Help a husband cooking for a wife!

[Pumpkin]

I know it is too late for your dinner, but I thought I would add for next time. I think it is great that you cooked for your wifeand family sounds good and what a treat!

I pretty much cook the potatoes the same as the above posts, but I always like to spice the mashed potatoes up a bit. I will put some a pinch or two of prepared horseradish or garlic in them. The horseradish gives it the flavor that many restaurants will use. I have used ranch dressing instead of sour cream if I did not have any and that is a nice twist.
In addition, I typically use the chicken broth and only a little bit of milk, but always butter instead of margarine. I like to leave some of the skins on, but it depends who I am cooking for my sister-in-law and her family would not eat them if I did anything but milk potatoes and butter. (Although they have never noticed the chicken broth)
If you wanted to use the box type (which I confess to doing when in a hurry), you can substitute chicken broth for the water and you could add in all of the above goodies to “hide” the fact that it is from a box. SHHHH don’t tell anyone though!
P

 

[deb1]

KGalvan:

O.K. I know you asked for mashed potatoes, but on a different night try what my husband calls “Hay Stacks” When you read the recipe, you will, no doubt, respond as I did, but I was too hungry to hold out (I had just had our first baby and he was serving it to my dad since I couldn’t cook). I tasted it and it was wonderful.

O.K. Take tortilla chips. Smash them down with your hands. Then pour hot Ranch Style Beans on top of the chips. Add shredded cheddar cheese. On top of that, layer the following: chopped lettuce, tomato, and slices olives. Cover it with your favorite Ranch dressing…and serve.

I know it sounds crazy, he got it from his college days, but it really is yummy and my kids entertain all their friends at parties with it because it is good and fun to make.

Good luck with those potatoes…Don’t use the boxed! Really, once you make them like the first post response directed, you’ll never want boxed!

(why are you cooking for your wife? very sweet, I must say)

Hey,

I make haystacks also. Very yummy!

 

[Almeria]

We usually leave the skins on as well. We’ve also found that we really like the texture if we use 2/3rds real mashed, and 1/3 flakes.

If you want an easy but simply amazing main course to go with homemade mashed potatoes, try a stracoto:

foodnetwork.com/food/recipes/recipe/0,FOOD_9936_28425,00.html

 

[pnewton]

Besides garlic mash potatoes, try rosemary to taste and top with a sprig of fresh rosemary. For St. Patrick’s day once I dyed them green. Great idea as long as one eats with his eyes close.

 

[Princess_Abby]

Timidity:

Thanks for all the help. Dinner went well. Breaded baked chicken breasts, mashed potatoes, and veggie. Dessert was homemade cupcakes. I wanted gravy, but no one else did, so I didn’t bother.

Thanks again!

You are too cute. My husband tries cooking every once in awhile too and he gets soooooooooooo excited about surprising me.

 

[KittyKat]

I wish my husband would surprise me. Oh well.
You can get very creative with mashed potatoes. I will put some garlic and chives in them and instead of half and half use sour cream, and then sprinkle the top with bacon bits. You can also put them in aa oven safe dish and bake them and then sprinkle them with some shredded cheese so it melts. Good luck and keep it up. Some experiments won’t work, but it is still a lot of fun.

Congrats on making a yummy sounding dinner. Although now I am in the mood for chicken and mashed potatoes. Now I have an idea of what to make for dinner.