Veggie Tray Mash

I previously posted on my efforts to use up the fresh vegetables leftover from a graduation party my sister Linda hosted for their son, Jesse.  I’d cut up about 4000 vegetables and there were so many leftover she sent a gallon zippered bag home with me.  We ate them for several days but eventually had to cry “uncle”.  I discarded the cucumber slices and snow peas because they were no longer fresh.

Veggie Tray for the Graduation Party

I separated the vegetables into containers.  I further separated the carrots by small and large size into separate containers.

Vegetables sorted out

I used the larger carrot pieces, asparagus and some onions to make the veggie tray chicken orzo soup.  I used the rest of the vegetables to make a delicious mash!

Carrots sorted by size

I had the smaller carrots, broccoli and cauliflower to use and putting them into mashed potatoes sounded tasty.

Add smaller carrots, broccoli and cauliflower to saucepan. Cover with water and add salt.

I cut the pieces smaller and put them into a saucepan with a little water and some salt to cook until they were softened.

Cook vegetables for 10 minutes then add diced potatoes. Cook another 20 minutes or until potatoes are fork tender.

Halfway through the cooking I added potatoes that I’d scrubbed and diced, leaving the skins on.  We love skin on mashed potatoes and with all of the other things going on (vegetables) we’d hardly notice the skins this time.

Drain vegetables and leave in saucepan.

I let the vegetables cook until the potatoes were very fork tender.  I drained them and left them in the saucepan.

Add butter

I added 4 tablespoons of butter to the pot and mashed them with my hand masher.  I didn’t want them super mashed; having some pieces in there for texture would be a nice touch, I decided.

Mash with hand masher

I added salt and pepper to taste, mashed them a little more to blend the seasoning and served them up hot.  Stunning!  All of the vegetable flavors mixed with potatoes and butter?  So satisfying!  I reheated a grilled sausage I had leftover from the previous day’s grilling and dinner was served.

Veggie Tray Mash

I was dining alone but it was almost gourmet food for one!  I must remember to add vegetables to mashed potatoes again.  They’re a nice change!