Holiday Side Idea: Creamy, Cheesy Mashed Potatoes

I love the holidays, mostly because of all the delicious food I get to sample.  My favorite dish by far is my dad’s creamy mashed potatoes; my love for it is so profound that it regularly makes an appearance at my birthday dinner, and my dad usually prepares a separate dish for me to take home.  If you’re looking for a break from the standard mashed potatoes and gravy this holiday season, these are definitely a crowd-pleaser.

Creamy Mashed Potatoes:

• 10 medium potatoes
• 6 ounces of cream cheese, softened
• 1 cup sour cream (or plain yogurt)
• 2 tsp. onion salt
• 1 tsp. garlic salt
• Dash of pepper
• 2 tbs. butter
• Grated cheddar or parmesan cheese
• Dash of paprika

1. Peel and quarter potatoes, boil until done and drain.
2. Mash potatoes until smooth, mix in cream cheese, sour cream, salt and pepper.  Beat well.
3. Refrigerate at least 12 hours.
4. When ready to bake, place potatoes in greased casserole dish.  Dot with butter, top with cheese and paprika.
5. Bake uncovered at 350 degrees for 30-45 minutes.
6. Enjoy!

Read Full Post »

Potatoes – More Than Just a Spud!

I love potatoes in any shape and form: mashed, baked, boiled and broiled, and I’m always surprised when I run into folks who prefer pasta to spuds. For example, the only potato my daughter will touch is French fries (which incidentally is the only potato that I don’t crave very often), but she can eat pasta and rice every day of the week.

With my hankering for potato dishes, I have developed quite a library of recipes in the last decade, and, if I may say so myself, there are some homemade concoctions that I’m fairly proud of. From potato casseroles to broiled new potatoes, I have experimented with spices, sauces and spuds since the beginning of my marriage. But my favorite potato dishes remain simple, tried and true, such as my broiled rosemary potatoes below.

Broiled potatoes:

1. Use small fingerling potatoes or cut regular-sized potatoes into 2”x2” squares and add one layer into a baking dish.
2. Add olive oil to the potatoes, coating each piece well. Add liberal amounts of fresh rosemary, paprika and coarse sea salt.
3. Place in 425 degree oven for about 30 minutes. Use a spatula or wooden spoon to stir the potatoes after about 10 minutes so that the potatoes don’t get stuck to the bottom of the pan.

Read Full Post »