My Favorite Mashed Potatoes!

Since I am cooking dinner to share with my dad tonight and we are having home-made mashed potatoes, I thought I would share the way I make them.  I'd love to hear how you make your potatoes, as we have them quite often in our home!  (Disclaimer:  I don't pretend these are for those who are watching their wastelines!) 

4 potatoes, peeled, cubed (I typically figure a potato per person)
1 stick of butter
about a cup of sour cream or cream cheese
salt
pepper
1-2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp of water used to boil potatoes

Boil potatoes about 10 minutes, or until soft.  Add butter (and cream cheese if you are using that instead of sour cream) to mixing bowl, add drained potatoes, water from potatoes, sour cream, salt, pepper, garlic.  (I like to have the butter and cream cheese on the bottom so they start to melt from the hot potatoes).  Mix with electric blender until smooth.  Serve hot. 

Sometimes I will then put the potatoes in a baking dish and bake them with cheese on top until it is melted.  Yum!  One more tip - if you can get your hands on "Jane's Crazy Mixed Up Pepper", I love to add it to the water while the potatoes are boiling. 

Enjoy!