Grandpa’s Smashed Potatoes

Another family favorite.

Jill to Julian says, “Hey don’t eat all of it, save some for everyone else!!!”

5 medium sized russet potatoes
Salt
Garlic powder
Butter
Milk

Peel and dice russet potatoes. Boil in salted water until tender. Drain and place in large mixing bowl. Add salt and granulated garlic to taste. Begin smashing potatoes. Add 2-4 tbs butter. Continue smashing until butter is mixed well. Add milk, start with ½ c of warm milk; continue smashing until smooth. If texture is dry, add more warm milk.

Grandpa Mel’s Potato Salad

This is grandpa’s go-to side dish. He has been asked to provide for weddings, birthdays, funerals, pot-lucks, presentations, holidays (he likes to put homemade templates for for the paprika, pumpkins, he’s also used a Christmas tree, and birthday numbers, a wedding cake topper graced this dish at my engagement party).

Jackie says, This tastes like everything good in the world. And I would eat it all the time if I knew I wouldn’t gain weight.

5 lbs russet potatoes (boil, peel, allow to cool)
6 green onions
5 stalks of celery
6 hard boiled eggs
1 15 oz can pitted black olives
1 c. no juice hamburger dill pickles
salt to taste
garlic powder to taste
2 c (possibly 3) mayonnaise
Paprika
*1 tbp sugar

Boil potatoes with skin on until tender. Add salt to water. (Takes about 45 min to an hour). Allow to cool, skin, and dice into bite size chunks. Place in a large bowl. Dice entire onion. Dice celery into small pieces. Dice eggs. Add olives. Chop dill pickle into fine pieces. Add to potatoes. Salt to taste, garlic powder to taste, * (grandpa usually adds 1 tsp). Add mayonnaise and mix. After mixing, smooth top down sprinkle lightly (TRUST ME!!!!) with paprika. Garnish with olives and extra boiled eggs.

*I don’t actually believe he puts in 1 tablespoon of sugar – it’s more like a cup of sugar. I may be exaggerating a little.