“Can we add bangers and mash to the menu list soon?” LeeLee texted a week or so ago – from the gym, no less, on a Saturday morning. Surveying the potatoes that are still taking up considerable shelf space in our tiny kitchen, I was instantly amenable to such a request! I mean, mashed potatoes, mushroom gravy, vegan sausage – what’s not to love?
So tonight, once I got home from picking up a 2016 calendar that the cat is featured in (and by “featured in” what I mean is “one of many animals who are not the Pet of the Month” – but I dare you to find me a cuter cat anywhere, anywhere!), as well as some additional Halloween candy for tomorrow’s in-office festivities, I pulled one of our many paper bags of potatoes out of the cabinet and got to work. I must have washed and quartered seven or eight, at least, plus some little tiny potatoes no bigger than shooter marbles.
I put all of the potatoes in my trusty Le Creuset, topped them off with water, and set the pot to boil for about 20 minutes all told. As the spuds cooked, I heated up a pot of Tofurky mushroom gravy – our favorite! – as well as a pot of sweet peas. (Safeway was out of my beloved LeSeur – the nerve! – so I had to choose store brand. Such is life.)
Right before I took the potatoes up, I heated a nonstick pan and placed four links of Tofurky Andouille sausage into the skillet, setting the heat to Medium. Then with the sausages cooking, I drained most of the water out of the potato-pot and then added a pat or two of vegan butter, as well as half a cup or so of almond milk, plus some salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Finally, I brought out my trusty potato masher and mashed the heck out of everything until the consistency was nice and smooth! (But not too smooth. We love a lump or two for good measure!)
Then I turned all of the stove’s eyes off and we started assembling dinner. First came a generous helping of mashed potatoes, and then a coating of gravy. Next came the sausage, right on top, and the peas off to the side. And then, at last: We feasted!
Everything turned out great (if I do say so), and LeeLee was especially pleased that his beloved bangers and mash had found their way back to the dinner table after a lengthy absence. And there’s no shortage of celebration that we’ve got plenty left over for tomorrow’s lunch!
:)