How many times have I picked up a yummy-sounding new recipe that called for "leftover mashed potatoes"? Way, way more times than I have had leftover mashed potatoes. In fact, I had to cook mashed potatoes expressly for Lovely Leftovers Day. If I ever had any, these would be my favorite ways to use them:
- To top Shepherd's pie. This classic Brit dish is made with ground lamb, diced veggies (usually carrots and onions), and a gravy - a good use for leftover gravy, too.
- Potato pancakes. Just mix your potatoes with a whisked egg and any seasonings you wish (herbs, chives, cheese, pepper and salt), form into patties and fry just like any other pancake.
- Gnocchi. These delish Italian dumplings are my favorite use for potatoes - although to be truly authentic you're supposed to bake russet potatoes and mash the innards for your gnocchi dough.
- As topping for any casserole,
with shredded cheddar cheese. If there's meat in it? It's "cottage
pie." My family makes a version with green beans, hamburger, onions and
lots of cheese that my brother named "monkey stew" for a still-unknown
reason.
- Croquettes. Form potatoes into balls with seasonings, bread, and deep fry - vôila! Croquettes.
- Potato cheese soup. There a billion recipes for soup with mashed potatoes - it can be everything from the main ingredient to a hidden, low-fat thickener (um, low fat if you don't load your potatoes with butter and cream like I do).
- Bubble and squeak. Fry up mashed potatoes, cooked cabbage and leftover roast meat for this very Brit delicacy.
- Candy. Mashed potatoes are the surprising base for homemade interpretations of candy bars like York Peppermint Patties and Almond Joy. My sister made some two years ago for Christmas, and I wish she hadn't told me about the potatoes - they were good, but all I could think about was spuds.
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