How do you make your Thanksgiving mashed potatoes?

[KigerKat]

I make mine with real potatoes. When I boil them, I'll add some garlic salt to the water to give them a hint of garlic without them being overbearing. Then when I whip them, I add butter, sour cream, salt, pepper and a little bit of milk. No exact measurements, just until it tastes "right".

Then I use the potato water with the gravy - makes for some yummy gravy!!

 

[marthachick]

but DH thinks it's tacky. He wants me to mash up real ones. (You know, in all my spare time! )

I'd say, no problem! You can start peeling at xx:xx a.m. to have them ready for YOU to cook so YOU can mash them.

 

[Daffiny]

I use real potatoes but I don't peel them. Then I beat 8oz of softened cream cheese and 1/2 cup of Miracle Whip - add salt, pepper, onion powder & some paprika on top. I refrigerate all night and put them in the oven at 350 to heat up in time for dinner. My kids love these.

p.s. I love reading the other recipes - some great ideas for my New Years Brunch.

 

[michellejed]

This year we are trying a new recipe, baked potato casserole

Mash red skin potatoes with cream cheese, parmesan cheese and then bake.
add chives at end.

 

[angelat]

In the past when I've done Thanksgiving I've always made real potatoes. Though for regular dinners sometimes I'll use boxed ones. My DH doesn't like the "fake" ones though so I usually buy one of those potatoes you can make in the microwave. I nuke that for the 6 minutes and mash it a little so there are real potato lumps in the potato and add it to the boxed. He doesn't usually notice the difference then. If you are cooking for a lot of people you would probably have to use a couple, but it's maybe 10 minutes in the microwave and you can please everyone while still saving time and cooking space.

 

[BeckyScott]

I have to share-

I was asking the kids if there was anything special they wanted for Thanksgiving, to eat... DS11 informed me that all he wanted was mashed potatos and gravy.

But. He wanted the exact kind that they serve in the school cafeteria and I should call the cafeteria ladies and ask them how to make it.



I am thinking they have to be instant, which is fine, but he's had instant at home and it isn't the same. And he wants the gravy too, so I actually bought some of that nasty canned gravy, I'm thinking it's probably close.

You try and you try and you try... and your kid wants you to duplicate the school cafeteria.

If there are any cafeteria ladies lurking around, feel free to PM me with the recipe for this magic elixir.

 

[mum4jenn]

ALWAYS real!!! ALWAYS!!!
It ONLY takes about 5 minutes to peel potatoes and they are SO much better that any box or bag kind. I prefer Yukon as well. I add evaporated milk,salt and pepper.

 

[aanderson5]

I tried boxed potatoes once and found they had a really gross after taste. Maybe it was the brand I bought but I won't try them again. I find real potatoes easy to do. I use either yukon gold (peeled) or new/red skin (unpeeled) and add skim milk, vegi lite cream cheese, salt and pepper. Very tasty and not too bad for you.

 

[crazy4dizney]

I have to share-

I was asking the kids if there was anything special they wanted for Thanksgiving, to eat... DS11 informed me that all he wanted was mashed potatos and gravy.

But. He wanted the exact kind that they serve in the school cafeteria and I should call the cafeteria ladies and ask them how to make it.



I am thinking they have to be instant, which is fine, but he's had instant at home and it isn't the same. And he wants the gravy too, so I actually bought some of that nasty canned gravy, I'm thinking it's probably close.

You try and you try and you try... and your kid wants you to duplicate the school cafeteria.

If there are any cafeteria ladies lurking around, feel free to PM me with the recipe for this magic elixir.

Don't forget the ice cream scooper.....Tooo Funny

 

[mum4jenn]

I have to share-

I was asking the kids if there was anything special they wanted for Thanksgiving, to eat... DS11 informed me that all he wanted was mashed potatoes and gravy.

But. He wanted the exact kind that they serve in the school cafeteria and I should call the cafeteria ladies and ask them how to make it.



I am thinking they have to be instant, which is fine, but he's had instant at home and it isn't the same. And he wants the gravy too, so I actually bought some of that nasty canned gravy, I'm thinking it's probably close.

You try and you try and you try... and your kid wants you to duplicate the school cafeteria.

If there are any cafeteria ladies lurking around, feel free to PM me with the recipe for this magic elixir.

LOL!! We have a LOT of kids and adults who say nothing beats school mashed potatoes!!!

I am a lunchroom manager. The potatoes we use are a granular type. All WE do is add hot water, margarine,chicken base(the powdered kind) salt and pepper and evaporated milk. Some schools add dry ranch dressing instead of the chicken base.
Now as far as the gravy goes...we do NOT use canned..not saying that your child's school does or does not....I usually make about 15 gallons of gravy when it is on the menu. I use either a chicken base (or beef depending on what is on the menu) and water and add salt,pepper, and a little garlic powder and onion powder. I thicken it using a slurry (which is made using corn starch and cold water) I pour the slurry into the hot gravy mixture slowly and stir at the same time. I then let it simmer until it thickens. Your slurry when you make it you want to add just enough water to the corn starch to kind of "melt" the cornstarch. Also be careful to not add it to the hot mixture too fast or it will lump and the kids will think it has onions in the gravy!!! LOL

 

[mommapea]

I make my mashed potatoes the same way my mother does, which was her mother's recipie. These are just old fashioned and good!

Real potatoes, yukons are my personal favorites, but any will do.
Milnot (or any brand evaporated milk)
butter
salt


I peel, cube the potatoes. Boil them until you can stick a fork in them.

I drain them, and begin mixing. I add a couple scoops of butter, add Milnot (or generic brand) until it begins looking creamy, and add salt to taste.

Everyone always raves about my mashed potatoes anytime I bring them somewhere....they are just creamy and homemade. Also...the Milnot is the secret, as you can use milk, but this makes them creamier.

If I make these during the weekend, I make extra, and reheat with another meal during the week.

 

[Jennifer823]

I have to share-

You try and you try and you try... and your kid wants you to duplicate the school cafeteria.

Make sure you use an ice cream scoop to serve the potatoes, like they do at school! I usually make the real ones, but throw a couple of cloves of peeled garlic in with the water to cook. I have a question for all of you - if you make the potatoes ahead, how do you reheat them? Every time I've tried that they came out nasty. I've resorted to making them right before we're ready to eat. Is there a better way to do this?

 

[tonilea]

I guess I am a potato purist. No instant mashed potatoes at this house, ever. IMO, it just doesn't take that much longer to do the real thing and they are sooooo much better.

 

[MKCP5]

My DH cooks a huge (expensive) and fancy Thanksgiving day meal. This year he is doing the frozen/microwave bag type for the mashed potatos because he has so much else going on in the kitchen. Add a little heavy cream, butter, salt and pepper and no one will know the difference.

I won't be doing them for T giveing but they are actually really good. And there are alot of $1 coupons around for them. Get the plain though--the others are gross!

 

[mrsbornkuntry]

I only use real. I don't use a masher, though, I just use my hand mixer with some milk and butter. It's a tradition, each one of my kids takes a turn mixing them.

 

[TheRatPack]

My oldest dd won't eat real mashed potatoes, so we usually do instant (the creamy butter flavor of Betty Crocker potatoes). I add in some evap milk, butter and sometimes sour cream and whip them with my hand mixer....voila.

 

[mybestieismickey]

I make real when I can, but I am not above instant. I ate them a lot as an after school snack growing up. Once I reached middle school, my mom's motto was "serve yourself and save!"

I add milk, salt & pepper, sour cream, butter, and cream cheese and then I mix them with the hand mixer. Then I put cheese on top. This is a slightly modified version that they made at a restaurant I worked at. I don't make them this way very often for obvious cholesterol reasons, but I sure love them.

As a side note, after a year of marriage, my husband offered to make the potatoes for dinner one night and informed me that he doesn't really like mashed potatoes the way normal (my word not his) people eat them. He grew up with potatoes made with sugar. Now, I have eaten at his parents house many times before and we had never had them and it sounded gross to me. But I was a good sport and tried them. I was right. Blech I used way more salt than I normally do that night.

 

[mum4jenn]

Make sure you use an ice cream scoop to serve the potatoes, like they do at school!

Actually they are officially called "dishers" !! We call them scoops most of the time. They use those for portion control.

 

[thelionqueen]

I will post our family secret to delicious mashed potatoes (I'm sure there are a million plus other family that have this secret )

Use russet potatoes, boil and drain season while hot. While potatoes are cooking, in small sauce pan, melt butter then add heavy cream and milk (two to one, cream to milk). By heating up the other ingredients together before adding to potatoes, makes them creamier. Just my .02

 

[luvindisneyworld]

We use real potatoes always. We use the little red potatoes I think they are baby klondike or something like that, I dont peel them when i cook them. While they are cooking i have a pot with my butter and fresh garlic in it,when the potatoes are done I drain and add the butter and garlic,milk and I use seasoning salt,pepper,a bit of curry powder,a pinch of sugar and mix it with a hand mixer and leave it a bit chunky when done I add paprika to the top.
I am not bragging but these are the best mashed taters ever. My DH could make a meal out of just them.