I always think it’s funny how quickly we jump from holiday to holiday. Halloween is barely over, and we are all talking Thanksgiving. (Actually, Christmas is popping up everywhere – but I refuse to go there quite yet.) But Thanksgiving is one of my very favorite holidays that I look forward to every year, so I’m more than happy to start talking about it! There is something about family gathering around a table, enjoying each other’s company, that just gets me every time. And you can’t forget the tradition of going around the table to tell what you are thankful for that really makes me sit back and realize just how blessed I am.
With Thanksgiving only a few weeks away, I know you must all be thinking about your menu already. I know I am!! So this week, I’m bringing you 5 new recipes – all perfect for your Thanksgiving table!! I do have to say a huge thank you to my mom. I had the idea to do this a couple of months ago, and didn’t realize how intimidating it would all be when it came down to it and I was 8 months pregnant. She really stepped in and helped me with most of the cooking – I’m so grateful for her!!
Up first is the perfect potato side dish. We’ve never strayed from the normal mashed potatoes at our Thanksgiving table, but that has got to change now. I am a brown butter lover, and the minute I saw this recipe, I didn’t look any further. I really loved the additional flavor that these potatoes got from that brown butter.
If you’ve never browned butter before, don’t be intimidated – it’s so extemely easy, and only takes minutes. Just make sure and keep an eye on it, because it can go from browned to burnt quickly, so you want to remove it from the stove before it goes too far. But believe me – this one change to your mashed potatoes will make all the difference!!
Regular mashed potatoes are taken up a notch with the addition of brown butter. Top with fresh herbs if desired.
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup butter
- 4 lbs. yellow Idaho potatoes, peeled and cut into 2-inch chunks
- 1 tablespoon salt, divided
- 3/4 cup buttermilk
- 1/2 cup milk
- freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- Place the butter in a heavy saucepan and cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until the butter begins to turn golden brown, about 6-8 minutes. Remove immediately from the heat and pour butter into a bowl.
- Place the potatoes in a large pot and cover with water. Add 2 teaspoons of the salt and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Cook until the potatoes are tender, drain and return to the pot.
- Mash the potatoes with a potato masher until you reach your desired consistency. Reserve 2 tablespoons of the browned butter, and add the remaining to the potatoes, along with the buttermilk, milk and remaining salt. Season with pepper, and more salt if needed.
- Transfer potatoes to a serving dish and drizzle with the reserved brown butter.
- -----------------------
- slightly adapted from Southern Living 2007 Annual Recipes
Want more potato ideas for your Thanksgiving table?
Sweet Potatoes with Bananas and Honey
Pioneer Woman’s Sweet Potatoes
Around the Web:
Gratin Dauphinois from Baked by Rachel
Mom’s Mashed Potatoes from Cooking Classy
Apple Bacon Stuffed Sweet Potatoes from How Sweet It Is
Wish these would appear at my table!
@Blog is the New Black, if I had a way to transport them to you, I’d send them right over!!
I need to start planning what I’m making! You are already wayyyyy past where I’m at. Can’t wait to see this week’s eats!
@Averie @ Averie Cooks, haha – the only reason I was on top of things this year was because I knew baby would be coming. Otherwise, I’m sure I’d be scrambling right now!!
Delicious! Homemade mashed potatoes are the best.
Cheers,
Rosa
@Rosa, I agree – you can’t go wrong with homemade!!
I’m starting to plan my thanksgiving menu this week so I’m super excited for this! If there’s anything that could make mashed potatoes better..it’s brown butter. These sound amazing!!
@Joanne, brown butter makes pretty much everything better, doesn’t it??!!
I’ve been envisioning browned butter mashed potatoes and you just totally made it happen. Must try them soon!
@Karly, yes- you must try them. I have a feeling you’d love them!!
Deb you had me at brown butter. I bet these are amazing! Hope you’re feeling well! xoxo
@kelley {mountain mama cooks}, thanks! I’m the same – put brown butter in anything and I’m in!
Thanksgiving is definitely on my brain too! These sound delicious. I love butter flavored potatoes, but browned butter would be even better! Mmm!
@kristy, these definitely were a step up from regular buttered potatoes for me. I adore brown butter and thought it went perfectly!!
Mmm, mashed potatoes and brown butter! Perfect side dish for Thanksgiving!
@Jessica@AKitchenAddiction, I agree – perfect for Thanksgiving! Or any night, for that matter…
I can’t believe Thanksgiving is already in 2 1/2 weeks! Not too early to start planning, in my opinion!
@Loretta | A Finn In The Kitchen, I know – it seems to sneak up on us, doesn’t it!?!
Brown butter…you said the magic words! What a great way to change up the standard Thanksgiving mashed potatoes. Thinking of you and hoping to hear good news soon!
@Cookin’ Canuck, they are definitely my magic words!! And I’m jealous – you probably get to celebrate 2 Thanksgivings, don’t you??!
These look incredible! I love the added nutty flavor from the brown butter.
@Christina @ The Beautiful Balance, the brown butter definitely did add in a great nutty flavor!
I hate that we are always so quick to skip over Thanksgiving. It’s such a fun food holiday, especially to add new twists on old favorites – like brown butter mashed potatoes. Totally brilliant!
@Cassie | Bake Your Day, I hear you – Thanksgiving needs it’s time, too!!
Seriously, I would never have thought to put brown butter on mashed potatoes. Sure, brown butter on root veggies, etc, but potatoes! Who knew!
Great recipe. I can’t wait for Thanksgiving.
@Becky @ Project Domestication, I can’t wait for Thanksgiving, either!! And after these potatoes, I think I want brown butter on everything!!
Holy yum! These have to end up on my holiday table for sure!
@Annalise, the good thing is that you have both Thanksgiving and Christmas to think about, right??
Oooooooh I need a bowl for myself. lol
@Rachel @ Baked by Rachel, haha – that’s how I feel with mashed potatoes. Just sit me in front of a big bowl and I’m a happy girl!!
Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday too! And yes, these potatoes definitely need to make an appearance. How can I pass this up, especially with brown butter involved?!
@Chung-Ah | Damn Delicious, it’s hard to pass up anything with brown butter, isn’t it?!?
YUM! i would never think to add browned butter, what a delicious idea!!
@teresa, you can never go wrong with brown butter, in my opinion! And it goes amazingly well with mashed potatoes!
I love brown butter, these potatoes are perfect!
@Laura (Tutti Dolci), I really do think that brown butter and mashed potatoes were made for each other!!
THese are absolutely genius. I pinned them twice just to make sure I don’t forget. Seriously, I did.
@carrian, you are so funny! Thanks for both pins!!
these sound delicious!
@Karen Petersen, thanks – they are a great change up from regular mashed potatoes!
These could not be any more perfect!! My family thanks you in advance
@Becca @ Crumbs and Chaos, I hope you get a chance to try them – I loved them!!
These are an obviously wonderful idea
Love the photos too of something I would have an impossible time making look appealing!
@Anna @ hiddenponies, thank you! And I knew I’d love these potatoes the instant I saw the recipe!
Oh my goodness, I am drooling!!!
@Chels R., just wait until you try them!
a simple fact: brown butter makes everything better.
People seriously need to stop skipping holidays! It’s Thanksgiving, people. The best food holiday ever! You just can’t skip it.
That said, these potatoes look magical. I rarely even bother putting butter in our mashed potatoes but I think this recipe is going to change that.
So we had mashed potatoes on the menu for dinner last night and after seeing this recipe I totally made these instead of my ‘go-to’ version! Loved the change and nice buttery nutty flavor from the browned butter and butter/golden potatoes! I don’t know why but I never think to go the brown butter route but it is always a winning option!
oh yes! you can’t ever go wrong with brown butter!
Oh yes! I saw Michael Symon make a recipe like that last Thanksgiving and I swore to myself I would try it. Thanks for reminding me. They look heavenly!
And, I definitely understand just how much you appreciate your Mom stepping in to help. I am so thankful to have my Mom so close. I still rely on her for so much.
Well now I know what I’m making this year!
November just kind of crept up on me this year. I’m visiting one of my married children this year for Thanksgiving, so I’m not doing much of the cooking. These, however, would be good any time. Christmas dinner is coming too!
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