Mashed Potatoes with Cottage Cheese

Ingredients
4 russet potatoes, scrubbed and cut into chunks
¹⁄₃ cup half and half
¹⁄₄ cup unsalted butter
2 garlic cloves, minced
¹⁄₄ cup cottage cheese, pureed (I pureed mine in my hand blender.  Use whatever works for you.)
2 tablespoons chives, thinly sliced
Salt and pepper, to taste

Instructions
1. Place potatoes in large pot and fill with water.  Salt water well then bring water to boil over high heat, reduce heat to medium-high, and cook potatoes until fork tender, about 25 minutes. 

2. Meanwhile, bring half and half, butter, and garlic to simmer in small saucepan.  Remove from heat. 

3. Drain potatoes in colander and return to pot.  Mash potatoes and taste for salt, add more if necessary.  Pour half and half mixture over potatoes and stir well until combined and potatoes are as smooth as you want them to be. 

4. Stir in pureed cottage cheese, chives, and taste for seasoning.  Add more salt and pepper if desired. 

Comments
This recipe is from Spoon Fork Bacon and was originally called “Heavenly Mashed Potatoes.”  I didn’t find them very heavenly, but they were certainly scrumptious.  The cottage cheese isn’t detectable in the finished product but I’m sure it adds a nice creaminess without the addition of extra cream.  The garlic, of course, helped too! 

Shown here with Roasted Lamb Shoulder.

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