The dance the Mashed Potato was all the rage after James Brown incorporated it into his rousing live show and review with his band the Famous Flames. Under a contract with a recording label that did not think much of the idea, in 1959 Brown took the song down to a friend’s studio in Florida and recorded the hit song “(Do the) Mashed Potato.” So he would not run afoul of his own label, Brown billed the song as Nat Kendrick and the Swans and the lyrics were attributed to one of Brown’s aliases, Dessie Rozier. Soon the nation was whipped up in the craze with two other hit songs, “Mashed Potatoes U.S.A.” and “The Mash Potato Man.” It is fun to use purple potatoes the same color as James Brown’s famous cape to make mashed potatoes while having a kitchen dance party with the kids.

　　

Ingredients

serves 4

　　1 1/2 pounds purple sweet potatoes (see Note), peeled

　　Salt

　　1/2 cup whole milk

　　2 tablespoons unsalted butter

　　1/2 teaspoon ground white pepper

　　

Step 1

Put the potatoes in a medium saucepan and cover them with water. Salt the water generously. Bring to a boil and simmer for 15 minutes or until the potatoes are tender but not mushy.

　　

Step 2

Meanwhile, combine the milk and butter in a small saucepan set over medium-low heat. Bring to a simmer and remove from the heat.

　　

Step 3

Drain the potatoes, return them to the pan, and set the pan over low heat for 1 minute to dry the potatoes out. Remove the pan from the heat and mash the potatoes with a potato masher or fork while gradually adding the warm milk mixture. Season with salt and pepper.

　　Cooks' Note

　　Purple sweet potatoes are grown in Stokes County, North Carolina. If you can’t find sweet potatoes, use a purple variety of potato. It won’t be sweet—it’s all about the color.

　　A Southerly Course