Garlic is fab - just lightly cook it first, rather than putting in raw, a spoon of wholegrain mustard or - my favourite, Irish champ with some chopped raw spring onion - tastes gorgeous and is fab with steak.
A big handful of grated cheese, some finely chopped onion, garlic, a couple of splishes of worcester sauce and a spoonful of grainy mustard...all mixed together. Sometimes, a few glugs of honey go in too.
Mash is comfort food for dreary days, it should have butter and salt and nutmeg and other yummy things in it. Cut your salt out of other areas where it won't matter and enjoy your mash!
You do get good advice in AB. Proof is in the answers you've already had.
I'm a bit of a cheat; but I keep that a secret.
For mashed potato I am quite happy to serve packet instant mash to which I add a good sprinkling of freshly ground black pepper and a liberal sprinkling of garlic granules. The addition of some soft cheese really makes it something. ......Ron.
Vivandron....a nice one for the summer is hot new potatoes, a big jollop of cream cheese and a big handful of fresh chopped mint from the garden....and mix it all up !!!
For champ, cook scallions (spring onions) with parsley in milk and beat it into the mashed potato. The potato seems to absorb lots, so don't worry if you think it's going to be too sloppy. Put on the plate, make a dent in the middle, add a large dollop of butter. Have a glass of milk with it.
Never did my family any harm.
Sambro - for Champ I just add raw spring onions to the mash. Not the way they tell you in cookery books but my (Irish) mum has always done it like that and it's super-easy, tastes great and gets rid of the need for butter and salt.
'skins on' mash, knob of flora light, dash of milk, chopped garlic and half a handful of herb du provence containing lavender. lavender is the must and it goes real well wi lamb.