This recipe is from my late mother-in-law Monica. I’ve never had mashed potatoes that even come close to how delicious these are. With both cream cheese and sour cream, they’re the perfect balance of creamy and tangy, with the chives at the end tempering the richness. <br /> <br />Monica was a great cook without realizing she was one. She had a handful of dishes that she proudly served at holidays, family gatherings and bridge parties, and this dish were one of them. My husband and his two sisters requested these potatoes for every birthday dinner (with a big grilled steak, being the born-and-bred Nebraskans they are), and the first time I tasted them, I completely understood why. <br /> <br />Here are a few important tips that I picked up from Monica during the countless times I watched her make them. (1) Generously salt your cooking water. Yes, you can and should add salt to taste at the end, but you need to season the potatoes well while they’re cooking. (2) Put away your fancy potato ricer or food mill when making these. Use your trusty hand mixer, or if you must, your standing one. (3) Keep tasting and seasoning as you go -- and keep tinkering ‘til you get it right. (4) Don’t even think about leaving the chives out. The chives are so important that on several Thanksgivings, my husband and I have gone on a wild goose chase trying to hunt them down. <br /> <br />When I asked my husband if I could share his mom’s recipe, his response was, “Is the world ready for that much sour cream and cream cheese in the same bowl?” I suspect the answer to that question is Yes. <br />

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