<p>This thread started out sad and discouraging, but has greatly improved, thanks to the surgeon, the golf ball comments, etc.</p>
<p>ZM - so sorry that this situation is difficult. Seems like you can’t win. I would recommend going to the wedding. Slap a smile on, be civil, model familial support, and then leave knowing you took the high road. Perhaps your “good behavior” will open the door to improved relations going forward. I think the repurcussions of not going are more troublesome than the risk of going. I feel sorry for all involved. I bet your sis wishes she could rewind and redo a few things.</p>
<p>I hope “The Method” doesn’t involve forcing the potatoes through a fine sieve, or something equally labor-intensive. If it does, then no thanks! My boys can continue to eat my suboptimal mashed potatoes (made with my much-less-than-$600 stand mixer).</p>
<p>I never make mashed potatoes because 1) why cultivate another vice?, and 2) no potatoes are as good as my sister’s. See? I do give her credit where it’s due!</p>
<p>if i were you, ZM.
i would call your sister ASAP and ask her honestly what is happening, why is all this happening, ask her to be honest and tell you EVERYTHING.
if she tells you a bunch of BULLS**T or you have some kind of arguement, i suggest you give them a bag of patatoes as a present and at the wedding start a huge arguement with your sisters duaghter. start yelling at her and tell her how you feel at the wedding
(to your sisters duaghter).</p>
<p>you’ve been punished quite enough, im tired of hearing this. you deserve better then your bad sisiter and nutcase neise. do what is right (in my opinion) and ruin the wedding.
WA HA HA HA HA</p>
<p>My mashed potatos come from a box.</p>
<p>I hate mashed potatoes and I’m really glad after being enlightened on the “Weight loss for dummies” thread.</p>
<p>Zooz-hearts to you, whatever you decide. Thorns to Bridezilla. May she get everything she so richly deserves…</p>
<p>I have this compulsion to mash them by hand–my mom didn’t use a mixer and by golly neither will I.
(I now make them once a year–on Thanksgiving–and enlist mashing help from anyone unfortunate enough to wonder through the kitchen.)</p>
<p>I also will cut off the hand of anyone who goes near my chocolate chip cookies with an electric mixer (as my H found out when he decided to make some with the kids when they were little–he’s adjusted to the loss well. ;))</p>
<p>H makes the best mash potato. He uses real cream and he hand mashes them by using one of those gadgets with holes, I think it costs few $. It tastes homemade because it has lumps. It’s not the gadget, but the heavy cream that makes it good. H uses packaged gravy, not homemade.</p>
<p>ZM: post 119 with the description of your sister really tells the whole story. She’ll never be happy no matter what you do. It has nothing to do with you or anything you’ve ever done. Her D is the same way, probably genetics (sounds cruel but true). Love her just because she’s family but release yourself of responsibility for her or her daughters actions.
It won’t matter what you do; you are sure to lose in the long run on the family front–so make a decision to stay home or go and live it up at the party, whichever sounds like more fun.</p>
<p>You are an amazing group of kind, supportive, brilliant and insightful people. I feel very blessed to be the recipient of your collective wisdom and generosity. You’ve all helped me very much!</p>
<p>So here’s The Method. These potatoes are made in the style of Aligot. Chunky mashed potatoes are wonderful, too, I just happen to love these velvety ones. They’re also great the next day (or the day of) with mix-ins like white cheddar cheese, carmelized onions or roasted garlic.</p>
<p>Start with peeled and sliced Yukon Gold potatoes.</p>
<p>Boil gently in salted water, a bit longer than fork tender to really tender but not falling apart.</p>
<p>Drain well and then put into an oven-safe bowl and place in a 400 degree oven for no more than 2 minutes. Which allows them to dry but not harden.</p>
<p>I mash with a hand mixer that cost $19 but you could use a table mixer, a ricer, a potato masher or whatever you like. Mash slowly and gently, turning the potatoes often, until all lumps are out and some air has been incorporated.</p>
<p>After lumps are gone, add two sticks of very softened butter (I know, I know, but it’s a special treat) for 5 pounds of potatoes.</p>
<p>After butter is fully incorporated, add hot milk as needed to achieve the perfect moisture level and creamy texture.</p>
<p>Add 1/2 cup of whole milk sour cream (I did NOT say these were healthy) and a few pats of butter on top, then put back into the oven for about 5 minutes till butter melts.</p>
<p>Trust me on this, they’re like creamy, velvety clouds.</p>
<p>They sound wonderful! I may actually try them for a special occasion. Thank you for sharing “The Method”!</p>
<p>I had to google Aligot, having never heard the term. I happened to come across this:</p>
<p>[Lutosa</a> - Mashed potatoes](<a href=“http://www.lutosa.com/uk/products/retail/frozen-specialities/mashed-potatoes/]Lutosa”>http://www.lutosa.com/uk/products/retail/frozen-specialities/mashed-potatoes/)</p>
<p>Lots of great-sounding frozen potatoes available if you live in Europe…</p>
<p>I love, love, love mashed potatoes. I could eat them every day. I want to try zoosermom’s version. I too believe in lots of butter, but use reg. cream not sour cream. I like the trick of drying them off in the oven. I do eat them, just not too often and generally small servings.</p>
<p>My sister uses butter and evaporated milk.</p>
<p>What Gouf 78 said</p>
<p>I just put them back in the big pot on the still hot burner and let them dry abit.</p>
<p>I have not read all the posts and so maybe should not stick my nose in at this late date. But of course I will. I would say, without any more ado, just send your regrets and a very modest gift and let it go. You are loved by others and shame on your niece. She will most likely have kids someday and just might grow up. (and I am a practicing therapist–we are not always touchy feely–I am big on self preservation, but then I need to post on that new one about the crazy family members as I might win!).</p>
<p>Read more and you have had some great advice. So–send here a great cookbook as a gift and laminate your mashed potato recipie and attach. Don’t worry about the $$$ amount–just make it personal. Hope you are doing Ok with all of this.</p>
<p>does anyone here put ketchup on their mash patatoes when they eat it cuz I DO!!!</p>
<p>I adore mashed potatoes, but I haven’t had a potato since being diagnosed with T2 diabetes last year. Oh, the horror! :)</p>
<p>The niece does not deserve The Method! Please confine it to your nearest and dearest anonymous friends on a public message board, zm!</p>