Bacon-Flavoured Mashed Potatoes

Bacon and onion add a wonderful flavour to simple mashed potatoes. It's not a lowfat dish, but it ranks as terrific comfort food! Feel free to adjust all amounts to suit your tastes.

• Ready In: 30 mins
• Serves: 8

Ingredients

• 4  lbs white potatoes, peeled and chopped roughly
• 1⁄2 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1  cup  finely chopped onion
• 1  stalk celery, finely chopped
• 1  cup milk (approximately)
• 6  slices bacon (fried until crisp, then crumbled)
• 2  tablespoons  finely chopped fresh flat leaf parsley
•  salt
•  fresh ground black pepper

Directions

1. Please note that this is a forgiving recipe--use the amounts of butter and milk that you wish, and adding an extra potato won't throw it off.
2. Also, the celery adds a great flavour, but if you want to leave it out add a little extra onion to make up the difference.
3. Place chopped potatoes in a large pot, cover with lightly salted cold water and bring to a boil; cook until tender, about 20 minutes.
4. Drain potatoes, then return to pot.
5. Meanwhile, while potatoes are boiling, heat 2 tbsp of the butter in a skillet; add chopped veggies and saute until soft, about 5 minutes.
6. Add veggies to cooked potatoes, along with the remaining butter.
7. With a handheld potato masher, mash well.
8. Slowly add milk, mashing well until potatoes reach desired consistency.
9. Stir in crumbled bacon and parsley.
10. Taste; add salt and pepper if needed.