Pod Coffee Makers 411

Dishes like french fries, potato chips, mashed potatoes are a corner stone of many worlds cousines. But it wasn’t always so. Popatoes were first introduced into Europe and western cousine by Sir Walter Raleigh who brought them over the sea from the so called “New world”.

Since we will be talking about mashed potatoes, lets take a look at the history of this simple but important recipe. Mashed potatoes were first prepared by Frenchman, Antoine Parmentier. He had a potato farm that was even guarded by royal troops guard. But it seems that this guards didn’t take their job to seriously and peasants managed to steal them. This is how potatoes and mased potatoes entered French cooking.

The basic way to make mashed potatoes is pretty much the same wherever you go. With some exceptions off course. All the different variations are the result of what is later added to the mashed potatoes. The most common things used to spice up your mased potatoes recipe are cheese, bacon, garlic and onions.

If you want to make mashed potatoes you will need:

- one cup of heavy cream or half-half

- half cup of butter (salted)

- some salt

- six potatoes (not to big, not to small)

Tip number one – what kind of potatoes to use? Use Russet or Yukon Gold potatoes because they give the best texture to the recipe. Red potatoes are also very good.

First, peel of the skin of your spuds. Make sure you take of the eyes, which are flecks of skin embedded in the potato. If you want a rustic taste, you can keep about half of the skin, because the skin contains many nutrients, although they’re harder to mash later. Submerge them in cold water to prevent them browning over.

When it comes to cutting the potatoes I can give you the next tip – do not cut them into small pieces. make big chunks that will not soak up water. They will cook longer but the result will be better. Also cover them with cold water (not warm or hot) and bring them to boil. Then cook them for 15 – 20 minutes over low heat. How do you know if they are cooked? Pierce them with a knife and if it goes in easily they are done.

When the potatoes are cooked drain all the water and return them back on low heat so all the water evaporates. Make sure you don’t burn them. Now is also the time to heat the cream and melt the butter. You can do this in one sauce pan. When all the water evaporated mash the potatoes. You can decide you smooth or lumpy do you want them to be. But I suggest you do not use electric mixers since they will overmix the potatoes and ruin the texture.

When the potatoes are mashed mix in the butter and cream. You can do this also beofre you mash the potatoes, I don’t think it makes much of a difference. Now is also the time to add some other ingreedients if you want. Just use your imagination or find some recipe ideas that will help you.

Mashed potatoes are not only very tasty dish, they also have some health benefits. They can improve your glucose tolerance and protect you against colon cancer.

Ben Cook is the hobby cook behind the mashed potatoes recipe site, where you can find lots of ideas for your next potato meal. For instance try this mashed potatoes recipe with garlic and spice up your next meal.

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