Delicious Dinner Party Fun

By Millicent K. Brody

It’s not often that one gets invited to a dinner party on the fifteenth floor of a magnificent apartment overlooking the New York skyline. But there we were, enjoying all of the beautiful treats our friend set out for the occasion. Along with a host of hors d’oeuvres and salad with bleu cheese, candied walnuts, romaine hearts, and marinated, sliced red pears drizzled with balsamic vinaigrette, we dined on filet mignon and baked salmon straight from the friendly butcher and fishmonger at Whole Foods in Edgewater.

My contribution was a casserole of my special, super simple mashed potatoes. Why mashed potatoes? Because they’re always a hit and every now and then you need a dallop of simple comfort food. Regardless of the size of the casserole dish or the number of guests, the bottom is always scraped clean by the end of the meal.

Milli’s Mashed Potatoes for 8

Ingredients:
7 large Yukon Gold potatoes
approximately 3/4 pint sour cream
3/4 C. large curd cottage cheese
3 T. unsalted butter
dash Kosher salt
freshly ground pepper
dash of Italian seasoning

Procedure:
In a large pot, boil potatoes until skin cracks or they become soft. Remove.

In a large bowl, mash potatoes, adding 2 T. butter, then slowly adding cottage cheese and finishing with sour cream. Taste, if you wish.

Spoon into round or oblong casserole dish.

Smooth top with sour cream and bits of remaining butter. Once again top with cracked pepper and dash of Italian seasoning

About 20 minutes before serving, turn oven on to broil.

Place the potatoes under the broiler and watch the top become goden brown and crispy.