#455 Digging a hole in your mashed potatoes and filling it up with gravy

Neil Pasricha

Get your mash on long.

Get your mash on strong.

How great is it that a bunch of rock-hard brown things yanked from the dirt can turn into a creamy smooth-n-salty canvas of deliciousness right in the middle of our plates? I’m talking salty lumps, I’m talking tasty bumps, I’m talking mashed potatoes, people.

Mashed potatoes are one of the few foods who achieve that rare 10 out of 10 on sculptability:

• Lakes and ponds. The classic. Nobody’s bending burgers into teapots or folding pancakes into salad plates, but we’ve got no problems curving sloppy potatoes into gravy swimming pools in no time flat.

• Broken dams. Need some gravy on that turkey? No problem — just slice a gully in the side of Lake Gravy and watch the salty brown goodness lay a flash flood on that bird.

• Retaining walls. Sorry? What’s that? Unruly cranberry sauce is threatening to contaminate your casserole? No problem! Just smear some mashed potato paste across your plate like mortar and keep all the flavors where they belong.

• Buried volcano. When you got the gravy pond sitting pretty on your plate it’s sometimes fun letting it soak in and then quickly flipping the entire structure onto itself, completely submerging the gravy under a thin sheen of potato. Now you’ve got a starchy chest full of treasure.

And because mashed potatoes offer so much potential it’s not uncommon to see other creations like green-bean porcupines or lumpy Pyramids of Giza in the middle of a mashed potato plate. There is really no limit to the possibilities so just remember to dig for the moment, sculpt for the memories, and build for your life.

AWESOME!

— Email message —

“In my view, there’s nothing more awesome than a sinful dessert to end a perfect meal. So, fittingly, I hope this sweet Book of Awesome ice cream sandwich makes a perfect ending to today’s post!” – A. Fiorino from Insanewiches.com

— Special Announcement —

Hi everybody,

Thank you sincerely for reading 1000 Awesome Things.

We’ve come a long way together and it’s been fun sharing your stories from around the world for the first 100 days since the launch of The Book of Awesome.

Today I’m very excited to tell you that The Book of Awesome 2 will be coming out in Spring, 2011!

This is entirely happening because of the support you’ve shown for the book which is currently in its 12th week on bestseller lists and in its eighth printing. Next week it’s coming out in the UK, Australia, and New Zealand and it’s currently getting translated for other countries.

The Book of Awesome 2 will once again feature our favorite awesome things from the blog together with lots of new entries. Of course, I’d love your help picking which awesome things go in it. So let’s celebrate! Leave a comment below with an entry from the blog you’d like to see in The Book of Awesome 2. Make sure you enter your email address because we’ll draw five random comments on Sunday night to receive a free autographed copy of The Book of Awesome in the mail! All comments, thoughts, or replies count as ballots and we’ll announce the winners on Monday.

Thank you again so sincerely. This has been an absolutely amazing surprise and joy and I’m so grateful for the opportunity to chat about awesome things every day.

Have a great weekend everybody,

Neil

Photos from: here, here, and here

246 thoughts to “#455 Digging a hole in your mashed potatoes and filling it up with gravy”

  3. This is my own idea. It may sound a bit gross to others, but I am crazy over it!

    Whenever I pour the finishing drops of a gallon of milk, there is this foamy milk left in the bottom made up of bubbles! I love it! :)

    I can’t wait for the second book! I got mine from Amazon a few weeks ago and I am lovin’ it!

  4. #989. always been my fave cuz there is no better feeling than being able to breath cleanly, especially after you have been stuffed up for days..
    also, i would like to mention having a dream within a dream (and yes, i just watched Inception). I had that happen on Monday. it was super cool.

  5. I was at my local bookstore and the first thing I saw was “The Book of Awesome” on a table with other “Staff Picks”. It was heartwarming to see other people’s love of all things awesome.

    And I would definetly go with # 482 When your shoes are tight enough to stay on your foot but loose enough to slide on and off without untying them.

  6. Being a bit of a homebody, I’m going to have to go with #473 – when the social event you don’t want to go to gets cancelled. Wicked-awesome!

  7. Never just made a hole in the potatoes and put gravy in it. I would make huge volcanoes.

  8. This is something I think is really awesome: when somebody else cleans your hair brush without being asked. Yucky, hairy, dirty hairbrush – I don’t want to touch it – it’s like a giant spider! So when I pick it up to use it, it is totally awesome when someone surprises me by cleaning it!

  9. Awesmazing! Two words ‘mashed’ together to describe another epic sequel ~Book of Awesome 2!

    #480 Taking Friday off

  10. Hands down, #538, laughing so hard you start crying! Runner up is the childhood super jump!
    Congrats on the big 02!

  12. This reminds me of a time at my friend’s house. I don’t particularly like gravy, but it was on my mashed potatoes before I was even handed my plate. I ate all the mashed potatoes that weren’t smothered in gravy, and in the end my creation looked like an erupting volcano or some sot of above-ground lake.

    AWESOME!

  14. My favorite, which I don’t know if it’s in the first book already (because I haven’t finished it yet) is #576: Appreciating the beauty of all your body’s scars and scratches.
    I have zero equilibrium, and spend most of my time falling over, onto, off of or into things. As you can imagine, I’m covered in old scars and constant new scratches and bruises. I have learned to love these, as most have a completely ridiculous story behind them (right now, the scratches on my left shin and epic bruise on my right kneecap are from faceplanting off a swingset…it’s a great story, really!), so this awesome thing is totally my favorite :)

  15. Book of Awesome 2? That’s… well, that’s just

    AWESOME

    And I gotta say my favorite entry is #812 When you’re drowning and then a dolphin comes to your rescue. If only for the picture that goes with it.

  16. The way the spine of a book looks after the first read.

    It is no longer crisp and smooth, but now has creases and bumps all along it. The book flops open and sits perfectly on any page without other pages fanning over. Plus, a worn in book looks much better on a shelf then a new one.

    1. I love this too, especially with new piano books that refuse to stay open and propped up on the music stand for me to read.

  18. Congratulations!

    I read your blog to my four kids each day and we discuss it. We are working on our own list. What a great way to frame life!

    I love your recent awesome thing of finding yourself alone on the beach.

    :)

  20. I love this site, it always brings a smile to my face! One of my favs is #980 old playgrounds!!

  21. So many to choose from!
    #937 The smell of rain on a hot side walk
    #733 Laughing so hard you make no sound at all
    #675 Wordless apologies
    #635 When the hiccups stop
    #602 Getting through it
    #568 Your moms love
    #519 Glue movies
    #462 Pain

    Some of my awesome things:
    – The smell of window air conditioners in really old houses
    – Hot tea on a cold rainy night
    – When you realize you’re not the only one
    – Home videos
    – When the clothing of someone you love smells like them

    AWESOME!

  22. I can’t wait for the second book, just as many have already said. But another thing about this post that made me literally jump out of my seat is that it’s going to be released in AUSTRALIA!!! YAYAY! Now I can buy even more for some more awesome people :-)
    I think the tiny little smiley face at the top right of this web page is awesome.
    I also would also love to see:
    -#800 Getting a splinter out of your finger
    -#566 Unforgettable friends
    -#465 When a work friend becomes an outside-of-work friend
    in the second volume.
    Thanks Neil

  23. Pingback: Top Posts — WordPress.com

  25. Hi, Neil!

    I love your blog, your choices of awesome things and, most of all, your way of writing about them. I wonder if there is already someone translating your book to brazillian portuguese. If not, I really really really would love to do it. Would it be possible? For the many fans you have here in Brazil, I hope for a positive answer.
    Congrats on the second book. Awesome!
    Kisses from Rio de Janeiro!

  26. It is amazing how one email a day can help erase any worries or stresses that the day has accumulated. Sometimes I start reading… “O geez how cheesy is this one going to be…” but by the end I am always smiling (or smirking to myself!) I Must admit (in reference to the Guilty pleasure song post) I have seen the sign and I love it!

    I can’t wait for the Book of Awesome 2! That is amazing!… NO… AWESOME!!!!!!!!

    I hope i get a book! aileen n

  27. I agree, this one should be in the new book, as well as #478 – Hearing a song that reminds you of someone you love. Great!
    I love the imagery that you include in every post that makes this so enjoyable to read. It’s not always the awesome thing that I get the most joy from; instead, it’s the way you describe each item lovingly and vividly. AWESOME!

  28. That is super exciting that you’re coming out with a second book! A huge congratulations on your success!
    I would love to see #456 on the list. I’ve loaned out so many books, and only a few have I gotten back, and out of the few, I think only one or two were actually read. I’ve also borrowed books and finally read them and enjoyed being able to give it back to the owner, even years later!

    Thanks for the Awesome Things :)

  30. It is 11:15 PM and I am dead tired. As I am reading my email my daughter is unloading the dishwasher and making a racket. It made me think of all of the times I have been lying in bed and I don’t have to get up because I can hear someone else making coffee, putting away dinner dishes, folding laundry, unloading the dishwasher, baking something special, packing lunches, all those special little things that allow me to lie in bed for another 15 minutes. Those reassuring noises are Awesome! I love to hear those cupboard doors slam.

  31. Congratulations on the second book! I can’t wait to read it!

    My favourite entry is #541 Junk Drawers, since I have one just like it that contains almost all the things you listed!

  33. There are just so many good blogs in this website, but I”ll have to say my favorite of them all would be #483 Do nothing days. Awesome! :)

    I am so looking forward to The Book of Awesome 2 coming Spring 2011!
    Thanks Neil for spreading the awesomeness word out there! :)

  35. I am a long time lover of mashed potatoes, so I would have to say that this is probably my favorite so far.

    I would also have to highly recommend this entry #445: Digging a hole in your mashed potatoes and filling it up with gravy for the Book of Awesome 2. :)

  39. My two most favourites are:

    1. Calling a Mulligan on the Day!
    2. Learning a New Word and the Seeing it Everywhere!

    Hoping it is second-book-worthy,
    -Destinee

  40. Today’s mashed potato and gravy blog should go in, also the short one about taking Friday off because it confused so many of us. Awsome that the publishers are wanting another book, may they order more (Vol III, IV, V etc) until you get tired of writing them

  42. Hurray for book 2!!

    #966 – living with someone who doesn’t mind killing spiders is definitely my favorite! Hope it gets included in the book! (:

  43. You should definitely include #469 Seeing a dog that looks like a dog you know!! I read this right after returning home from a friend’s house who has a labradoodle (cross between a Labrador and Poodle) who looks identical to my former labradoodle, Aggie, and the entry made me so happy. Congrats on the second book, Neil!! I can’t wait to order it!!!

  45. charee.peters@gmail.com

    I couldn’t be more ecstatic about hearing that a new book will be released. This website has helped me through so many trying times. To say the least, each awesome thing helps bring equanimity to my life. Thank you.

    As for what I would like to recommend be in the new book is #526 When dreams come true. This last summer has helped me to realize my dreams have come true. I will be the first person in my family to graduate from college next June, and this summer I have been working on astrophysics research only to find out that I may be one of only a few female Native American astrophysicists.

  46. Congrats for the second book!
    Here are my favorites… Hope they’re somewhere in the new book.
    #982 Picking your nose. Awesome.
    #506 When the person you’re meeting is even later than you are. Awesomer.
    #529 Finally peeing after holding it forever. Awesomest.

  47. I love it when Blogs make money. All for that! Congratulations! Just found your blog a couple of months ago. Read it faithfully everyday now. My favorite is #478 Hearing a song that reminds you of someone you love. Shed a few tears reading that one, because there is one special song from Celine that always washes over me all the love my sister and I had for each other. She died 10 years ago in a car wreck.

  48. I found this website by accident when I decided to make a list of things I like to do for my 9th grade English class. Ever since then I have enjoyed reading posts in my free time and I just recently bought The Book Of Awesome! Even some of my friends were interested in it. Congrats on The Book Of Awesome 2! I cant wait to read it!

    Being a sophomore in High School, my favorite post is #921: Snowdays!

  49. Great website. First heard about it on the radio prior to book coming out. My favourites are:
    #990 because I am a scrabble geek.
    #988, had to check this on the car right away and sure enough it was there all this time.
    #981 nothing beats warm pjs out of the dryer in winter.
    #519 glue movies are awesome, now I PVR them to watch later.
    #464 when characters in a movie visit a place you know. This brings back all kinds of memories. Awesome!

  50. Congrats! I need to pick up the first one as soon as I can.

    As for the mashed potatoes… yum! I’m weird and I like to mix corn in my mashed potatoes and gravy.

    1. Corn and chicken and mashed potatoes and gravy and cheese…KFC’s delectable famous bowls! They are AWESOME. :)

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