October 18 – National Mashed Potato Day

national mashed potato day

National Mashed Potato Day is Today!

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HOW TO CELEBRATE NATIONAL MASHED POTATO DAY STEP-BY-STEP

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Today is a special day. A day where we celebrate one of the most versatile and delicious foods known to humankind: mashed potatoes. This humble dish can be served as a side or a main, it can be flavored with any number of herbs and spices, and it can be enjoyed by people of all ages. Whether you like your mashed potatoes smooth or chunky, plain or loaded with toppings, today is the day to indulge in this creamy comfort food.

So round up your family and friends, break out the potato masher, and enjoy a heaping helping of mashed potato goodness. After all, life is too short to not eat mashed potatoes!

NATIONAL MASHED POTATO DAY:  A BRIEF HISTORY OF MASHED POTATOES

Potatoes were first cultivated in the Andes Mountains of South America, where indigenous peoples like the Incas grew and consumed them as a staple crop. Spanish conquistadors brought potatoes to Europe in the 16th century, where they gradually gained popularity.

The precise origins of mashed potatoes are somewhat elusive, but they likely emerged in Europe in the 17th or 18th century. Potatoes were initially treated with suspicion by Europeans due to their association with nightshade plants and rumors of being poisonous. However, as their nutritional value became recognized, potatoes gained acceptance and were incorporated into various culinary traditions.

The earliest known recipe for mashed potatoes is credited to the French chef Antoine-Augustin Parmentier in the late 18th century. Parmentier promoted the consumption of potatoes in France, advocating for their culinary versatility and nutritional benefits. Mashed potatoes gained widespread popularity across Europe and eventually made their way to North America with European settlers.

In the United States, mashed potatoes became a beloved side dish, especially during holiday feasts like Thanksgiving and Christmas. Today, mashed potatoes are enjoyed worldwide in countless variations, from classic buttery mashed potatoes to creative twists incorporating garlic, cheese, herbs, and more. They remain a comforting and versatile dish cherished by people of all ages.

100 WAYS TO CELEBRATE NATIONAL MASHED POTATO DAY

  1. Mashed Potato Bar: Set up a mashed potato bar with various toppings and let guests customize their creations.
  2. Potato Printing: Use potatoes to create fun stamps for crafting projects.
  3. Potato Sack Race: Organize a potato sack race for some outdoor fun.
  4. Potato Sculpting Contest: Have a contest to see who can sculpt the most creative shapes out of mashed potatoes.
  5. Potato Bowling: Set up a makeshift bowling alley using potatoes as pins and a ball.
  6. Potato Tasting: Sample different varieties of mashed potatoes and vote for your favorite.
  7. Potato Planting: Spend the day planting potatoes in a garden or pot.
  8. Potato Harvest: Visit a local farm to learn about potato harvesting and maybe even lend a hand.
  9. Potato Art: Get creative and make art using mashed potatoes as paint.
  10. Potato Cooking Class: Take a cooking class focused on different ways to prepare potatoes.
  11. Potato Story Time: Enjoy stories about potatoes and their history.
  12. Potato Farm Tour: Take a tour of a potato farm to see how they are grown and harvested.
  13. Potato-themed Movie Marathon: Watch movies with potato references or featuring potato dishes.
  14. Potato Recipe Swap: Exchange favorite mashed potato recipes with friends and family.
  15. Potato Crafts: Make potato-themed crafts like potato stamps or potato-printed shirts.
  16. Potato Picnic: Have a picnic featuring various potato dishes, including mashed potatoes.
  17. Potato History Lesson: Learn about the history of potatoes and their cultural significance.
  18. Potato Cooking Challenge: Host a cooking challenge where participants must create unique dishes using mashed potatoes as the main ingredient.
  19. Potato Dance Party: Dance the night away with a playlist featuring songs with potato references.
  20. Potato Cookbook Club: Start a club where members cook recipes from a different potato-themed cookbook each month.
  21. Potato Photo Contest: Have a contest to see who can take the most creative photo featuring mashed potatoes.
  22. Potato Sculpture Garden: Create a potato sculpture garden using mashed potatoes and edible decorations.
  23. Potato Trivia Night: Test your knowledge with a potato-themed trivia night.
  24. Potato Charity Drive: Organize a charity event to collect potatoes for those in need.
  25. Potato Recipe Exchange: Share and swap favorite mashed potato recipes with friends and family members.
  26. Potato Toss: Play a game of potato toss, similar to bean bag toss, aiming for targets.
  27. Potato Relay Race: Organize a relay race where participants carry potatoes on spoons.
  28. Potato Hot Potato: Pass a potato around in a circle while music plays, and whoever is holding it when the music stops is out.
  29. Potato Pictionary: Play Pictionary using potatoes as drawing utensils.
  30. Potato Puzzle Race: Race to complete potato-themed puzzles.
  31. Potato Memory Game: Create pairs of potato-themed cards and play a memory matching game.
  32. Potato Balloon Pop: Attach potato-related trivia questions to balloons and pop them to reveal the questions.
  33. Potato Bowling: Set up a bowling alley using potatoes as pins and a ball to knock them down.
  34. Potato Tasting Challenge: Blindfolded participants taste different types of mashed potatoes and guess the ingredients.
  35. Potato Charades: Act out potato-related words or phrases without speaking for others to guess.
  36. Potato Sack Race: Have a traditional sack race with potato sacks.
  37. Potato Scavenger Hunt: Hide plastic potatoes or potato-themed items around and have a scavenger hunt to find them.
  38. Potato Bingo: Play bingo using potato-related images or words on the cards.
  39. Potato Jenga: Play Jenga with potato-shaped blocks.
  40. Potato Target Practice: Set up targets and throw potatoes to hit them, similar to darts.
  41. Potato Tic-Tac-Toe: Play Tic-Tac-Toe using potatoes and a grid drawn in the dirt or on paper.
  42. Potato Race: Race while balancing a potato on a spoon held in the mouth.
  43. Potato Karaoke: Sing potato-themed songs or rewrite lyrics to include potato references.
  44. Potato Bean Bag Toss: Toss bean bags into baskets labeled with potato-related words or images.
  45. Potato Trivia: Test participants’ knowledge with a trivia game focused on potatoes and mashed potato history.
  46. Potato Limbo: Set up a limbo stick and see how low participants can go while holding a potato.
  47. Potato Ring Toss: Toss rings onto pegs to score points, using potatoes as the targets.
  48. Potato Guessing Game: Have participants guess the number of potatoes in a jar.
  49. Potato Darts: Throw darts at a board decorated with potato images or targets.
  50. Potato Relay: Race to pass potatoes between team members using spoons or other creative methods.
  51.  Potato Stamps: Create stamps from potatoes to make unique designs on paper or fabric.
  52. Potato Print Tote Bags: Use potato stamps to decorate plain tote bags for a personalized touch.
  53. Potato Head Dolls: Make potato head dolls by decorating potatoes with various facial features and accessories.
  54. Potato Masher Art: Use a potato masher as a stamp to create abstract artwork on canvas or paper.
  55. Potato Print Napkins: Stamp potato designs onto plain cloth napkins for a rustic table setting.
  56. Potato Stamp Wrapping Paper: Make custom wrapping paper by stamping potato designs onto plain paper.
  57. Potato Print Cards: Create greeting cards by stamping potato designs onto cardstock.
  58. Potato Sack Race Bags: Decorate plain cloth bags to use for potato sack races at your celebration.
  59. Potato Print Apron: Stamp potato designs onto a plain apron for a fun and functional kitchen accessory.
  60. Potato Print T-Shirts: Stamp potato designs onto plain T-shirts for unique wearable art.
  61. Potato Stamp Bookmarks: Make bookmarks by stamping potato designs onto cardstock and adding ribbons.
  62. Potato Print Placemats: Stamp potato designs onto plain placemats for a festive table setting.
  63. Potato Print Coasters: Stamp potato designs onto cork coasters for a fun addition to your table.
  64. Potato Print Bunting: Make bunting by stamping potato designs onto triangular pieces of fabric and stringing them together.
  65. Potato Stamp Wall Art: Stamp potato designs onto canvas or wood panels to create colorful wall art.
  66. Potato Print Gift Tags: Stamp potato designs onto cardstock and cut out to make unique gift tags.
  67. Potato Print Pillowcases: Stamp potato designs onto plain pillowcases for custom bedding.
  68. Potato Stamp Magnets: Stamp potato designs onto magnet sheets and cut out to make fun refrigerator magnets.
  69. Potato Print Place Cards: Stamp potato designs onto cardstock and fold to make place cards for your dinner table.
  70. Potato Stamp Stationery: Stamp potato designs onto stationery sets for personalized letter writing.
  71. Potato Print Canvas Bags: Stamp potato designs onto plain canvas bags for reusable shopping bags.
  72. Potato Print Wall Border: Stamp potato designs along the border of a room for a whimsical touch.
  73. Potato Print Journal Covers: Stamp potato designs onto plain journal covers for custom notebooks.
  74. Potato Print Bandanas: Stamp potato designs onto plain bandanas for stylish accessories.
  75. Potato Print Ornaments: Stamp potato designs onto wooden ornaments for handmade holiday decorations.
  76. Loaded Mashed Potato Casserole: Create a casserole dish with mashed potatoes topped with cheese, bacon, and green onions.
  77. Garlic Mashed Potatoes: Make creamy mashed potatoes infused with roasted garlic for extra flavor.
  78. Mashed Potato Pancakes: Transform leftover mashed potatoes into savory pancakes served with sour cream or applesauce.
  79. Shepherd’s Pie: Layer mashed potatoes over a savory meat and vegetable filling for a comforting dish.
  80. Mashed Potato Soup: Blend mashed potatoes with broth and cream for a creamy and hearty soup.
  81. Mashed Potato Croquettes: Shape mashed potatoes into balls, coat with breadcrumbs, and fry until golden brown and crispy.
  82. Mashed Potato Pizza: Use mashed potatoes as a unique pizza base, topped with cheese, bacon, and herbs.
  83. Mashed Potato Waffles: Cook mashed potatoes in a waffle iron for crispy waffles served with your favorite toppings.
  84. Mashed Potato Gnocchi: Make tender gnocchi using mashed potatoes, flour, and egg, served with your favorite sauce.
  85. Mashed Potato Breakfast Hash: Combine mashed potatoes with diced vegetables, sausage, and eggs for a hearty breakfast dish.
  86. Mashed Potato Dumplings: Stuff mashed potatoes with cheese or meat, shape into dumplings, and boil until cooked through.
  87. Mashed Potato Tacos: Fill taco shells with seasoned mashed potatoes and top with your favorite taco toppings.
  88. Mashed Potato Grilled Cheese: Spread mashed potatoes between slices of bread with cheese and grill until golden and melty.
  89. Mashed Potato Stuffed Bell Peppers: Fill bell peppers with seasoned mashed potatoes, cheese, and herbs, then bake until tender.
  90. Mashed Potato Macaroni and Cheese: Combine mashed potatoes with cooked macaroni and cheese sauce for a creamy pasta dish.
  91. Mashed Potato Fritters: Mix mashed potatoes with flour, egg, and spices, then fry into crispy fritters.
  92. Mashed Potato Stuffed Chicken Breast: Fill chicken breasts with seasoned mashed potatoes and cheese, then bake until cooked through.
  93. Mashed Potato Quesadillas: Spread mashed potatoes between tortillas with cheese and your favorite fillings, then grill until crispy.
  94. Mashed Potato Stuffed Mushrooms: Fill mushroom caps with seasoned mashed potatoes, breadcrumbs, and cheese, then bake until golden.
  95. Mashed Potato Meatloaf: Mix mashed potatoes into your favorite meatloaf recipe for added moisture and flavor.
  96. Mashed Potato Topped Meatballs: Serve meatballs over a bed of mashed potatoes and gravy for a comforting meal.
  97. Mashed Potato Stuffed Zucchini: Fill hollowed-out zucchini halves with seasoned mashed potatoes and bake until tender.
  98. Mashed Potato Breakfast Burritos: Fill tortillas with scrambled eggs, mashed potatoes, cheese, and bacon for a satisfying breakfast.
  99. Mashed Potato Stuffed Tomatoes: Scoop out tomato centers and fill with seasoned mashed potatoes, then bake until tender.
  100. Mashed Potato Stuffed Pork Chops: Cut a pocket into pork chops and fill with seasoned mashed potatoes, then bake until cooked through.

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Do you have any ideas about how to celebrate National Mashed Potato Day?  Please share them!

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