Instructions

1. Bring a large pot of water to boil.
2. Peel and chop the potatoes. Place them in the boiling water for approximately 25 minutes or until they're soft enough to be easily pierced with a fork. Drain.
3. Add the butter and milk to the potatoes and lightly whip with a handheld blender. You don't want to go too creamy with these. If needed, instant potatoes will work as well and save time.
4. Place beans and all seasonings into a food processor or blender and blend to the consistency of really thick, pasty oatmeal. You can opt to just mash them (as shown in picture) but we prefer to break them down further. The difference is in the density. Well blended beans provide a more dense, yet consistent side dish. Mashing the beans gives a more "beans and potatoes" feel with light, fluffy potatoes and random bean bites.
5. Blend the potatoes and beans thoroughly using a fork. If the mixture is too thick, add more milk (1/8 cup at a time) until desired consistency is reached.
6. Optional: Create a "bowl" within the center of the finished red beans and potatoes. Place 1 tbsp of butter and sprinkle some fresh parsley in the center. The heat from the potatoes should melt the butter creating a bowl of melted goodness that will flow over the dish as guests scoop their servings.