Grocery Store Challenge: Cheesy Smashed Potatoes

Posted on November 18, 2005

About a month ago, my husband began challenging me when we were in the grocery store. He likes to buy boxed mashed potatoes, crocks of macaroni and cheese and other pre-made foods. Meanwhile I like to make everything fresh. Knowing goes into the food I eat is a big deal for me. If I’m the one cooking the food, then I don’t have to worry about partially hydrogenated oils and high fructose corn syrups sneaking their way into my food.

So anyway, one day he picked up a container of Country Crock Cheddar Mashed Potatoes and said, “Well if you can make this from scratch then I’ll stop buying these things.” It was as if the sky had opened up and I was peeking into Heaven. Spending $5 or whatever it is for a little plastic thing with dehydrated potatoes and all sorts of preservatives really irritates me. I told him of course I could make that and, in fact, I could make it better.

And guess what? I did!

Cheesy Smashed Potatoes
serves 4-6

4 medium red potatoes, peeled and cubed
1 cup cheddar
¼ cup milk
½ tsp chili powder
salt and pepper to taste

Boil potatoes until tender when pricked by a fork. Drain

In large bowl, smash potatoes against sides with a fork until no solid potatoes remain. Stir in cheddar and milk and mix until creamy. Add additional milk one tablespoon at a time if the consistency is too pasty.

Stir in chili powder, salt and pepper until well mixed.

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