Mashed Potatoes Two Ways

With Thanksgiving just a week away, our thoughts wander to the festive table we'll sit down to.  And the mashed potatoes we'll likely pile on our plate.  Personally, I was never one for mashed spuds -- I'm more of a stuffing girl -- but that all changed when I started using different types of potatoes (and adding in squash) to make the mashed potatoes a little more interesting.  I'm still a stuffing girl, but these piles of mashed goodness give stuffing a run for its money!


First up, mashed potatoes meets butternut squash!

This twist on simple mashed potatoes gives the side dish more nutritional heartiness.  It's also a no-think recipe with the use of the crock-pot!  We love the added hint of garlic and could easily eat these once a week!  For budget reasons - please wait until you find a good deal on the butternut squash if you can, and if you can't find one small enough, just cook and freeze the rest for another recipe! (You can also find already peeled and cubed butternut squash in the freezer section of most supermarkets.)

Butternut Mashed Potatoes

Serves 8-10 (5 cups total)

Active time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 3 hrs

Total time: 3 hrs 20 minutes

Serving Suggestions:  Along side lentil loaf with a green salad or roasted asparagus.

What you'll need:

• 4 cups diced (1 in) red or new potatoes, washed, skin on
• 4 cups diced (1 in) butternut squash, peeled
• 5 tsp minced garlic
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp pepper
• 3 TBLS olive oil
• 1/4 cup water
• 1 tsp crushed dried rosemary

What you'll do:

• Place everything in a crockpot, cover, and cook on high for 3 hours. Stir occasionally.
• Mash until almost everything is creamy.
  
  
  
  

Next up, sweet potatoes fit for your Thanksgiving table, or a Wednesday night supper!

Usually people think mashed sweet potatoes go hand-in-hand with the holidays.  These, though, are so subtly spiced you can serve these any time of the year (but especially during the holidays)!  Feel free to half the recipe to accommodate for a simple supper.

Simply Spiced Smashed Sweet Potatoes

Serves 12

Active time: 15 minutes

Cook Time:  15 minutes

Total time: 30 minutes

Serving Suggestions: Eat this lovely side dish with a dinner like lentil-loaf along with some green beans.

What you'll need:

• 8 cups peeled and chopped sweet potatoes OR unpeeled for a more rustic and nutritious texture
• 1/4 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/3 cup unsweetened applesauce
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp nutmeg

What you'll do:

• Cook your sweet potatoes either in the microwave, in the oven, or in a pot of boiling water, until they are soft and tender.
• Transfer potatoes to a mixing bowl and add remaining ingredients.
• Mash until smooth and ingredients are all incorporated.
• Add a little water if they are too dry.