Make It Yourself
Smashed Potatoes
If you can't stand bland box flaked mashed potatoes and are looking for something with a little attitude, try this smashed potato recipe.
- 4 pounds russet potatoes
- 1 stick of salted butter
- 1-1/2 cup milk
- 1/2 pint sour cream
- 1 tbsp salt for holding potatoes
- 2 tbsp salt for boiling
- 2 tbsp coarsely ground black pepper
- 1 tbsp red pepper flakes
- 1 tsp diced garlic
- 1 tsp finely diced onions
- 1/4 cup bacon bits
- 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
Wash potatoes to get all dirt from skin. Cut the potatoes into chunks leaving the skin on. Set aside in salted cold water to keep the potatoes from turning brown.
In a large stockpot (something that can contain at least 4 gallons), fill with 2 gallons of water and salt. Place on the stove over medium high heat until boiling. Add potato chunks. Cover pot and let boil for at least 45 minutes or until potatoes are tender.
Drain water and potatoes into a large collandar. While water is draining out of the potatoes, return pot to the stove over medium heat. Add the butter and allow it to melt. Add to the melted butter the black pepper, pepper flakes, garlic, onion and bacon bits and let heat up for about 2 minutes while continuing to stir. Slowly add to that the sour cream and the cheese allowing them to melt.
Quickly add the potatoes and the milk. Using a potato mashers, mash the potatoes and stir at the same time to allow everything to blend nicely.
This will be quite chunky and may not look picture perfect like traditional mashed potatoes, but they will have more added taste and texture to it most potato lovers will enjoy.