We all love to eat ( The BBQ was proof enough for me) . When you prepare a certain dish is there anything Xtra you may do to it to give it some punch?. When I have mashed potatoes I always mix sour cream and butter to give them the taste of a baked potato. Anyone else want to ante up?

adding some caramelised red onions, black pepper, chives and grated mature cheddar to your mash would work a treat too :-)

Phil- you're making me so hungry! I will definitely give that a try next time :) I have all of those ingredients at hand- Thanks so much!

I take Astor House rolls (like Parker House ones, but a little less butter, and folded - not biscuit cut), fold them over a pat of butter in the middle and brush the tops w/Parmesan & Chives.

Yummy- I think I've gained 3 lbs. already just from you 2 ! LOL

Herb Mashed Potatoes with Goat Cheese Recipe courtesy Rachael Ray

Recipe Summary
Difficulty: Easy
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Yield: 4 servings


3 large all-purpose potatoes, peeled and cut into chunks
Salt
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil, 1 turn of the pan
2 tablespoons cold butter, cut into pieces
1 shallot, chopped
10 blades chives, chopped or snipped, 3 tablespoons
3 or 4 sprigs fresh thyme, leaves stripped and chopped, 2 tablespoons
Freshly ground black pepper
1 cup good quality chicken stock, available on soup aisle
4 ounces, 1 small log, herb, peppercorn or plain goat cheese

Bring a medium pot of water to a boil. Add potatoes and salt. Boil potatoes 15 minutes or until fork tender.
Begin other dishes for your menu with the pocket of time you have here.

Pour the potatoes into a colander to drain. Return pot to stove. Adjust heat to medium. Add oil, then the butter. When butter melts, add shallots and saute 2 to 3 minutes. Add herbs, then potatoes back to the pot. Mash potatoes, adding stock as you work to achieve your desired consistency. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.

Remove goat cheese from packaging and cut the small log into 4 discs. Serve potatoes on dinner plates and top each mound with a disk of goat cheese.

Mmmm, goat cheese!! Try it!! One of mine & my wife's favorites!!

Randy- I've never had goat cheese- Is it pungent or really really cheesy?
The recipe sounds great BTW!

Goat cheese is soft and mild with just a little bite to it, kinda like feta. And don't say..."I've never had feta"!! If you ain't had feta, you ain't been living!! LOL!! These would go great with some pesto covered chicken breast!!

There's sooo many great choices with cheese...feel free to experiment. Some you'll love while others you'll wanna just ralf. One of my favs is bleu cheese sprinkled on a medium rare filet that's sitting atop a portabella mushroom...Mmmmm!!

Mashed potatoes w/some melted american cheese (or cheddar) over it, then sprinkle some chopped bacon and green onions :D

Yummy Yummy- Thanks Randy for the info and thanks too Cat and Andrew!

Beef jerky, lettuce and tomato sandwiches...faux BLT...only really hard to eat...one will last all night.

Mashed patatoes as you like it, scooped balls of mashed potatoes into an ovenproof dish, put lots of grated cheddar cheese over and back until cheese melted.

With BBQ, try doing this.. Take the big black grapes, cut in half, pips removed. Mixed with Strawberry Youghurt just b4 serving.. it's great with BBQ.

Or try.. cut bananas into not to thin slices, mix with some condensed milk and lemon juice (not 2 much or it might b to sour.. can add a lil bit of mustard powder if you like that too)

Very interesting Marietha. I must try that sometime- sounds delicious.

for dessert.. try this......
500ml youghurt of your choice.. ( i prefer passionfruit)
1 packet of jelly (mixed only with the "hot water" part usually 225ml)
1 tin of condensed milk
1 packet of tennis biscuits (crushed mixed with a bit of melted butter)

press crushed biscuits into a tart dish and put into freezer to set a bit
mix the youghurt, disolved jelly and condensed milk together..
pour into biscuit layered dish.
put in fridge to set (takes about 3 -4 hours to set well)
serve with cream or ice cream.. or just as is with tea/coffee

ahhh… bananas… that reminds me… I haven't had em in forever, but when I was a kid, my parents would take a very slightly overripe banana, cut it into thin slices, lay the slices on wax paper and freeze them. *note to self: buy a banana*

mix half a tin of evapurated milk, with 1lt vanilla icecream, 1teaspoon coffee powder, 1teaspoon cocao powder and about 3 tablespoons (or to taste) filter coffee.

user more icecream if you want it thicker.. and more filter coffee if you want a stronger coffee taste

Here is a super quick and so easy dessert: Better if fixed day before serving 1 16 oz.bag ( box) chocolate chip cookies ( Reserve 3 cookies)
1- large container cool whip
3/4 cup milk in bowl
1. Dip cookies fully into milk for about 5 seconds, line bottom of dish - spread cool- whip. repeat cookies dipped in milk and continue layering-with cool whip. Top with Cool Whip- crumble reserved cookies on top also .Cover, let set overnight in refrigerator and that's it. I have made this dessert several times and it's always a hit!

wow.. sounds GREAT.. will try it.. thanx :)

I find adding a dash of Encona Hot Pepper Sauce to a stir fry is a good move. Not too much though...otherwise it overpowers the sauce.

My favorite- Stir Fry- I bet it does give it a little kick. Just hope nobody bumps you while you're doing it :) Note to self: Make sure extra glass of water is on dining table when trying Andrews tip :)

Speaking of bananas, my grandmother used to dip bananas in melted chocolate, roll 'em in crushed nuts & freeze til firm. Made a yummy dessert, believe you me !

I've had that before Lauren- it is YUMMY!

Sauce with a BBQ ..
Mushrooms sliced, onions sliced, a bit of garlic. 500ml Fresh cream, pepper, and lemon juice

*fry onions until transparrent, add mushrooms and fry until soft.
* add garlic, lemon juice (just a dash) and pepper to taste.. and simmer
* just before serving, add cream and simmer for about 5 minutes. if too thin thicken witha little bit of Maizena

Worms....now that will make you think....no sauce.

lol jerry!
ok. honey w/sweet and sticky bbq sauce.
bbq seasoning. blk pepper. sugar. garlic powder. half a lime. and i think that.s it. mix it. and put it w.chicken as a marinade. and throw it on the grill the next day. yum. andrew cooking is something i can.t even go back on ;P
and yes. i revived this. cause i.m eating and i love food lol ;P