Bacon Cheddar Mashed Potatoes

I am a potato queen.  No really, that's what my family calls me.  Potato Queen.  At any family gathering that requires potatoes, I am the de facto bringer of those goods.  What can I say?  I spent a lot of time in braces, perfecting mashed potatoes. 

I have come to the conclusion that the very best mashed potatoes should contain all the yummy things that you enjoy in a baked potato.  So that changes for each person, but the theme is the same - if you love it in a baker, you'll love it mashed.  This logic brought about my Thanksgiving contribution, and today's offering.  Enjoy.

Bacon Cheddar Mashed Potatoes

1 5 lb bag russet potatoes, skinned and cubed
1 stick unsalted butter
1/4 cup milk
1/4 cup sour cream
6-8 bacon strips, cooked until crispy, and then chopped
1 8 oz bag cheddar and monterrey jack cheeses, shredded
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp kosher salt
1/2 tsp black pepper

Boil potatoes until fork-tender, about 20 minutes at a boil.  Drain and add back to pot.

Add all ingredients, and then using a hand mixer, beat on low until smooth (or desired consistency).

Add more seasoning as desired.  These were DELISH.

Sweet Potato Souffle

I made this recipe for Thanksgiving dinner, and have been asked to make it again for Christmas. I am not much of a "Sweets" person, and while this recipe is inherently sweet because of the sweet potatoes, it is not sugary sweet w/ extra marshmallows, orange juice, etc. I have to send a shout out to my friend Bravo for sharing it with me twice!! I can't take credit for this one...

Sweet Potato Souffle

Here's what I used:

6 cups mashed cooked sweet potatoes (4-6 depending on size)
1 stick butter
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 cup milk

1 cup brown sugar
1/3 cup melted butter
1/3 cup AP Flour
1 cup chopped walnuts

Here's what I did:

First I skinned and cubed my sweet potatoes, and set them to boil in a large pot of water, until fork tender. Then I mashed them up with a hand-held potato masher, but you can also use a mixer or a fork to mash them up. Add the butter, vanilla extract and milk, and then put mixture in a glass casserole dish and bake at 350 for 15-20 minutes.

In a small bowl, mix the brown sugar, melted butter, flour and walnuts. Then sprinkle/spread over top of the potatoes and bake another 15 minutes.

No Bake Peanut Butter Pie

This recipe is RIDICULOUS. Easy. Amazing. Hands down, this was a heavy favorite from all 13 guests we had for Thanksgiving. Which is saying a lot since we also had: Fried Turkey (awesome hubby's recipe), Mashed Potatoes, a TO DIE FOR Sweet Potato Souffle, Cornbread Stuffing, Fresh Cranberry Sauce, Giblet Gravy...etc, etc, etc.

Here's what I used:

8 oz Cream Cheese
1 1/2 cups Confectioners/Powdered Sugar
1 cup Milk
1 cup Peanut Butter (creamy or crunchy -I used Jif Creamy)
16 oz Frozen Whipped Topping (Cool Whip), thawed
2 graham cracker pie crusts

***Note to the health conscious: all ingredients can be subbed for their low-fat or no-sugar counterpart. I.e. - Skim Milk, Splenda, Fat Free Cool Whip, etc. I have heard these also taste very good!!

Here's what I did:

I used my Kitchen Aid electric stand mixer, but a hand mixer works too. First I whipped my cream cheese and powdered sugar together - it helps to let the cream cheese soften on the counter for a bit, so take it out of the fridge early... Then I added the milk and peanut butter and whipped all ingredients together until smooth. Then I tasted some. MMMmmmm. I digress.

Then with a spatula, I gently folded in the whipped topping until all ingredients were incorporated, and poured the mix into the pie crusts.

I made these a day ahead, so I froze them overnight and took them out just before serving. They are the consistency of a very light ice cream cake, so they don't stay frozen for very long. The recipe calls for 3 hours of freeze time though, so it can be made a little ahead of a dinner party, etc.

I can't describe the deliciousness and SIMPLEness of this recipe. It sort of defies logic. Something this good should be VERY hard to make...at least that would make it easier for me to NOT make this every day...