Mashed Potatoes

i can't stand instant potatoes. they have to be from scratch. hang in there hubby, lol.

Coming from a good German background I have to say potatoes from scratch. It does not take that long and most men love their potatoes. You can get instant potatoes anywhere but it is a treat to have them from scratch. That's what a holiday is all about. If you peel the potatoes ahead of time and cover them with cold water, you won't have to scurry around at the last minute to get them going. Just pour off the water before cooking and replace with fresh water. You can even do this the night before your dinner. I like to add a few peeled and cut up parsnips to the potatoes while they cook and then mash them all together when the parsnips are tender. It adds sweetness to the potatoes and no one knows they are in the potatoes (don't tell). After everything is cooked. I add butter, sour cream, and cream cheese to taste. You can make a huge batch of potatoes and watch them disappear faster than a rabbit in a hat. I know this sounds like cholesterol heaven but it's the holidays. Oh, I like to use a hand potato masher instead of a traditional potato masher or electric mixer. It does a wonderful job in just a few seconds. It is not like the mashers that most people use. My mother had one and I had to go out and get one when I set up my own household 30 years ago. It is also great for doing any kind of sauces and gravy-NO LUMPS. Here is a picture of the one I use. I do not know how you can purchase one but you will get the idea from seeing the picture. http://www.cutco.com/products/product.jsp?itemGroup=1160 You may think I am a little silly for all this detail but it is well worth it when every man in the neighborhood and family compliment you on your potatoes.

I prefer them from scratch, but I will sometimes cheat and use the boxed instant ones. My kids really don't care one way or the other, so for a quick side with dinner I will do instant.

I like mashed potatoes from scratch, even though its much more hard work, i prefer the taste from scratch, and you can make it the right texture for you, and it simply tastes gorgeous unlike instant ones.

I love mashed potatoes...never from the box always from scratch. Here is an awesome recipe that I created. My family requests it every holiday no matter what we are having. 4-5 mdm russet potatoes, washed 4-5 red potatoes, washed Cut potatoes into small chunks with peeling (more vitamins), remove peel if desired. Boil aobut 15 minutes or until tender in large pot with about a tsp of salt and a couple of dashes of chopped parsley. Drain, mix with the following ingredients. Couple tablespoons of sour cream 4 slices of velveeta cheese Half 8oz pkg of cream cheese tbsp garlic powder tsp onion salt butter You can adjust these ingredients to your liking, mine are different every time. That is the beauty of making something up, you can make it your own and it never exactly the same each time. You can also make this recipe the night before, cover and place in refrigerator. Sit out the next day for about 30 minutes, place in oven until heated through about 30 - 45 minutes at 400 degrees. I tell you these potatoes are the best ever because they are so creamy. Another option is that you can steam some cauliflower and add to the mixture for added vitamins. Your family will never know what you slipped in on them!! Let me know if you try it!! I am cooking them on Sunday!!! salt and pepper to taste

Buy those potato flakes //that's how they are called right?? and add water intstead of milk to them. I once followed the instructions on the box and they indicated milk and no water...well I added the milk and they did not really smelled like mashed potatoes, they smelled like milk... Maybe adding a bit of butter in the water prepared potato flakes will make them quite yummy you can't tell the difference between the flakes and the real thing

I only used instant potatoes once and never again as I just plain didn't care for the "aftertaste" they seem to have. So I stick to making homemade. I have a whole bunch of different ways of fixing mashed potatoes. One is while the potatoes are boiling I add a clove of garlic..then mashed and blend together ...gives a nice garlicky taste to them. Another is while I'm mashing them over on the flame and adding the butter and milk I also add and let melt a slice (or two) of American Cheese, or even grated Cheddar Cheese....can also add some chives to the potatoes

I like both. If I have time then I prefer the home made mashed potatoes. Instant does come in very handy at times. I know some people put in sour cream with their potatoes right before they mash them. I haven't tried it yet.

Mashed potatoes from scratch tastes better for me but involves lots of work though. But most of the time, I make mashed potatoes from scratch. I just do a simple ingredient of potatoes, milk and butter.

There is nothing like something made from scratch but i do like instant mashed.. They are good when you just dont have the time.. As far as making from scratch I use red potatoes and leave the skin on them quarter them and boil them. Mash and I add butter sourcream,roasted garlic and alittle milk.. They come out awsome

I like mashed potatoes from scratch =]