Ode to Mashed Potatoes

If you've been following along, you know that I like mashed potatoes.  I was going through some old cooking magazines and came across an insert from a Food Network magazine on mashed potatoes...50 different ways!!!  Heaven, I'm in heaven...OK well maybe that's an exaggeration but let's just think about this for a minute...start a pot of boiling water while  you're at it and peel some potatoes...or leave the skins on...use russets, Yukon golds or reds...boil them until tender.  Then the fun begins.

Now you can go classic and just add some milk and butter, salt and pepper and get out your frustrations with the masher OR you can throw caution to the wind, think out of the box and try any of these possibilities.

Switch out the milk and add sour cream instead and some dill, maybe a little lemon zest too.  You could also swap the milk for cottage cheese.

Add red or green peppers, chopped fine and sauteed.  If it's Christmastime add BOTH red and green peppers chopped fine and sauteed.

If you like spicy, add 1 tbsp. of chopped chipotle peppers in adobo sauce.

Make a compound butter...mix a stick of butter with any of a number of things...garlic, sun dried tomatoes, olives...use your compound butter instead of plain butter.

For a Tex-Mex flare, add Monterey Jack cheese, scallions and jalepeno peppers.

I have to admit this suggestion seems weird to me...add applesauce when mashing and sprinkle with nutmeg.

Add crisp cooked bacon and replace half of the butter with bacon drippings...might want to have your cardiologist on speed dial for this one.  If the bacon isn't enough for you add some grated sharp cheddar cheese and parsley.

These next suggestions sound so gourmet...crispy cooked pancetta and chopped rosemary, horseradish and chive, grated smoked gouda cheese and scallions, saffron and smoked paprika, pesto, hummus, fennel.

I need to try this, I love chorizo in pretty much anything I have tried it in...I am guessing with mashed potatoes, it will be out of this world.

Rutabaga and brown butter...not sure about this.  I have never had a rutabaga...might be worth a try though.

Pureed squash...swirl the pureed butternut squash into the potatoes for a colorful change.

Broccoli cheddar...you can't pay me to eat broccoli, there isn't enough cheese on the planet to make it better but I am guessing someone would like the combo.

Roasted tomato and Italian sausage for a yummy twist.

Blue cheese and walnut for tang and crunch.

Wasabi for some heat.

Mash some sweets for a change...I use butter and just a touch of cinnamon...so yummy.  I have also mixed sweets and Yukon golds for a change of pace.

Now I know I didn't list 50 different combinations here but I am guessing you're thinking about adding things to your potatoes and your water is probably boiling now so get your ingredients ready and let me know what you make!