Dressing Up Mashed Potatoes

Potatoes are not only one of my favorite side dishes, they’re also at the top of my list of favorite foods in general. There are so many things you can do with them, and so many different varieties available that, around my house at least, you won’t hear “potatoes again??” coming from anyone at dinner time!

One of my favorite ways to “dress up” mashed potatoes is with some easy additions. I add the usual milk and butter and depending on what we’re having I like to put in about a teaspoon or so of granulated garlic powder (I’ve tried adding fresh chopped garlic at various stages of cooking and mashing, but the kids aren’t crazy about the bits, so the granulated will do for now!).

Or, if you’re not crazy about garlic or are having a meal where the garlic would be too overpowering, you can still add a little bit of a kick with the addition of some sour cream. After you’ve drained the potatoes and put them back in the pot, add a bit of milk and butter and about 1/2-1 cup (depending on taste and quantity) of sour cream, and mash together.

For something a little more different, you can even add some cream cheese. Yes, cream cheese is sweet but only mildly so, and the addition of it to mashed potatoes makes for a very creamy, smooth side dish, especially with some chopped chives mixed in. Trust me, this is heaven on a plate.

While none of these are what you would call low-cal, served in moderation (as with anything!) they make a great treat and nice change from “plain old” mashed potatoes.

What’s your favorite way to dress up mashed potatoes?

[image: flickr]