By Carolyn Malcoun [2], November 17, 2009 - 11:04am
For some people, Thanksgiving dinner [6] is all about turkey [7] or pumpkin pie [8]. For my sister and me, it’s all about mashed potatoes [9]. The first thing we put on our plates is a big pile of potatoes—everything else is just garnish. When it’s time to dig into leftovers, I always heat up mashed potatoes and gravy. (Learn how to make perfect lump-free gravy. [10]) But when I watched my mom make my beloved mashed potatoes one year (because I wanted to learn how to make them), I was horrified at all of the butter and cream she added.
But you can make delicious mashed potatoes that are healthier. Here are 4 recipes to try this Thanksgiving [11].
1. Use poached garlic [12] and a small amount of reduced-fat sour cream to give Garlic Mashed Potatoes [13] delicious flavor without a lot of fat. (The recipe can easily be doubled or tripled.)
2. Extra-sharp Cheddar and buttermilk add a tangy punch to Vermont Cheddar Mashed Potatoes [14]. And, yes, we may be a bit biased, but we prefer Vermont Cheddar cheese.
3. Try something different and make Layered Mashed Potato & Mushroom Casserole [15]—it has a layer of sautéed finely chopped mushrooms, shallots and chard in the middle. It also makes a great vegetarian main dish.
4. Plain mashed potatoes may seem a bit tame after you’ve tried Mashed Roots with Buttermilk & Chives [16], full of celery root, rutabaga and Yukon Gold potatoes and mashed with sweet garlic and tangy buttermilk. Finish the dish with a handful of snipped fresh chives.
Mashed potatoes with cheese: heck yeah or NO WAY! Tell us what you think below.
TAGS: Carolyn Malcoun [2], Healthy Cooking Blog [17]
Carolyn Malcoun combines her love of food and writing as a recipe contributor for EatingWell. Carolyn has a culinary arts degree from New England Culinary Institute and a degree in journalism from University of Wisconsin—Madison. Carolyn lives in Portland, Maine, and enjoys cooking, gardening, hiking and running in her free time.
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[4] http://www.eatingwell.com/blogs/healthy_cooking_blog/mashed_potatoes_just_as_good_as_mom_s_but_healthier
[5] http://www.eatingwell.com/blogs/healthy_cooking_blog/mashed_potatoes_just_as_good_as_mom_s_but_healthier?section=comments#tabs
[6] http://www.eatingwell.com/recipes_menus/collections/thanksgiving_collection_1
[7] http://www.eatingwell.com/recipes_menus/recipe_slideshows/eatingwells_best_thanksgiving_turkey_recipes
[8] http://www.eatingwell.com/recipes_menus/recipe_slideshows/holiday_desserts_recipes
[9] http://www.eatingwell.com/search/node/%22mashed%20potatoes%22%20type%3Arecipes
[10] http://www.eatingwell.com/healthy_cooking/healthy_cooking_101_basics_techniques/kitchen_tips_techniques/how_to_make_gravy
[11] http://www.eatingwell.com/recipes_menus/collections/healthy_thanksgiving_recipes
[12] http://www.eatingwell.com/recipes_menus/collections/healthy_garlic_recipes
[13] http://www.eatingwell.com/recipes/garlic_mashed_potatoes.html
[14] http://www.eatingwell.com/recipes/vermont_cheddar_mashed_yukon_golds.html
[15] http://www.eatingwell.com/recipes/mashed_potato_mushroom_casserole.html?utm_source=YahooBlog_Carolyn_HealthierMashedPotatoes_111709
[16] http://www.eatingwell.com/recipes/mashed_roots_with_buttermilk_chives.html
[17] http://www.eatingwell.com/category/blog_topics/healthy_cooking_blog
[18] http://www.eatingwell.com/blogs/food_blog/meat_lover_s_quinoa_veggie_burger
[19] http://www.eatingwell.com/node/277288?section=comments#tabs
[20] http://www.eatingwell.com/blogs/food_blog/healthy_spring_salad_recipe_with_fresh_peas_and_crispy_fried_shallots
[21] http://www.eatingwell.com/node/277219?section=comments#tabs
[22] http://www.eatingwell.com/blogs/food_blog/vegetarian_thai_red_curry
[23] http://www.eatingwell.com/node/276919?section=comments#tabs
[24] http://www.eatingwell.com/blogs/food_blog/how_to_make_cream_sauce_without_cream
[25] http://www.eatingwell.com/node/276908?section=comments#tabs
[26] http://www.eatingwell.com/blogs/food_blog/3_diy_tortilla_tricks_how_to_make_your_own_taco_shells_taco_bowls_and_tortilla_chips
[27] http://www.eatingwell.com/node/276907?section=comments#tabs
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