[ad] Basic Mashed Potatoes and Sausage Queso Dip

This post is written by me on behalf of Tyson Foods, Inc. All opinions are entirely my own. This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. #LoveThisHolidayTwist #CollectiveBias

Thanksgiving is a wonderful holiday and time to gather with, not only family, but friends, too! However, who wants to spend all day in the kitchen instead of gathering with their guests? Not me, for sure! After my husband and I were first married, I quickly realized at Thanksgiving that I had no idea how to make the “basics.” You know, basic dishes that everyone loves and expects, like mashed potatoes or the perfect turkey. Since then, I’ve worked to perfect some of these dishes to minimize my time in the kitchen.

For the past few years, we’ve extended Thanksgiving at our home to include friends, better known as Friendsgiving. Two of my super simple signature dishes that I love to make are basic mashed potatoes, served individually in shooter glasses or mini dessert dishes, and a basic sausage queso appetizer, which is everyone’s favorite! These dishes are awesome as a side dish for a traditional meal or as mini foods for a lighter fare.

 

Basic Mashed Potatoes

Ingredients:

• 1 pound white potatoes
• Chives
• Wright Brand® Bacon Hickory Smoked
• Shredded cheese
• 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
• 1/2 cup milk
• Salt and pepper to taste

Peel the potatoes. Chop them into small chunks. Place them into a pot of salted water, making sure there is water covering the potato chunks. Boil the potatoes for 20 minutes.

Meanwhile, fry 3 to 4 pieces of the Wright Brand® Bacon.

Once the potatoes are soft, drain the water and transfer the potatoes to a large bowl. Using a potato masher or fork, mash the potatoes until there are no lumps. Add the butter and milk. Combine until butter has melted and the mixture has been thoroughly mixed.

Spoon the potatoes into dessert bowls or shooter glasses. I love the look of the shooter glasses, but you may need small spoons to get the potatoes out if you go that route.

Add shredded cheese to the top of the potatoes. Finely chop the chives and add this to the top of the potatoes. Chop the Wright Brand® Bacon and add it to the very top. Yum!

 

 

Sausage Queso Dip

I’ve met very few people who do not love sausage queso dip! It’s one of the easiest ways to make a great impression with a delicious appetizer. Making a basic sausage queso dip is quick and easy!

 

Ingredients:

• 1 lb melting cheese
• 1 10 ounce can of diced tomatoes and green chiles
• 1/2 roll of Jimmy Dean® Roll Sausage

Place the melting cheese and the tomatoes/chiles in a large pot. Heat on medium low.

Meanwhile, cook the Jimmy Dean® Roll Sausage sausage on a medium sized skillet, crumbling the sausage as you go.

Once the Jimmy Dean® Roll Sausage is cooked through, place it on a plate lined with paper towels. Let the Jimmy Dean® Roll Sausage sit for about five minutes, then add it to the pot with the cheese.

Stir the queso dip several times while it cooks to prevent burning.

Serve hot and with lots of chips!

 

 

 

My husband has one holiday rule: Never make a brand new, never tried recipe the day of an event or party. So we stick with tried and true recipes while giving them a little twist! The recipes above are classic recipes with a Tyson® Brand twist. Try them and add your friends’ favorite flavors! Find Jimmy Dean® Roll Sausage and Wright Brand® Hickory Smoked Bacon in the refrigerated meat section at your local Walmart.

What are your go-to recipes? Check out the Tyson Social Hub for more ideas.