Many of the recipes that come into a person’s repertoire are from pot-luck suppers at work. You taste something good and you ask for the recipe. One such recipe is from Marian Williams who frequently graced us with her mashed potatoes. She writes, “My potato recipe is by the seat of my pants so to speak. I boil and mash potatoes, put in butter (melted), sour cream, chives, salt, and I find white pepper gives a better flavor than black pepper. I sometimes put in some garlic salt and sometimes instead of sour cream I put cream cheese in which gives it even better flavor and keeps the cardiologists in business.”

• 6 medium potatoes
• ½ cup butter, melted
• 2 tablespoons snipped chives
• white pepper to taste

• 1 teaspoon salt
• ½ pint sour cream
• ½ teaspoon garlic salt

1. Peel and eye potatoes. Place in large pot and add cold water to cover. Add 1 teaspoon salt. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and cook at a slow boil until potatoes are fork tender.

2. Remove from heat and drain completely. Place potatoes in mixer bowl. Break potatoes at low speed until they appear granular. Continue mixing while you slowly add the melted butter.

3. When butter is incorporated, add the sour cream, white pepper, garlic salt and the snipped chives.

4. Increase mixer to high speed and mix for a minute or two until potatoes are light and fluffy.

   Marian says that she doesn’t have a fixed recipe. I have estimated ingredients from the taste and texture as I remember the dish. Feel free to adjust amounts to suit your personal preferences to taste and texture. Don’t forget that cream cheese makes a tasty alternative to the sour cream.

   I often add a tablespoon of chicken base to the mixer bowl when I am mashing the potatoes. It gives a nice undertone of flavor without adding additional liquid from chicken broth. From my own childhood, I can remember the mashed potato bowl and how it was garnished with a sprinkle of paprika, some fresh chopped parsley and a dollop of melting butter. These days, I like to sprinkle with some thinly sliced scallions.