Potato dishes will complement almost any meal. They are a very versatile vegetable that can be used in many different recipes. While plain old mashed potatoes can seem like a very boring side dish, there are many different recipes to spice them up and add some class to your menu. Here are two different recipes for Garlic Mashed potatoes. The first one is just a basic recipe. The second one is an altered version that creates an entirely different side dish: Cheesy Bacon Garlic Mashed potatoes.

Garlic Mashed Potatoes:

Ingredients:

2 to 3 pounds red potatoes

5 cloves garlic

3 green onions

2 teaspoons garlic powder

1 tablespoon olive or canola oil

1/4 cup butter or margarine

1/8 cup milk or cream (more for thinner potatoes/less for thicker)

salt and pepper to taste

water

Directions:

Wash, peel, and cut the potatoes into chunks. Boil potatoes until they are tender but not overly soft. They should still be firm and hold their shape. Meanwhile, dice the garlic and green onions (using about half of the green portion of the onions and all the white), and then saute them in the oil until tender. Do not let them brown.

When the potatoes are done and the onions are tender, in a large bowl combine the potatoes, onion and garlic mixture, and the butter or margarine. Using an electric mixer on low speed blend the potatoes until smooth. Then add the garlic powder, salt, pepper, and milk or cream. Blend until well mixed and potatoes are smooth and creamy. If they are too thick, add more milk or cream to thin them. Garnish with small pieces of the green onion tops if desired. Enjoy!

An alternative to the original recipe of garlic mashed potatoes would be Cheesy bacon garlic mashed potatoes. In this version, the flavor is altered a bit by the addition of cheese and crisp smoked bacon. This version has a flavor reminiscent of loaded baked potatoes without the guilt and added calories that comes from lots of butter and sour cream on them. You still have the flavors, but in much smaller quantities per serving.

Cheesy Bacon Garlic Mashed Potatoes:

Ingredients:

2 to 3 pounds red potatoes

5 cloves garlic

3 green onions

4 slices crisp smoked bacon, crumbled

3/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese

3 tablespoons chives

2 teaspoons garlic powder

1 tablespoon olive or canola oil

2 tablespoons butter or margarine

1/8 cup sour cream (can use low fat)

1/8 cup milk

salt and pepper to taste

water

Directions:

Wash, peel, and cut the potatoes into chunks. Boil potatoes until they are tender but not overly soft. They should still be firm and hold their shape. Meanwhile, dice the garlic and green onions (using about half of the green portion of the onions and all the white), and then saute them in the oil until tender. Do not let them brown.

When the potatoes are done and the onions are tender, in a large bowl combine the potatoes, onion and garlic mixture, and the butter or margarine. Using an electric mixer on low speed blend the potatoes until smooth. Next add the shredded cheese, bacon, and chives to the potatoes, and blend on low speed until well combined. Then add the garlic powder, salt, pepper, sour cream and milk. Blend until well mixed and potatoes are smooth and creamy. If they are too thick, add more milk to thin them. Garnish with chives and additional crumbled bacon if desired. Enjoy!

Either of these side dishes will work well for pot luck dinners, parties, holiday meals, or even just an unusual side dish to go with your next meal. You can even use left overs for potato pancakes, or shepherd's pie and both recipes can easily be doubled for planned left overs or large parties.

Learn more about this author, Mary Hale.
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