Thanksgiving Bacon Mash PotatoesThis recipe for mashed potatoes is not at all good for you, but it tastes awesome. Phil and I have developed and refined this recipe over the past several months to include much more than just potatoes.

Ingredients

5 lb. bag of red potatoes

1/3 cup shredded cheddar cheese

3-4 Tbsp butter or margarine

4 – 5 strips of cooked thick bacon

2 -3 Tbsp sour cream

1/4 cup of milk (This may not be needed)

3 Tbsp fresh chives (You can use dried if you don’t have fresh just allow them to hydrate in the potatoes)

Salt

Pepper

Garlic Powder (Optional)

Directions

  1. Bring a pot of water up to a boil
  2. Wash the potatoes
  3. Cut them up into chucks. In most cases you can just just quarter the potatoes. (The most important thing here is that you keep them the same size that way they cook evenly)
  4. Add salt to the water after it comes to a boil. (It is alway important to add salt after the water comes to boil because it will take longer to boil if you add it in before)
  5. You can add about 3-4 Tbsp of garlic powder to the water (This can add a hint of garlic flavor to the potatoes later)
  6. Add the potatoes to the boiling water.
  7. While the potatoes are boiling, chop up the chives and bacon.
  8. Strain the potatoes (The potatoes are done once you can poke them with a fork and they slide off easily. If the potatoes turn translucent you cooked them too much.)
  9. Add butter to taste.
  10. Partially mash the potatoes (We /Phil uses a hand masher. You can use a mixer if you don’t have a potato masher, or if you like your potatoes to be really smooth and fluffy.)
  11. Start out with 2 Tbsp of sour cream
  12. Continue to mash
  13. Add bacon and chives
  14. Finish mashing them to the consistency you prefer. Add more milk if you prefer them to be thinner (We normally make them smooth but not too fluffy.)
  15. Add salt and pepper to taste
  16. Add extra butter and/or sour cream to taste
  17. Add about 1/4 – 1/2 cup of cheese depending on your taste
  18. Mix it all together and serve

Tips

  • You can’t really have an exact recipe for mashed potatoes because there are many variables to account for; therefore, you might need to experiment with it. (Our secret is that we don’t have an exact recipe, we just have some guidelines.)
  • You might be surprised how much salt you will have to add. Don’t worry. Just add some, taste it, and add some more if you think it needs more.