34 VegNews HOLIDAYS 2019
Buttery, creamy, filling,
and comforting—you can’t
go wrong with mashed
potatoes. But there are
pitfalls to avoid in order to
make the fluffiest, tastiest
taters ever. Here’s what
you need to know.RUSSET OR
YUKON GOLD?
Yukons. They don’t absorb as
much water and have a creamy,
buttery texture and flavor.START WITH COLD
OR HOT WATER?
To ensure even cooking, always
cover in cold, salted water, and
bring to a boil.FOOD PROCESSOR
OR HAND MIXER?
Neither! These high-powered
tools will overwork the starch
and produce gummy spuds.
A handheld masher or potato
ricer works much better.VEGAN MILK OR
VEGAN BUTTER?
Both (plus cream cheese or
sour cream for extra richness).
Just be sure they’re room
temperature or warmed up
before mixing in for better
absorption.ADD-INS?
Go for it! From garlic, shredded
cheddar, and vegan bacon
bits to pesto, garam masala,
and chipotle peppers—your
potatoes are a blank canvas,
so get creative!M
IS FOR MASHED
POTATOES
(and how to
master them)IF YOU’RE LIKE US, you
look forward to Thanksgiving
leftovers more than the main
event. There’s something about
keeping the celebration going
the next day and tucking into
a lunch full of festive flavor.
This year, forget the standard
sandwich and craft a leftover
pizza you’ll be dreaming about
until Thanksgiving 2020.Start with store-bought
pizza dough, layer with
gravy and cranberry
sauce, dollop with
mashed potatoes, and
top with chopped vegan
roast or sausage, roasted
vegetables, and a sprinkling
of herbs. Pop in the oven
and get ready to meet your
new favorite holiday meal.J
IS FOR JAMS
Whether you need
something to get your party
started or are one of those
people who starts spinning
the Christmas tunes in
October, a perfect holiday
playlist is key. A good mix
means a few classics, some
contemporary tunes, plus
Mariah Carey (obviously).
And luckily, we’ve got you
covered. Download the
official VegNews Holiday
Spotify Playlist at VegNews.
com/holidayplaylist.K
IS FOR KWANZAA
So you’ve been invited to
Kwanzaa. This week-long
celebration is all about
honoring the late-season
harvests of Africa, so expect
lively music, lots of gratitude,
and a beautiful candle-lighting
ritual, all culminating in a big
feast on December 31.Don’t know what to bring?
Dishes typically feature
ingredients Africans brought
to the United States, such
as sesame seeds, peanuts,
sweet potatoes, wild rice,
collard greens, harissa, and
other spicy sauces. So try your
hand at West African curries,
candied yams, or smoky
jambalaya!L
IS FOR LEFTOVERS Mas
hed^ potatoes:^ KateLewis