Monday, October 8, 2012

Simple Southern Mashed Potatoes

I realize that it's been almost two months since I last blogged.  It is sad.  It was one of those things where it got to be soooo long since the last one, that I started thinking, "Well, what's another day?  Or week?  Or...month."  Kind of like that thing going around: "That moment when you have so much to do that you decide to take a nap instead."  Same idea.  So in the meantime, I've been trying to decide what I want this blog to really be.  Originally I wanted to be easy recipes for young people who didn't know much about cooking.  But I have too much fun making recipes that aren't easy to only blog about that.  So then I thought I'd make a homemaker blog.  But I don't home-school, my son isn't quite old enough for all the cool stuff I see going around, and I'm hardly a picture of organization, so I decided not to go that route either.  So then I was kind of stumped.  Also, due to pregnancy brain (it's real), I kept taking pictures of meals I was cooking and then forgetting to ever take a picture of the finished product.

Something finally got me out of my blog-funk though.  Well, a few somethings.  One was that people started pointing out how long it's been since I blogged (by people, I mean my husband and mom, but whatever).  The second was that we stopped our crazy summer traveling. And the third was that I made mashed potatoes.  These aren't just any mashed potatoes, mind you.  They are my grandma's mashed potatoes - so fattening they don't really qualify as a vegetable anymore, and so good that you just don't give a schtick (of butter).


So, while you are eating mashed potatoes tonight (because seriously, if you've never made mashed potatoes this way, why put it off any longer?), think about some of these ideas.  I was thinking I'd do some series type blog posts.  One would be "meals so easy and good you could slap your momma."  One would be inspired by the "Chopped" challenge.  Maybe one could be inspired by (Ican'tbelieveI'msayingthis) Sandra Lee's semi-home-made.  But just the concept, not the recipes she comes up with.  Seriously.  Then I was thinking of doing a "fiscal fast" series, where I don't spend any grocery money for two weeks and have to cook using what I have.  I'm kind of excited!  Hope you are too.  Leave a comment to vote on what I should do first.

Simple Southern Mashed Potatoes
This is enough for two people plus one serving of leftovers.  Simply double the recipe for more.
  • approximately 2.5 pounds russet or yukon gold potatoes
  • 2/3 stick salted butter
  • 5 ounces evaporated milk
  • salt and pepper to taste
Wash and peel potatoes.  Chop roughly into 1.5-inch pieces.  Place potatoes in a large sauce pan and cover completely with water.  Add about a teaspoon of salt to the water and bring to a boil.  Boil potatoes until they mash very easily with a wooden spoon against the side of the pan, about 15 minutes.  Drain water and transfer potatoes back to the pan.  Add the butter and put the lid on until it melts.  Add milk, salt, and pepper, and beat with an electric mixer until creamy and fluffy.  


7 comments:

  1. I love the idea of making things with only what you have on hand! Oh, these are the BEST mashed potatoes EVER. We should make some and take them to her next visit!

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  2. The making stuff on hand is a ton of fun... especially if you look in your cupboards ( which are full) and feel like there is nothing to eat. I have had that problem in the past ( but right now am still in stockmode! I have been doing something similar with a wedding gift that we received... about 20-30 misc cans that had the labels removed. We call them mystery/hobo suppers and open between 3 & 5 cans. I have gotten REALLY creative and for the most part, it has turned out really well. I would love to see what you come up with from YOUR cupboards!

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    1. People gave you unlabeled cans for a wedding gift? Wow.

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  3. Yum. Gotta add some sour cream too! Tim's mom does that! You can make these when we come!
    Keep up the blogs whatever way. I like to read them myself even if I am not a cook.
    Oh and P.S. Your husband has commented on how long it's been since you blogged???! Well... HE should talk! Take a look at the last time HE blogged!! When he put his van to rest... and before that??? Well, a LONG time ago! Ha!

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    1. That is true. Jeremy and I got into a standoff because he thought we should be taking turns blogging on his blog, and I thought - it's your blog. Thus, we stopped blogging altogether. Lol.

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  4. Glad to see you back!
    I know EXACTLY the brain fog of carefully photographing through the prep stage and forgetting to take one of the finished masterpiece picture! uuugghhhh!
    I would like to a see a focus on fixing what you find in your cupboard.
    Enjoy your coming company!

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