Halloween Deviled Potatoes

For the Shells

1. Wash and scrub the potatoes and cut in half lengthwise.
2. Place potatoes into a medium-sized pot filled with cold water and add the salt.
3. Bring the pot of potatoes to a boil and reduce the heat to a simmer. Cook the potatoes for 18-25 minutes or until the tip of a knife meets little resistance when inserted into the potatoes.
4. Drain the potatoes and allow them to cool. Once the potatoes are cool, use a melon baller or small spoon to carve out a cavity from each of the potato halves. They should resemble a hard-boiled egg in shape!
   • The scooped-out flesh can be used in the filling; it can also be added to soups and chowders, or even crisped up and added to hash, etc.
5. Set the prepared potato halves on a serving tray and wrap with plastic wrap until ready to use.

For the Filling

1. Stir salt into the hot water until it’s dissolved.
2. Add the cold milk, and then add the potato flakes, stirring to combine. Let the mixture sit for about a minute.
3. Steam the carrots and purée them in a high-speed blender. Try not to add any additional water, as the moisture content is already high.
4. Fluff the potatoes with a fork or small whisk, stir in the olive oil. Divide into two portions, add the pureed carrots into one portion to color it orange. Allow the mixture to cool and adjust the seasoning with salt and pepper.
5. Transfer the both portions of cooled potato mixture into piping bags fitted with star tips or plastic bags with the corners snipped.
6. Pipe the potato filling into each of the scooped-out portions of the potato shells.

Preparing the Garnish

1. Use a pairing knife, cut the garnishes to create your favorite spooky shapes. For example:
   • Top orange mashed potatoes with a sliver of celery to create pumpkins.
   • Use slices of green olives and thin strips of bell pepper to create eye balls.
   • Halve a black olive for a spider body, and slice the other half to create legs.
   • Carve bat wings out of bell peppers and use small chunks of black olives for eyes.