Mashed Potatoes

Q: How many pounds of mashed potatoes do I need per person?

A: Pounds per person? We know very few people who eat even a single pound of mashed potatoes at one sitting. Of course it depends on what else you're serving, but as a general rule, one-third to one-half pound of raw potatoes will generate enough mashed potato for one person.

If you are serving just a meat, mashed potatoes and a vegetable or salad, you can figure 1 medium potato (1/3 pound) per person, which will yield 2/3 cup mashed potatoes per person. If you have a large crowd, add 1 or 2 more potatoes to the pot.

For a large dinner, such as Thanksgiving, diners have so many foods to try, they usually eat less mashed potatoes than they normally would.

1 pound (3 medium potatoes) will yield 2 cups of mashed potatoes.

Q: How much gravy?

A: Gravy is a matter of personal preference, and here people will surprise you. Some wish to make their plates swim in gravy, while others just want a taste. A quarter-cup of gravy per person should be adequate.