FEED YOUR FACE: Mashed Potatoes (Grandma style)

Just about everyone likes mashed potatoes. But, some folks use the instant kind. Each has it's place. But give me fresh mashed taters! They just taste better. And the reason they do, according to my grandmother, is because you make them yourself, so you can make them like you like them. Lumpy or smooth. Skins or no skins. Lots of butter or very little butter.

Here is my grandmother's recipe for mashed potatoes.

6 to 8 potatoes, peeled and cubed
1 cup evaporated milk
1/2 cups butter
Salt and pepper to taste.

Place the potatoes in a large sauce pan and cover them with water. (Be sure to wash them first if you leave the skins on.)
Bring to a boil over medium-high heat.
Cook until tender.
Drain. Add other ingredients.
Beat with an electric mixer on medium speed until blended and creamy.
Serves 6 to 8.

Pretty simple. But I have known people that have never made mashed potatoes before. I remember my first time "helping" make mashed potatoes.

We were living with my grandparents, (grandmother and Pappy) and it was Thanksgiving day. It had snowed the night before, and the snow was deep. The wind had made big drifts in our backyard. My sister and I were helping by setting the table, and hoping that other family members were on their way. Things were going pretty well when all of a sudden the lights flicked off then on, then off. They didn't come back on.

Family started to show up. Food was being placed on the table. The only thing not done was the mashed potatoes. They were cooked and ready to be mashed, only we had no power for the mixer. So grandmother went old school. She produced this thing that she called a potato masher. Of course, me and my sister wanted to help mash potatoes.

Grandmother had turned off the burners on the stove. She put my and my sister in aprons, placed a chair by the stove, and let us bang and smash the potatoes to smithereens. Then she came up with this thing that she said was a hand mixer. The kind you have to turn this handle, and these little blades whirl around. Well, we had to have a go with that on the potatoes also, so we took turns.

We even were able to keep the biggest part of the potatoes in the pan. The power came back on when we were all just about done with our Thanksgiving meal. Everyone said that the mashed potatoes were the best they had ever had. .

So, enjoy, mash 'em up anyway you like. And FEED YOUR FACE!