Potatoes are a tried and true staple of cheap cooking. There are many different ways to prepare them, and each one is very palatable in its own way. Today we’re going to make mashed potatoes.

Now, sure, we could buy a box of mashed potatoes at the store, and it wouldn’t cost us an arm and a leg, but why do that when making mashed potatoes from scratch is so much tastier and not that much more difficult?  This mashed potatoes recipe is easy to do and very delicious.

Ingredients:

• 1-2 potatoes per person
• Butter/Margarine
• Milk
• Garlic Powder
• Toppings
• 1 can of green peas

The Process:

1. Wash (scrub) raw potatoes under running water to remove dirt. Pat dry, and peel (a good potato peeler helps here).
2. Boil water in a large pot on high heat; you only need to fill the pot with enough water to cover the potatoes, but the pot needs to be large enough to accomodate all of the lovely spuds you’re going to be dropping into it.
3. When the water is boiling, carefully place each potato into the pot; you might want to turn the heat down from high to medium high to prevent the potatos from scortching on the bottom of the pot. Just be sure the water continues to boil.
4. The potatoes will need to boil for approximately 20 minutes. After 10-15, it’s OK to start checking them for doneness. Stick a fork in each potato; if the fork penetrates to the potatos center with very little effort, you know it’s done; if the potato still feels hard and fork does not penetrate, give them a few more minutes; if the potato breaks apart when the fork punctures it, it’s overcooked and needs to come out of the water immediately.
5. While the potatoes boil, empty your can of green peas into a small pot on another burner; cover, set on medium heat, and let it sit. They only need to warm up, and this will easily do the trick.
6. When the potatoes are done boiling, drop them into a large bowl; pour your boiling water in the sink.
7. Using a hand mixer, beat the potatoes into mush. You may need a knife or fork to help you break them up. After a little mashing, add some butter, milk, and garlic powder to the potatoes.  The milk will make the potatoes creamier, and prevent them from clumping up on your mixer. The butter and garlic powder are just for taste.
8. If you like creamy mached potatoes, just keep mixing and adding milk/butter until they are a nice, creamy consistency. If you like lumpy mashed potatoes (or if you’re just feeling lazy), beat them until they meet your standards of lumpiness.

Serve mashed potatoes and green peas. Additionally, have a little butter, salt, pepper, bacon bits, or anything else you like on potatoes available for topping this delicious recipe.