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Potatoes- they're not just for dinner
anymore! In fact, potatoes are cheap,
versatile, and easy to prepare. But don't
limit them to suppertime- they also are
fantastic in breads, soups and even in
cakes! And if you're feeling adventurous-
try some mashed potato candy, which is
surprisingly easy and delicious!
Master Recipe: Basic Mashed
Potatoes
Mashed potatoes freeze very well, so
make a bunch! Cook once, eat several
times! There is nothing like home-cooked
food waiting to be eaten in the
freezer!
10-20 medium sized russet potatoes
(depends on how much you want to make and
how big your stock pot is)
one very large stock pot
water to cover potatoes
salt and pepper to taste
milk or broth to flavor
1. Peel and cube potatoes. Put into a
large stockpot and cover with water. If
you like, you can also add peeled garlic
for a different taste.
2. Boil potatoes for 20-30 minutes,
strain, reserving water and a few potatoes
for potato soup, or as a sourdough starter
(or the base for a vegetable broth).
3. Mash potatoes with eggbeater or masher,
add salt and pepper, butter and milk (if
desired). For low fat potatoes, add
chicken or turkey broth that has been
defatted. Mix until the consistency is
fluffy but not soupy.
To
freeze:pack
potatoes into 2 cup freezer containers and
freeze. 2 cups seems to be about right for
our family of five, you may need to adjust
this according to the number of people you
will be serving.
To serve: Thaw potatoes overnight
in refrigerator or in microwave (this is
my method! I always forget!). Put them in
the oven, in a covered casserole and cook
at 350 for 30-40 minutes. I usually put in
turkey dinner slices and gravy and the
same time for an easy, delicious meal.
Note: You can do a lot of
things with leftover mashed potatoes. They
are great for thickening soups and sauces,
as well as adding moistness to bread dough
(they are a main ingredient in potato
refrigerator dough, an old Betty Crocker
recipe), even cake! They are also great as
pancakes and mixed with flour for
dumplings. Let your imagination run
wild!
Yummy mashed potato variations -
The sky is the limit!
-Try cooking potatoes with garlic and
rosemary and then mashing well (makes
great Gnocchi- see our dinners and
sides)
-Add melted cheese along with the butter
and milk when you are whipping the
potatoes. Bacon bits or flavoring is also
wonderful!
- Mash potatoes with another cooked
veggie- spinach and broccoli are both
delicious, and cooked cabbage and mashed
potatoes is an Irish favorite. I've also
heard of people cooking pumpkin and in the
same pot and then mashing together.
-Italian potatoes- use olive oil and
Parmesan cheese, along with some basil and
oregano.
You've made the potatoes - now what?
Use any of the secondary recipes to make
fun and unusual mashed potato creations.
Check out all of the ideas we've got for
you:
Children's meals have to be easy, delicious and nutritious. Getting kids to eat vegetables is a major task.
Finding a way to get vegetables into the mouths of kids is easy if they are part of the fun. Creating ways to
get kids to help with the preparation and the cooking of kids' recipes is part of the fun.