Mashed Potato Whispers of Comfort

Mashed potatoes with their creamy texture and timeless appeal can unite the past with the present creating Thanksgiving memories. It is a dish that comforts the hearts of all with the familiar taste that everyone can agree tastes amazing. The heart of this scratchy tuber is more than just its buttery richness. It’s a connection to the roots of the potatoes which many generations learn how to make. Every family claims the best-mashed potatoes.

Mashed potatoes are dishes that grandparents have been preparing for decades, passing down the torch down to their grandchildren. Mashed potatoes have a simplicity that unites everyone across the table at Thanksgiving dinner.

My family Thanksgiving dinner is always usually just the four of us: my mother, father, and cousin. Having a small family allows for the creativity and laughter in these dishes because we have no one to impress. There is room for mistakes but a mistake is never made in these creamy potatoes. A dish my family bonds upon, and comes together to love and laugh. There is also a love of potatoes in my family as we make potato latkes for Hannkuah. However, for Thanksgiving, we will stick with the garlicky goodness and gruyere cheesy mixed in. These are the mashed potatoes my mom and I like to make every year: laden with garlic and infused with rosemary with each spoonful carrying the subtle taste of the nuttiness of the gruyere cheese. The first spoonful is the richness and the second spoonful is the creamy, buttery base that provides a silky texture that will melt in your mouth. The garlic flavor is not an overpowering taste but instead leaves a subtle lingering earthy aroma feel on the taste buds. The infusion of garlic creates a variety of flavors in the mouth offering a contrast in taste to other Thanksgiving dishes. The salt and pepper garnished in the dish allows for a balance of savory and sweetness of potatoes. It’s warm, and savory, and the creaminess of the dish leaves not only your tongue happy but also your heart.

Ingredients:

● 7 Idaho potatoes
● 1 cup of Lactaid milk (or any milk of your choice)
● ¼ cup olive oil
● 1 cup Gruyere cheese, shredded
● 2 cloves of garlic, minced
● 1 tablespoon fresh rosemary
● 2 chicken bouillon cubes
● 2 sticks of butter
● Salt and pepper
● Tinfoil

Directions:

1. Slice the garlic and drizzle with the olive oil on a tinfoil sheet. Add salt, pepper, and rosemary to garnish. Place in the oven at 350 degrees for 45 minutes

2. Dice up all of those potatoes

3. Boil water in a large pot and place all the sliced potatoes in the pot

4. Add 2 chicken bouillon cubes to the pot for flavor

5. When the potatoes are done drain them in a strainer

6. Next, add 2 sticks of butter in a pot to melt

7. Place the potatoes back in the pot and add 1 cup of milk and the melted butter

8. Take the garlic out of the oven and add mince the garlic and add it into the pot

9. Next, mash and mix everything together

10. Then place the mixture into a separate bowl and continue to mash until creamy

11. Lastly add 1 cup of Gruyere cheese shredded into the bowl and mix

12. Enjoy!