How To: Make basic mashed potatoes for any flavor addition

Learn to make basic mashed potatoes with this video tutorial. Start by peeling and cutting 3 pounds of all purpose potatoes. Cut the potatoes into one inch chunks. Boil the potatoes in a 3 quart sauce pan over high heat in enough water to cover the potato chunks. After bringing the potatoes to a boil reduce the heat to low and cover the pan and let the potatoes simmer for 15 minutes. Make sure that the potatoes are fork tender. Drain the pan using a strainer and then return the potatoes to the sauce pan. To make garlic and lemon potatoes, heat 4 tablespoons of butter or margarine in a microwave, add the butter to the potatoes. Add 1 1/2 teaspoons of salt and press in 2 cloves of garlic. Add two tablespoons of chopped parsley and one teaspoon of grated lemon peel next. Mash the potatoes. Add one cup of hot milk and mash the potatoes until the mixture is smooth and well blended. To make horseradish potatoes add two tablespoons of un-drained white horseradish to the milk. To make parsnip potatoes add one pound of parsnip chopped into 1 inch pieces and add 3/4 of a cup of milk rather than 1 cup of hot milk.