A Cookable Feast

OK, you know how mashed potatoes are just generally awesome? Well, these Garlicky Buttermilk Mashed Potatoes up the awesomeness ante by BUNCHES!

It’s that time of year that is known for upping the ante. The HOLIDAY SEASON is practically here, all! And I know for many of you out there, that means shopping, coordinating, rushing around, going bananas in the kitchen whipping up this dish and that dish for this potluck, that family event, this kiddo’s school shenanigans . . .. It’s enough to make a person want to curl up in a corner and cry “Bah-Humbug!” to it all.

At this busy time of year, we’re seeking shortcuts, we’re seeking allies, we’re seeking whatever kind of help we can get to maintain our sanity – including the help of easy recipes. Whether we need to cart a crowd-pleasing side dish to that umpteenth holiday potluck or are seeking a straight-up comfort-food to eat by the bowlful when we’ve had it with the hustle and bustle, these Garlicky Buttermilk Mashed Potatoes have our backs!

These Garlicky Buttermilk Mashed Potatoes are our allies at this hectic holiday time of year – are our allies regardless of the time of year, really – because they are:

1) Incredibly easy to make: peel and chop the potatoes and garlic, boil them up, drain the water, mash ’em, mix in the additional ingredients and voilà! You’ve got Thanksgiving-level potatoes!

2) Are easily multiplied: The measurements in these Garlicky Buttermilk Mashed Potatoes are pretty simple; they can easily be doubled, tripled, etc. to feed larger crowds.

3) Taste delicious as all get-out: With a whole head of garlic, a half a stick of butter, and a cup of buttermilk – plus kosher salt and pepper – these Garlicky Buttermilk Mashed Potatoes are BRINGING the flavor!

Let’s talk more about that aforementioned buttermilk. I got the idea to use buttermilk in these Garlicky Buttermilk Mashed Potatoes whilst spending lots of time these days becoming acquainted with it in my dogged attempts to get another recipe for the blog down (hint: it involves batter and a griddle; here’s to hoping I get that recipe yet so I can share it here!). I find it especially lends a richness and tang that I’d previously missed when making mashed potatoes without it.

And the garlic: the garlic is glorious! Incorporating a whole head of garlic into mashed potatoes initially was an intimidating prospect for me; if you’re feeling the same way about it, have no fear, as boiling the garlic will reduce its strength to what I find to be a perfectly tantalizing level.

When it all comes together and you bite into a mouthful of these warm mashed potatoes and get that tang of the buttermilk, the richness of the butter, and those savory, garlicky notes – OHHHH, YEAH. That is some side-dish glory right there.

Bravo, Garlicky Buttermilk Mashed Potatoes, bravo! You will make each act of the holiday season a success!