Traditional Halloween Supper: Mash O’ Nine Sorts

Serves	4
Prep time	15 minutes
Cook time	45 minutes
Total time	1 hour
Dietary	Vegetarian
Meal type	Lunch, Main Dish, Side Dish
Misc	Child Friendly, Serve Hot
Occasion	Halloween
Region	British
By author	Karen S Burns-Booth

This is such a wonderful and traditional English recipe for Hallowe'en - All Hallow's Eve. It was a dish traditionally served to unmarried guests with the added intrigue of a ring hidden inside. Whoever found the ring would be the next one to be married. This delicious mashed potato has nine ingredients in it ~ hence its name. Serve it as a supper dish by itself, or as an accompaniment to bangers/sausages for a comforting Autumn supper dish.

Ingredients

2 lbs (900g) potatoes, peeled and diced
2 carrots, peeled and diced
1 small turnips, peeled and diced
1 large parsnips, peeled and diced
2 leeks, cleaned and chopped into thin slices, including some of the green tops
8 ounces (225g) mature farmhouse Cheddar cheese, grated
salt and freshly grated black pepper
2 tablespoons single cream

Note

Directions

Step 1	Pre-heat oven to 350ºF/180ºC. Boil the potatoes, carrots, turnip and parsnip together until soft. Mash them thoroughly with a potato masher or hand held immersion blender, and then season with salt and pepper to taste. Meanwhile, gently poach the leeks in a little water until they just lose their crispness, for about 5 minutes.
Step 2	Add the poached leeks to the potato, carrot, turnip and parsnips, and mix in the cream. Season well to taste, and then stir in the grated cheese, reserving some for the top; don't forget to add the ring before you transfer the entire mixture into a greased oven-proof dish. (If you want to make this in the full traditional manner!).
Step 3	Scatter the reserved cheese on top and bake until golden-brown, about 30 to 45 minutes. Serve piping hot with sausages/bangers or with salad.
Step 4	P.S. Warn your guests about the ring!