Dreamy Mashed Potatoes with Butternut Squash

These dreamy mashed potatoes would like to be invited over to your place for the holidays this year. And they’ve requested a seat in the middle of your dinner table. Mashed potatoes can be so presumptuous. Sheesh.

I feel like I’m about to totally mess with all that you hold sacred and dear when it comes to your traditional holiday mashed potatoes. It’s time to revamp them. Did I just hear some virtual gasps?  I’m feeling that awkward silence coming on. Don’t be a hater. Hear me out on this one.

Mashed potatoes are the predictable holiday side dish. They always make an appearance. ALWAYS. And if they don’t, you need to go to someone else’s house for holiday dinner. Seriously, get outta there fast and run to the neighbor’s house or something. You’ve gotzta have some mashed potatoes during the holiday season. They’re the stand-in side dish when the turkey turned out a wee bit too dry or Aunt Mildred’s casserole surprise made another unwelcome guest appearance. I don’t have an Aunt Mildred. If you do I’m sure she’s a fabulous cook. Watch out for that casserole surprise though.

Here’s the deal. We need to lay aside the Yukon golds and Russets this holiday season for a creamier, dreamier, a little bit sweeter, a little more flavorful mashed po-tay-toh.  This year I’m changing up my spuds with Japanese Sweet Potatoes. Wait…maybe they’re called Asian Yams. Actually, I don’t know even know what to call them. This is so embarrassing. I’m like, “Hey, change up your mashed taters to these other things. They’re so amazing! Huh? What are they called?? Ummm, I don’t know. Just get them. You know the purple looking yam sweet potato things.”

Yeessireee, I’m gonna revamp your holiday potato side dish with a veggie whose name I don’t even know. But neither do the grocery stores. So it’s not my fault. It’s totally theirs. Blame them for the yam-ato confusion.

Whatever side of the yam/sweet potato debate your grocery store falls on just look for the words Asian or Japanese. They are the purple skinned yam-atoes with the cream colored insides. NOT the red yam-atoes with the yellow orangey innards. Do you guys know what I’m talking about? Or have I totally lost you in a pile of root vegetable spuds?

Anyways… once you get your hands on some of those sweet, creamy, purply colored yams, err… sweet potatoes, grab yo self a butternut squash too. And some garlic cloves. Chop them all up and throw them in a steamer pot for 30 minutes. No boiled potatoes here! These mashed potatoes like it steamy.

Then mash ’em all up! Isn’t that the most fun part?! It’s like you get to be 2 years old again but it’s totally legit food mashin’ this time. As long as the mash stays in the pot and doesn’t wind up smeared all over your face and through your hair. That could make for an awkward moment with your dinner guests.

Add in some sour cream, butter, salt and pepper. Serious potatoey comfort food comin’ at ya.  Wanna take this sweet potato obsession even further? Umm, yes pleeeez… Add some chopped bacon and grated cheddar on top for the win. Oh.My.Sweet.Tatoes. Aunt Mildred’s surprise casserole ain’t got nuthin’ on these dreamy mashed potatoes.

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