Baked Mashed Potatoes
- 6 strips bacon
- Fresh breadcrumbs from 10 slices white bread
- Nonstick cooking spray
- 2 cups milk
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 5 pounds russet potatoes, peeled and cut into chunks
- Kosher salt
- 1 cup shredded Cheddar
- 4 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
- Freshly ground black pepper
- 3 tablespoons chopped fresh chives
- In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the bacon until crisp.
- Drain on brown paper.
- Remove all but 1 tablespoon of fat from the pan.
- Place the bread slices in a food processor and pulse until coarse crumbs are formed.
- Reserve 1 cup breadcrumbs for Round 2 Recipe, Fried Potato Cakes.
- Add the remaining breadcrumbs to the skillet and cook until they are lightly toasted, about 5 minutes.
- Set aside
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a 9 by 13-inch baking dish with nonstick spray.
- In a small saucepan over low heat, warm the milk and butter.
- Place the potatoes into a large pot, cover with cold water, add a generous pinch of salt, and bring to a boil over medium-high heat.
- Cook until tender and they crumble when pressed with a fork, 15 to 20 minutes.
- When the potatoes are cooked through, drain them well, put them back into the pot, and mash them.
- Slowly mix in the warm milk and butter mixture until incorporated.
- Mix in the grated cheese and cream cheese.
- Don't over mix or the potatoes will become gummy.
- Season, to taste, with salt and pepper.
- (Reserve 2 cups mashed potatoes for Round 2 Recipe).
- Put the potatoes into the prepared baking dish, crumble the bacon over the top, and sprinkle evenly with the breadcrumbs.
- Bake until heated through and golden brown on top, 25 to 30 minutes.
- Serve garnished with chives.
bacon, fresh breadcrumbs, nonstick cooking spray, milk, unsalted butter, russet potatoes, kosher salt, cheddar, cream cheese, freshly ground black pepper, fresh chives
Taken from www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/sandra-lee/baked-mashed-potatoes-recipe.html (may not work)