My favorite drink in the entire world is a very, very, very dry gin martini. Nothing is better than having someone make me a martini where they know to whisper the word vermouth over the gin. I usually only have my favorite drink on Friday nights, but I might have to make an exception tonight. At any rate, this is not about martinis; that will be for another day. This is about mashed potato bars, and I went on that tangent because we used martini glasses to serve the potatoes. Whenever I see a martini glass, I automatically think of my dry, ice-cold, James Bond-style (shaken, not stirred) cocktail of choice. Now, back to the creamy, cheesy, mashed potato bar!
I love a good Martini!!!
Mashed Potato Bar AND Potato Skins, Yes Please!
If you're looking for a fun and delicious way to serve potatoes at your next party, then we have a great tip for you! You can make both potato skins and a mashed potato bar at the same time. Start by baking the potatoes until they are cooked through. Then, scoop out the center of each potato to create the skins. These skins will serve as the perfect base for your toppings. You can fill them with your favorite ingredients, such as cheese, bacon bits, and onions. Once you've added your toppings, put the skins back in the oven to cook until they're crispy and golden. Click here for the full Potato Skins Recipe.
While the skins are cooking, you can use the cooked potato filling to create a creamy and flavorful mashed potato dish. Add milk, and butter to the filling to enhance the taste. This mashed potato bar will be a perfect complement to the potato skins. Your guests will love the variety of flavors and textures that you've prepared for them.
I always try to be resourceful in the kitchen and avoid wasting food. This potato skin trick is one of my favorite ways to use up the extra pieces, and it always turns out great. However, not all experiments go as planned, and I've learned that some things just don't work out well, like when trying to cook the seeds from an acorn squash. They just aren't very good.
Mashed Potato Bar Toppings- Give me all the toppings.
The mashed potato bar is a great idea because it allows everyone to customize their own dish according to their taste. From just cheese to a fully loaded potato, your guests can decide what they would like to have. It's a fun and interactive way of serving food. We keep the mashed potato bar toppings simple by placing bacon bits, cheese, green onions, and low-fat sour cream on the table. Additionally, you can also add broccoli, carrots, hot peppers, sausage, ham, crispy onions, and salsa to the mix.
Use Martini glasses!!!
For a unique touch, we serve the mashed potatoes in cute little martini glasses. The glasses allow everyone to make their own dish and control the portion sizes. This way, no one adds too much to their plate and eats all the potatoes in one lap around the table. (We all know THAT guy!). Plus, if someone wants more, they can always come back and make a second serving.
Also, don't worry about having matching glasses; just use what you have on hand, and it will still look absolutely adorable!
Next Party
I think our next get-together is going to be a martini party. We're planning on setting up a potato bar first and then getting creative with different martinis like Vodka, Strawberry, Chocolate, and more. It's going to be a blast! Stay tuned we'll keep you updated on how it goes.
Are you searching for more recipe options? We have a few suggestions that you might enjoy:
- Easy Creamy Mashed Potatoes - Buttery, rich, and fluffy. This easy-to-follow recipe will quickly become a family side dish favorite.
- Air Fryer Bacon Cheddar Potato Cakes - If you love potatoes, these cakes are fluffy on the inside and crispy on the outside and loaded with cheesy bacon flavor
- Mashed Sweet Potatoes - Creamy Mashed Sweet Potatoes with Sweet Corn. Great to serve alone as a vegetarian recipe or with a spicy pork tenderloin, grilled chicken, or grilled steak.
- Low Fat Homemade Buffalo Chicken Tenders - Ultimate game day food, AND this recipe is so easy; it doesn't even require a recipe!
Learn How To Create Your Own Mashed Potato Bar
A Few Things We Use
Ingredients
Mashed Potatoes
- 3 Pounds Russert Potatoes (or Yukon Gold)
- 1 Tablespoon Sea Salt
- ½ Cup Milk We use one percent milk
- ¾ Cups Butter (Softened) 1 ½ Sticks of butter
Mashed Potato Bar Toppings
- 4 Green Onions
- 1 Jalapeño
- 4 Ounces Cheddar Cheese
- ¼ Cup Bacon Bits
- ½ Cup Lite Sour Cream
Instructions
Make Mashed Potatoes
- Peel Potatoes
- Cut Potatoes in ¼ in. chunks. Place in a large pot and cover with cold water. Add 1 Tablespoon of Sea Salt. Bring Potatoes to a boil. Cook for 20 to 30 minutes. The potatoes are done when a fork easily pokes into them with no resistance, and they should almost fall apart.
- Drain Potatoes
- Add Butter. Mix together, then add milk.
- If needed, add additional milk. Add ¼ cup milk at a time. Mix until creamy. Taste to make sure it has enough salt. If salt is needed, add ½ teaspoon at a time. Remember, everyone can add more salt if they want, but they can't remove it!
- Put the mashed potatoes into a serving dish.
Prepare Mashed Potato Bar Toppings
- Chop the green onions and jalapeño peppers and place them in separate serving dishes.
- Grate cheese and place in a serving bowl.
- Place low-fat sour cream in a serving dish.
- Place bacon bits in a serving bowl. If you don't like bacon bits, you can also fry, bake, or air fry bacon and crumble it.
Build Mashed Potato Bar
- To make it easier for your guests to enjoy their meal, be sure to put the mashed potatoes in a serving bowl with a spoon.
- Arrange the topping bowls around the mashed potato dish and provide a spoon for each topping.
- For a fun and unique dining experience, consider setting out individual martini glasses, small plates, or bowls to let your guests create their own flavorful masterpieces.
Please let us know what you think