Vegetarian Times Horseradish Smashed Potatoes — Really Easy and Flavorful Alternative to Standard Mashed Potatoes

I recently went to a get-together where I was requested to bring a side dish if possible.  I wanted to use the opportunity to try something new, so I flipped through some of my winter editions of the Vegetarian Times and Cooks Illustrated to find a good, holiday/winter side dish recommendation.  The Dec. 2011 Vegetarian Times had what seemed like a few good options, including what I ultimately settled on, the Horseradish Smashed Potatoes.  The recipe required all of four ingredients, and for the seemingly most difficult to obtain — fresh horseradish root — there was a simple substitute of prepared horseradish, which can be found almost anywhere.  Not only was this dish a hit at the get-together I went to, it was also so good that I used the leftover creme fraiche and prepared horseradish from the first go-round to make the potatoes again this past week with scallions serving as an excellent substitute for chives.  The dish takes maybe 5 minutes of active time to prepare (the longest non-active time is waiting for the potatoes to boil and cook for a few minutes), so I definitely recommend it as an incredibly easy, and flavorful side dish for any get-together.