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Bacon Mashed Potatoes

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Bacon Mashed Potatoes

Bacon Mashed Potatoes

Terri Pischoff Wuerthner
Bacon and potatoes are another match made in heaven. The green onions and cream bring them further into the realm of wonderful. The crispy bacon on top of the finished dish adds the salty crunch that makes this easy-to-prepare recipe special. I make enough to serve 8 people generously, so I will have leftovers to form into patties that I can make into "potato pancakes" for breakfast the next morning.

Yield: Serves 2

Ingredients:

  • 4 pounds baking (Idaho) potatoes, peeled and quartered*
  • 3 green onions, sliced (white and green parts)
  • 1 - 1 1/4 cups whipping cream
  • 4 tablespoons butter, at room temperature
  • 1 teaspoon Cajun or Creole seasoning
  • salt and white pepper if needed
  • 8 slices bacon, cooked until crisp, and crumbled
  • chopped parsley as garnish (optional)

Preparation:

*May be peeled the day before and kept in a bowl immersed in water, covered with foil and refrigerated. Boil potatoes in a large pot of boiling water. While potatoes are cooking, combine green onions, cream, butter, Cajun or Creole seasoning and, after tasting, add salt and white pepper if needed.

Mash the potatoes with a fork or potato masher just until smooth--don't over mix or potatoes will be heavy. Serve hot, garnished with the crumbled bacon and parsley.

Sprinkle with parsley.

Cooking Tip:

 Don't over-mix the potatoes, or they will be heavy and gummy.

Cooking Lesson:

Mashed potatoes need not be a huge chore. The quickest and easiest way to make them is with a potato masher,* which I heartily recommend that you invest in, as it gently and easily mashes the potatoes into a light texture, and is the only implement you need as you mix in the additional ingredients. Using an electric mixer makes for heavy and gummy potatoes, extra time, and additional clean up.

*Potato mashers (different from potato ricers) are simple, hand-held implements with a long handle and a flat bottom with either holes or parallel bars. It sells for about $8 - $10, and is well worth the investment, even if you only have mashed potatoes a couple of times a year.

For the other dishes in this "heartfelt" menu, see links below:

**********MENU*****************

Three-Pepper Roasted Lamb Chops

Shrimp & Roasted Red Potato Salad

Bacon Mashed Potatoes

Buttery Minted Peas

Angel Food Cake with Warm Raspberry Chocolate Sauce

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