Travel Tips: Nomad Mashed Taters!
Ah the potential of the humble tater…
O.k. so this is getting a bit silly, really. But still… as the months and years roll by as an expat, I can’t help but dream of simple comfort foods from my childhood. And good ol’ mashed potatoes rank right up there among the very BEST! So I’m thinking: tea kettle. Electric tea kettle. The boiled eggs worked swell. And the tomato ravioli? A bit tricky, but still – boiled just fine and smothered in tomato sauce,,, yummmm-MERS! “So why not try boiling a simple potato?” says I Indeed, why not? So easy it really needs no instructions. Just find yourself a tater, chop it into chunks, boil til tender, drain, mash and smother it all in butter. A few tips:
- Use but a single potato at a go; peel if you like, but I favor snippets of skin mashed in mine.
- Cut into smallish chunks – no bigger than 1/2″
- Fill the kettle no more than half full of water (adding the potatoes will raise the water level, and once boiling, you don’t want it to bubble over the top!)
- Bring to first boil, turn off kettle; let set 10 minutes. Pierce a chunk with a fork to test for tenderness; if necessary, repeat boil and set til all chunks are tender.
And of course – you just KNEW there would HAVE to be pictures: 😉
On your mark, get set, go!
Cut potato into smallish (~ 1/2") chunks
Fill kettle with water – no higher than about half full; plop in potato chunks
Turn kettle on (well duh!)
Test boiled potato chunks, when tender, drain and mash with fork
YESSSSS! Comfort food – 8,0000 miles (and 50 years) from Mom's kitchen!
Hmmm… let’s see – what other yummy taste treats can I cook up in my trusty tea kettle?
For more of my “Nomad Cuisine” experiments with but a simple electric tea kettle:
Travel tips: Nomad Mashed Taters
Travel Tips: Nomad Tomato Ravioli
Travel Tips: Nomad Boiled Eggs
About the Author
Dyanne Off-the-beaten-path travel is my passion,and I’ve always lived life “like-a-kid-in-a-candy-store” – eager to sample as many flavors as I can. Indeed, my life motto has long been: This ain’t a dress rehearsal, folks!
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Off-the-beaten-path travel is my passion, and I’ve always lived life “like a kid in a candy store” – eager to sample as many flavors as I can. Indeed, my life motto has long been:
That’s really clever! And seriously, who doesn’t love mashed potatoes with butter?! Yum!
Yup, so simple and soooooo good. My #1 comfort food. And if you like this Patti, you should also look into my Travel Tips: Nomad hard boiled eggs (and deviled) as well as ravioli – both likewise made in a jiffy via my trusty electric tea kettle. 😉
I love mashed potatoes!
Me too Paul. Indeed, if I could have but one food on a desert isle…
(it would be have to be TWO – mashed potatoes slathered in BUTTER!) 😉
Yummy! Don’t know why but I haven’t made mashed potatoes in AGES…
I’m going to get a cook who comes 3 times a week starting later this week. I’ll have to teach her the joys of mash!
Woa – your own private cook, James? Very kewl – only in Asia!