heavenly side dish: smashed red potatoes & bacon

How To Make heavenly side dish: smashed red potatoes & bacon

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  Step 1
  PREP/PREPARE
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  Step 2
  Gather your ingredients.
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  Step 3
  Cook the bacon, drain, chop, and reserve.
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  Step 4
  Scrub the red potatoes clean, add to a pot, and cover with cold water.
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  Step 5
  Bring the water up to the boil, and simmer the potatoes until cooked, about 10 to 12 minutes.
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  Step 6
  Chef’s Tip: A pairing knife inserted into the potatoes should enter with little resistance.
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  Step 7
  Take the butter and buttermilk and add them to a small saucepan, over low heat.
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  Step 8
  Allow to heat up until wisp’s of steam appear but do not allow the mixture to boil.
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  Step 9
  Chef’s Note: Alternately, you could use the microwave.
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  Step 10
  Drain all the water from the pan, and then return pan to the heat with the potatoes.
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  Step 11
  Chef's Note: Shift the pan back and forth a few times, until all the residual water has evaporated, about 2 minutes.
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  Step 12
  Remove and quarter the potatoes.
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  Step 13
  Add the potatoes to a large bowl, along with the warm buttermilk/butter mixture and the mayonnaise.
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  Step 14
  Partially mash with a potato masher, or fork.
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  Step 15
  Add some salt & pepper to taste… along with a pinch of cayenne, the paprika, and the bacon.
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  Step 16
  Fold the ingredients until combined.
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  Step 17
  Chef’s Note: I like my “smashed” taters to have a few lumps.
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  Step 18
  PLATE/PRESENT
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  Step 19
  Serve as a side dish along with your favorite protein, or just put them into a bowl and tuck in. Enjoy.
• 
  Step 20
  Keep the faith, and keep cooking.
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