Mashed potatoes are one of the staple side dishes on the American dinner table and it's not uncommon to make more than our stomachs can handle. There are plenty of ways to use those leftover mashed potatoes in delicious meals and side dishes that will help save time, money and prevent food waste.
Potato Pancakes
Potato pancakes are a great breakfast dish that utilizes those leftover mashed potatoes from the night before. Place any leftover mashed potatoes in a bowl and add milk, flour, salt and pepper. The mashed potatoes should be soft enough to form into patties. Place the patties in a heated skillet with hot oil. Allow the patties to brown on both sides then remove from the skillet to cool. You can make your potato pancakes more interesting by adding green onions, shredded cheese, cayenne pepper and topping them with salsa and sour cream.
Casseroles
Use leftover mashed potatoes in a casserole dish. Casseroles to consider include hamburger pie consisting of a base of browned hamburger, green beans, tomato sauce and seasonings, a second layer of mashed potatoes and a top layer of shredded sharp cheddar cheese. Use mashed potatoes in your favorite version of shepherd's pie or consider making a mashed potato casserole, which is as simple as adding cream cheese, sour cream, salt and chives to your leftover mashed potatoes and baking at 350 degrees Fahrenheit until warm and brown.
Mashed Potato Candy
Mashed potatoes aren't just for savory meals and side dishes. Mashed potatoes can also be used as a component in candy-making. Mashed potato candy is made using leftover mashed potatoes, powdered sugar, vanilla and peanut butter. Mix together the leftover mashed potatoes, powdered sugar and vanilla until the sugar is dissolved and the mixture becomes hard to stir. The mixture is then placed on a hard surface and rolled out with a rolling pin. Add a layer of peanut butter on top of the rolled out potato mixture then roll it up like a jelly roll. The candy is refrigerated for several hours then cut into slices.
Mashed Potato Puffs
Create an elegant side dish with mashed potatoes by making mashed potato puffs. Mix leftover mashed potatoes with eggs, Parmesan cheese, chives, ham and salt and pepper. Drop spoonfuls of the mixture into greased muffin tins. Top each puff with more shredded cheese before baking. Bake the puffs at 350 degrees Fahrenheit until they are brown.
Tags: mashed potatoes, leftover mashed potatoes, leftover mashed, leftover mashed, side dishes, degrees Fahrenheit
