Several “little” things annoy me about getting our Sunday dinner underway... 

First, it annoys me that there’s always a pretty high level of expectation associated with that ONE meal of the week.  It’s only a MEAL, for heaven’s sake!  But to my family, it’s next to Christmas as far as their expectations go.  And yes, it IS all my fault - I started it years ago and now I can’t go back to “humdrum”...

Second, it’s expected that we have a traditional POTATO dish - Sunday carbs.  That way you have an excuse for getting tired enough for a long nap after you eat. 

Third, getting those potato dishes to the table in a timely manner (while everyone is starving after three hours of church) is hard to orchestrate.  It’s always a challenge getting those NYLONS off (my first priority), changing into something comfortable, clearing the Sunday paper & cold cereal off the kitchen counter, peeling the potatoes & getting them on the stove, emptying the dishwasher, and trying to get SOMEONE to set the table. 

I’m not complaining - just needing to whine a little I guess.   So, when my daughter shared this little tip with me I was excited to try it.  Her husband’s “Aunt Karla” always puts her potatoes in a crockpot to get them ready to mash after church.  This isn’t rocket science & it won’t change the world, but to me it was BRILLIANT! 

Plain & (very) SIMPLE instructions:

Peel & wash potatoes.  (For my very large crockpot I used about 3/4 of a ten pound bag - but I could have easily fit the entire 10 lbs inside)

Leave the potatoes whole (if you want to ensure you will have “lumps” in your mashed potatoes) - or halve them.

Sprinkle generously with salt.

Get your water running as hot as possible from your kitchen tap.

Fill crockpot to within 1/2” of the top of the potatoes.

Cover it with the lid.

Set the crockpot to “high”

Come home 3-4 hours later and drain.

Add butter, salt, and milk or cream to taste.

Whip (right in the crockpot).

I always “hide” pats of butter in the swirls of potatoes, then the kids try to be first in line to get a little butter in what they spoon onto their plate.  Totally unnecessary, but it adds to the visual appeal!

Cover with lid and set to “warm”

Serve immediately.

*Note:  my daughter mentioned that “Aunt Karla” sets her crockpot to LOW, but it takes longer.  Experiment with your own crockpot - they are all a little different.

*You’ll love using these potatoes in a buffet.  If possible, leave the crockpot plugged in and set to the “warm” setting.  Don’t allow it to stay on that setting for long, however - or the texture of your potatoes will suffer.