Mashed potatoes (creamed or puréed) are potatoes cooked and then pushed through a ricer or mashed with a masher. This mix may be creamed with a warmed cream and saffron, salt and pepper, or left crudely mashed without any additions or a little bit finer with butter and milk. Whatever additions you choose, the eventual mash is improved by warming them first. Be careful to overwork it as this can result in a gloopy, starchy, rather slimy but good looking heap.