13 JULY 2006. THURSDAY. 10:15PM.

My new thing to bring to a potluck party is roasted veggies. It's so easy, simple and quick, even if they come out a tad burnt ... no one will know cos everything comes out looking kinda black and burnt anyway! It's my new fail-proof dish. Previously it was green tea ice cream made from a packet (fail-proof becos it doesn't involve any cooking, just freezing), grilled chicken wings (you get those pre-marinated, can't go wrong unless of course the one time i burnt it) and my most adventurous smoked salmon and rocket cream cheese wraps (again no cooking involved, just a whole lota of wrapping). This weekend away to York requires another potluck dish to bring. I've kinda used up my roasted veggies get-out-of-real-cooking card (twice in a week? hmm a no-no) so i've decided to attempt another fail-proof recipe and opt for a mash potato side dish to compliment a roast someone is making. The only thing i can screw up is adding too much butter or garlic, so i'm also bringing along a bottle of smooth red wine hoping to get everyone slightly tanked before dinner starts. Wow, look a whole entry just about cooking! Who would have thought i'll have enough to say on that.

Oh, and does anyone have any good mash potato tips?