I guess my favorite tool has to be the food mill, for two reasons. First, because it was passed down to me from my Nana, second, you just can’t beat it for making the best Homestyle Mashed Potatoes With Chives ever!

 

Prep Time: 15 minutes (time includes peeling and dicing the potatoes)
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes
Yields: 4 to 6 servings
Equipment: 1 (6-quart) stockpot, 1 (3-quart) saucepotm 2 large mixing bowls, food mill, hand-held electric mixer

Ingredients:
3 pounds of potatoes, Yukon Gold
Kosher salt

1 1/2 cups half-and-half
1 (8-ounce) package of cream cheese, room temperature
3/4 stick (6 tablespoons) of butter, unsalted
2 teaspoons Kosher salt
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
3 tablespoons of fresh chives, finely chopped (substitute fresh dill or Italian flat-leaf parsley)

Directions:

Start with a large saucepot add the potatoes. Cover the potatoes with cold water. Bring the potatoes up to a boil. Add 2 heaping tablespoons of Kosher salt. Continue boiling for around 10 to 15 minutes until just fork tender. Turn the heat off. Strain the water, return the potatoes back into the hot pot. Place a towel over the top so they will continue steaming for another 5 minutes. The potatoes will be perfectly cooked and the skins can be easily removed. Remove the skins and dice into approx. 2-inch size chunks. Tranfer to a large mixing bowl.

In a small saucepot, add butter and the half-and-half. Once the butter has melted completely, turn the heat off and set the saucepot aside. 

On top of another large mixing bowl set up the food mill, start processing the potatoes through the mill.
Start off by turning the food mill in one direction, stop, then turn in the opposite direction to clean the blades. After all the potatoes have passed through the food mill, take your hand-held electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, on low speed, slowly pour in the hot half-and-half/butter mixture.

Next, add the softened cream cheese, Kosher salt, fresh ground black pepper, and finely chopped chives. With the electric hand-held mixer, again on low speed, beat to incorporate the cream cheese and chives. Serve hot.

There you have it, my Homestyle Mashed Potatoes With Chives.

https://lindalouhamel.com/2019/07/10/summer-time-flowers-and-herbs/

https://lindalouhamel.com/2014/04/09/my-recipe-for-homemade-salisbury-steak/