Make-Ahead Mashed Potatoes

Smart cooks reduce stress and make life simpler by asking guests to bring a table-ready dish. Be sure you coordinate and know what everyone’s bringing: I’ll never forget the potluck dinner party I hosted at which every single guest brought pasta! With 11 pasta dishes on the table (including a pasta salad), I’ll never be loosey-goosey about potluck again. Today, I ask: “Can you bring a pie?” or “Would you make a green salad?” If you’re lukewarm about cooking, by all means ask guests to bring a dish! Everyone will feel “included,” and you’ll get to try something new! But the topic du jour is potatoes, Dollinks! Here goes:

Make-Ahead Mashed Potatoes:

5 lb. smooth, solid-fleshed potatoes

1 - 4-oz. (125 g) pkg. cream cheese

1-½ c. whole milk or heavy cream

⅓ c. butter

1 tsp. salt

¼ tsp. pepper

3 tbsp. dried chives

Paprika, as garnish

Peel and cook potatoes in a large pot of salted boiling water until tender, 15-to-20 min. Mash well. Using electric beater, add cream cheese, milk or cream, butter, and seasoning to hot potatoes. Stir in chives. Transfer to lightly greased, microwave-safe baking dish. Cover and refrigerate up to 2 days. Reheat, covered, in microwave oven at high setting (full power) 12-to-15 min., or until heated through. Sprinkle with paprika just before serving.