perfect example of how to make those mashed potatoes just right.

Step 1: Cook the Potatoes

Put 2 pounds of russet or Yukon gold potatoes in a saucepan. Cover the potatoes with cold water and add 2 tablespoons of salt. Bring to a simmer over medium-low to medium heat and cook uncovered until tender, about 45 minutes. Drain the potatoes and let them sit until just cool enough to handle. Then peel and transfer to a bowl.

Step 2: Mash the Potatoes

Here's where the secret to the flavor comes in! Add 1 stick of softened butter or 1/2 cup olive oil to the potatoes. Add 1 cup of a dairy item from the list below (choose 1), 2 teaspoons of salt, and then pepper to taste. Mash the potatoes with a potato masher or fork.

Dairy Options:

• Milk
• Half-and-Half
• Buttermilk
• Plain yogurt (use 1 1/2 cups)
• Sour cream (use 1 1/2 cups)
  

And that's all there is to it! If you want to take it a step or two further and add a little more flavor to your potatoes, here are some yummy options:

Mixed Herbs: Stir 2 tablespoons each of chopped fresh parsley, dill, and chives into the potatoes after they have been mashed.
Roasted Garlic: Halve 4 heads of garlic crosswise and put on a sheet of foil. Drizzle with olive oil, wrap them, and roast them at 350 degrees for 1 hour. Squeeze out the cloves and mash and stir them into the mashed potatoes.
Chipotle: Stir 1 to 2 tablespoons of chopped chipotle peppers in adobo sauce into the mashed potatoes.

Thank you to The Food Network for helping with this post!