Prep the potatoes: Begin by washing and peeling the potatoes. Then cut them in half lengthwise followed by cutting them into 2-inch sized chunks.

Place the potatoes into a large pot and cover them with cold water. Add in 1 teaspoon of salt.

Boil the potatoes: Cover the pot and place it over high heat. Let the potatoes boil in the pot for 30 to 40 minutes until they are easily pierced by a fork.

Dry the potatoes: Drain the water out of the pot and return it back to the stove over high heat. Then shake the pot for a couple of minutes so that the excess water steams off of the potatoes. This might sound like an odd thing to do, but trust me it’s necessary.

Mash the potatoes: Add the butter and the cream cheese (if you are using it) to the pot. Then use a potato masher to mash the potatoes and lightly incorporate everything together.

Finish the mashed potatoes: Add a quarter of the half & half to the pot and use a hand mixer to whip it in. Then keep adding in more half & half while whipping the potatoes with the hand mixer until they are the consistency that you prefer. Lastly, add in some salt & pepper to taste.

Enjoy your creamy mashed potatoes immediately, enjoy!