Smashed Potatoes

Total Time: 45 mins Cook Time: 45 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 4
• 2 lbs red bliss potatoes, unpeeled and scrubbed (about 2-inches in diameter)
• table salt
• 1 bay leaf
• 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted and warm
• 1/2 cup cream cheese, room temperature
• ground black pepper
• 3 tablespoons chopped chives (optional)

Recipe

• 1 place potatoes in large saucepan and cover with 1-inch cold water; add 1 teaspoons salt and bay leaf. bring to boil over high heat then reduce heat to medium-low and simmer gently until paring knife can be inserted into potatoes with no resistance, 35-45 minutes. reserve 1/2 cup cooking water, then drain potatoes. return potatoes to pot, discard bay leaf, and allow potatoes to stand in pot, uncovered, until surfaces are dry, about 5 minutes.
• 2 while potaotes dry, whisk melted butter and softened cream cheese in medium bowl until smooth and fully incorporated.
• 3 add 1/4 cup of reserved cooking water, 1/2 teaspoons pepper, chives (if using) and 1/2 teaspoons salt. using rubber spatula or back of wooden spoon, smash potatoes just enough to break skins. fold in butter/cream cheese mixture until most of liquid has been absorbed and chunks of potatoes remain. add more cooking water, 1 tbsp, at a time as needed, until potatoes are slightly looser than desired. (potatoes will thicken slightly with standing). adjust seasonings with salt and pepper, serve immediately.