Comfort Food Recipe to warm up those winter days!

It's 85 degrees here in sunny Southern California today, a heat wave even for us! So it's kind of hard to talk about comfort food that warms you in this kind of weather. I know there are many places right now that are knee deep in snow and sub-zero weather, so I'm posting the comfort food recipe just for you!

This first recipe is great by itself or as a side dish.

I LOVE potatoes! I love them baked, fried and mashed. What I don't love is grease, fat and extra calories that turn a healthy vitamin packed food into a heart-attack waiting to happen.

The potato has received some bad press, with many avoiding the potato or sweet potato completely. In actuality the potato is a healthy complex carbohydrate that is low in calories, high in fiber and vital nutrients.

This recipe is for healthy mashed-potatoes. Serve them with a main dish, or eat them as a main dish!

MASHED RED POTATOES

*1 lb small red potatoes, unpeeled an scrubbed
*1 tbsp olive oil
*1 medium leek, white and light green parts only, thinly sliced
*1 tsp minced fresh rosemary leaves
*1/4 cup low-fat sour cream
*1/4 cup skim milk
*Fresh ground black pepper (to taste)

Step One:
Cut potatoes in half and place in a medium saucepan. Fill pan with enough cold water to cover potatoes by at least 1 inch. Bring water to a boil, reduce heat to medium and cook for 15 minutes or until fork-tender.

Step Two:
At the same time, heat oil on medium-low in a small skillet. Add leek and cook, stirring occasionally, until very soft, about 8 minutes. Add rosemary and stir for 30 seconds. Remove pan from heat.

Step Three:
In a small bowl, whisk together sour cream and milk; set aside.

Step Four: When potatoes are tender, drain well then return to pot. Lightly mash potatoes using a potato masher or large fork. Add leeks, sour cream mixture, salt and pepper, then stir until creamy but still slightly chunky.
Serve immediately.

Serves: 4
Total time: 30 minutes

Calories: 154
Fat: 5 grams
Carbs: 23 grams
Fiber: 2 grams
Sugars: 4 grams
Protein: 4 grams
Sodium: 148 mg
Cholesterol: 8 mg