To start, she leaves the potato skins on. Yeah, you read that right—she keeps the skins on! The peels, in her view, provide nutrition and texture. She gives the potatoes a good wash, then chops them in half, coats them with avocado oil, and places them in a saucepan. The next thing she does is include a new ingredient: she boils a combination of chicken broth and water, adds a pinch of salt, and uses this instead of just water.
Why is the flavor so good? My inquisitiveness triumphed over my misgivings. I decided to give Jourdyn's method a go one evening. I mimicked her steps, rubbing avocado oil into the skins and substituting chicken broth for stock. I anxiously awaited the outcome.
I boiled the potatoes in water and then drained them, setting saving part of the water to mash later. After that, I pulverized the potatoes—skin and all—with a sprinkle of black pepper, a pat of butter, and a splash of the reserved broth. What transpired? The flavor was out of this world! The potato peels provided a pleasant crunch and the broth imparted a unique savory flavor that water couldn't match.
Even though my kids normally like smooth surfaces, they couldn't help but notice the texture's little lumps. "What did you change this time?" my husband said, his voice dripping with nostalgia for the days of classic mashed potatoes. Wow, these are amazing! The new recipe was a huge hit, to put it plainly.
This success inspired me to attempt new things, and I did just that. I was inspired to enhance the taste and add a splash of color to my next meal by seeing a TikTok video by @potatolover97. I chose to add some chopped chives and sour cream. Our basic side dish was the show-stopper because of the way the tangy sour cream went so well with the creamy potatoes.
I learned that mashed potatoes may be more interesting than I had imagined from my time on TikTok. They may be used as an empty vessel for culinary explorations. There is an endless array of possibilities, from including roasted garlic and parmesan cheese to utilizing truffle oil for special occasions.
I have also been experimenting with other culinary tips I saw on TikTok, including enhancing the taste of spinach with nutmeg or quickly melting brown sugar with a slice of bread. In addition to improving my cooking skills, these little ideas have opened my eyes to the fact that social media may sometimes lead to the discovery of truly useful things.
Keep the potato skins in your mashed potatoes the next time you prepare them, substitute chicken stock for water, and go to TikTok for recipe inspiration. No one knows. Like I did, you could stumble onto an unexpectedly beloved dish. It will be an instant hit with your loved ones if you're anything like mine.
