Mashed Potatoes

This probably should have been one of the first recipes I posted, but silly me thought "everyone knows how to make mashed potatoes" - then I remembered how several friends told me they have no idea how to cook. So this is for all of them.

My Mashed Potatoes



Ingredients
5 pounds potatoes
1 stick of SALTED butter
3/4 cup milk
Salt & pepper to taste

Special Equipment
Potato Peeler
Potato Masher
Immersion Blender (Hand/Stick Blender)
Electric Mixer

Directions
Start by washing your potatoes under lukewarm water to rinse off all the dirt. Next peel the skins off all the potatoes. Next cut potatoes into small pieces, about 1 1/2 - 2 inches in size. Place all potatoes in a large stock pot, fill with water (up to 2-3 inches to top), place on stove and heat to boiling on medium high. You want the potatoes very tender - to the point that the just about fall apart when pierced with a fork. About 20-30 minutes (depending on how small you cut your potatoes, the smaller they are the quicker they cook). Once they are very tender, remove from heat and drain in colander. Return potatoes to pot, using potato masher, mash all the potatoes until there is no chunks left.

Next, you can either use an immersion blender or electric mixer, add melted butter and blend until smooth, turn stove on at medium low, and add milk, salt & pepper. Continue using the immersion blender or electric mixer to mix in milk. Once fully combined, taste test to see if the potatoes are creamy and salty enough for you. If not, adjust to your desire. Then continue heating on a low flame, mixing with wooden spoon often until potatoes are heated thru.

This recipe is enough to feed about 12 people - I usually double this recipe on Thanksgiving.