I made mashed potatoes the other night and I put in some non-fat Greek yogurt, a splash of milk, a couple tablespoons of butter, and a couple tablespoons of mayo plus salt and pepper. They were delish. I also mash them by hand, no whipping. I like lumps.
The mayo trick I got from my best friend's mom who is the quintessential Southern cook. She makes her mashed potatoes with a good amount of mayo and then whips them. I don't use as much but I like how creamy it makes them.
You can go ahead and flame me for the mayo in the mashed potatoes, thing, but what so you put in yours? Do you mash or whip?

Re: What do you put in your mashed potatoes?
For Thanksgiving, a stick of butter, a load of sour cream, whole milk or heavy cream, salt and pepper. They get whipped and are the most delicious mashed potatoes ever. You may or may not die of a heart attack after eating them. But hey, it's Thanksgiving.
When I am just cooking dinner, a bit of olive oil, a tab of butter, skim milk, roasted garlic, salt and pepper. They get mashed.
Depends on my mood. I mash or use my ricer- never whip because it tears the starch and makes them gluey (I'm assuming whip meaning using a blender or a processor)
I usually put milk and butter and salt and pepper in them.
Sometimes I will put parmesan cheese and or garlic, once I put munster cheese and it wasn't bad (wasn't great either).
My mom did the mayo thing once but the family revolted and asked her not to do that again. (we love mayo just not in our taters).
Heavy cream, a little olive oil, and we boil the potatoes with garlic (which then gets mashed into the taters). Gads of salt. And some fresh chives on top.
I made them recently with blue cheese dressing. I did not regret that choice.
My Blog
For holidays (which is the only time I make mashed potatoes) I do a head of roasted garlic, sharp white cheddar, cream, butter, salt and pepper. I like to use red skin potatoes and leave the skin on.
Same recipe, except this is Sunday dinner (not every Sunday). Substitute the cheddar for fresh parmesan cheese, and add sour cream, basil, fried onions, and bacon bits.
We also do a skinny recipe that's half cauliflower half mash pototatoes, and instead of cream and sour cream it's chicken stock. And no cheese or bacon bits.
When we have people over or it's a holiday or something, then a lot of butter and either sour cream or cream cheese, whole milk, s&p. Sometimes roasted garlic.
When it's just us, whatever low or no fat milk we have, a small amount of butter, and some light sour cream or greek yogurt.
I *usually* mash because a lot of times I find whipping them makes them gummy, but sometimes I'll whip for just a short amount of time after doing a good job mashing.
I usually only make them on Christmas (we don't do mashed potatoes on Thanksgiving).
Then, it's butter, salt, pepper, and heavy cream. I use a ricer.
m/c 12/25/09 (5w5d) mm/c D&C 4/9/10 (11w1d) Take home baby 2/22/11
My boobies belong to cour10e
I have always used a regular masher for potatos (I don't like whipped) and I never have lumps. I only put butter and milk in mine though - maybe garlic if I'm feeling experimental.
Daughter #1 - February 12, 2010
natural m/c March 11, 2011 at 8 1/2 weeks
Daughter #2 - January 11, 2012
Ectopic pregnancy discovered November 6, 2012 at 6 weeks
Daughter #3 - January 19, 2014
Started our exploration into the world of international adoption June 2012. We have no idea what this is going to look like but we are excited to find out!
If someone fouled up mashed potatoes by adding the foul shits that is mayo, I would never ever forgive them. that is gross.
everday potatoes, just butter, skim milk and sea salt, maybe some pepper.
holiday potatoes, add a block of cream cheese to the above. yum.