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Mashed Potato Week

Surprisingly to some, I was able to devote an entire week to tuna noddle casserole back in November. It was a challenge, but I believe it was also a success. During that week, it was suggested that I explore mashed potatoes, so here we go. This week is Mashed Potato week. You think I can't do it? We'll see.

One thing that fascinates me about potatoes is their versatility. The only thing that limits how we cook with them is our culinary imaginations. With this one dirty vegetable, you can make a kitchen full of dishes. You can boil them, bake them, roast them, fry them. You can make soup with them or mix them with cheese for au gratin or grate them for hash browns or stir them up with onions and egg for potato cakes or mash them with any number of things. My father used to make his mashed potatoes with mayonnaise, and the consistency made me wretch at the table. You can make bubble and squeak or top off a casserole of shepherd's pie. Globally, we spend over 16 billion dollars a year on potato chips, and every region has its favorite.

I can't bring myself to try this, but some people mix mashed potatoes with coconut and confectioner's sugar, roll the stuff into balls, and coat them with chocolate. Candy, they call it, but I'm not so sure. Here is the recipe if you're open minded enough to give it a try.

And potatoes aren't just for eating. They serve as folk remedies for treating blemishes, frostbite, sunburn, toothache, and general aches and pains. It has been said that to ease a sore throat, all you need to do is put a slice of baked potato in a stocking and tie it around your neck. I'm not sure I believe that.

For years I avoided potatoes because of the carbs, but I have to admit I miss the occasional serving of well-prepared mashed potatoes. I'll give you my favorite recipe tomorrow. As for the rest of the week, we'll all have to wait and see what mashed potato tales might appear.

Comments

peahen said…
Pea's tip - add a little wholegrain mustard to your mash - mmmmm!
Anonymous said…
Mashed potato is the starting point of every leftover in the kitchen. In the last three weeks i've had potatoes mashed with sour cream (very decadent), grated cheese, diced onion, bacon and grated cheese and parsley, french onion dip, Guacamole and sour cream, and garlic and french onion soup.
I realise that your not supposed to ingest the bad carbs but lets face it, carbs taste good.
dive said…
I'm scared.
Mrs. G. said…
I'm old school...I don't want sugar anywhere near my mashed pototoes.
mmm i like potatoes too. I taught my son the other night some very quick spuds to cook for his girlfriend (he's learning). Chop up some new potatoes small, put in roasting tin, drizzle with a very little oil, chop herbs, garlic, sprinkle with rock salt and quite a lot of lemon juice. Roast until soft. Yum. Now he can cook this AND steak AND pasta. We're getting somewhere. lol.
Maria said…
Did you ever read the book "Heartburn"? It was also made into a movie with Meryl Streep. But, the author, Ephron, says that nothing tastes better when you are feeling blue than mashers. She even includes the perfect recipe.

I agree. Mashed potatoes get me over the hard hills. And being a type 1 diabetic, I have to be very careful with those carbs...but ah...they are tasty.

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