Gooseberry Patch: Grandma Jeanette's Mashed Potatoes

Looking back at my posts, I realized what a difference a year can make. A year ago our lives changed when my husbands hours at work got cut and I had to start working again. Those 10 hour days were very hard on three children who were use to having a stay-at-home mommy. I'm happy to say everything has worked out fine! Brad's back to working his normal hours and I'm no longer working with a toilet brush, but a spatula instead :) I will forever appreciate a school janitor (especially during those long summer days!), but enjoy being a school cook. I love the school kids and only working 6 hours a day with all summer off! Unlike last year, I even remembered our 10 year anniversary today! I'm hoping to be taken out to dinner tonight, but we're saving because the construction of our new house should start soon (if our contractor ever gives us final numbers and it stops raining long enough for concrete...an adventure you're sure to hear about!).

The recipe today's a yummy version of a dinnertime staple... mashed potatoes. It should be renamed Mashed Potato Casserole because you mix everything and pour it into a casserole dish to bake. The sour cream and cream cheese give it a great texture, taste, and color. You will agree once you taste a bite of it's creamy goodness! What a great addition to any pot luck type dinner or BBQ. Enjoy :)

GRANDMA JEANETTE'S MASHED POTATOES
8 potatoes, peeled and cooked
1 (8 oz) package cream cheese, cubed and softened
1/4 cup sour cream
salt and pepper to taste
Garnish: melted butter and paprika

Mash potatoes while still warm; mix in cream cheese, sour cream, salt and pepper. Spoon into buttered 2-qt casserole dish. Brush with melted butter and sprinkle with paprika. Bake, uncovered, at 350 degrees for 30 minutes or until golden.