I binge watch the first edition of Australian Masterchef on Amazon Prime. Much fresher edition than the one on the BBC, nicer format, funnier, more interesting. No Gregg Wallace. Yesterday the contestants watched a masterclass on how to make a fabulous mashed potatoes. I had time, I had potatoes, I had dinner to make for my family, I thought- alwite, let’s see if it’s worth the effort. First of all, the potatoes were baked in the oven, not boiled, the way I do it. Once baked,still hot, they were mashed through a drum sieve, which is not a gadget I own at the moment, I do have a nice ricer though, which makes a great job too. Which doesn’t mean I won’t ever get myself a sieve like that. 🙂 Also, new to me, but very effective is the use of balloon whisk. So the baked spuds once squeezed through the ricer go into a sauce pan, some hot milk on the side added bit by bit, alongside salted butter. Lots of salted butter. And whisked!!! Hard work that, but boy, once well seasoned that mash was top dollar. For me, a good mash is the sort that makes me stand by the stove and munch on it, while everything else can wait. And I just have one more taste. And one more. And then just a lick.

I had some meatballs from Ikea, which I baked on a bed of mixed roasted veggies. Plus Aussie mash. The child raised both her thumbs up. 🙂