Mashed Potatoes & Macaroni

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cups uncooked macaroni
• 5 medium-size Idaho® potatoes peeled & cut into small pieces, or use 3.5 cups of leftover mashed potatoes
• 2 teaspoons salt, plus more for seasoning
• 5 tablespoons butter, cut into cubes, plus more for serving
• 1/2 cup milk warm
• Pepper to taste
• 1 tablespoon fresh chives, finely chopped

Instructions:

1. Cook pasta following instruction on the package. Drain and set aside. 
   
2. Place potato pieces into a saucepan and add enough water to cover. Season with 2 teaspoons of salt.
3. Bring to a boil and cook for about 10 minutes or until potatoes are soft when poked with a knife.
   
4. Drain the water, add butter and milk and mash until the potatoes have a fluffy texture.
   
5. Season with salt to taste, then mix in cooked pasta.
   
6. Top with freshly cracked black pepper and chopped chives. Serve with melted butter. 
   

Notes:

Use this recipe as a base for your own creation. Consider adding:

• crispy bacon crumbles
• ham cubes
• diced tomatoes
• avocado slices
• shredded sharp cheddar cheese