Mashed Potatoes with Roasted Garlic

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• 2 heads garlic
  Ingredient note

  Source: 2 heads garlic
• 1 tablespoon olive oil (for roasting)
  Ingredient note

  Source: 1 tablespoon olive oil (for roasting)
• 3 tablespoons olive oil (for serving)
  Ingredient note

  Source: 3 tablespoons olive oil (for serving)
• 3 pounds Russet potatoes (or use Golden Yukon peeled and quartered)
  Ingredient note

  Source: 3 pounds Russet potatoes (or use Golden Yukon peeled and quartered)
• 1.5 cups heavy cream
  Ingredient note

  Source: 1.5 cups heavy cream
• 1 cup Parmesan cheese (shredded)
  Ingredient note

  Source: 1 cup Parmesan cheese (shredded)
• 4 tablespoons butter (salted)
  Ingredient note

  Source: 4 tablespoons butter (salted)
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
  Ingredient note

  Source: 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 3 tablespoons fresh thyme
  Ingredient note

  Source: 3 tablespoons fresh thyme
• As Needed black pepper
  Ingredient note

  Source seasoning: black pepper (freshly ground)

1. Preheat oven to 400 F.
2. Slice off the top portion of the garlic heads and scrape out loose leaves.
3. Place garlic heads on a piece of foil, sprinkle the exposed garlic cloves with olive oil. Wrap with foil.
4. Roast for about 45 minutes in the preheated oven at 400 F.
5. Once the garlic is cool, squeeze out the garlic cloves.
6. Pour 3 tablespoons of olive oil into a small bowl and add squeezed-out garlic cloves to the bowl with olive oil.
7. While the garlic is roasted in the oven, prepare the mashed potatoes. Peel the potatoes and slice them into quarters.
8. Add peeled and sliced potatoes to a big pan with cold water (water should sit 1 or 2 inches above the potatoes). Bring to boil. Boil on high or medium-high heat for about 15 or 20 minutes. The potatoes are done when you can easily pierce them with a fork. Do not overboil.
9. Drain all water really well. That's important.
10. Add potatoes to a large bowl and mash them with your favorite mashing instrument.
11. In the same (now empty) pan that you just used to boil the potatoes, add heavy cream. Add back the mashed potatoes from the bowl - the potatoes should still be hot. Add shredded Parmesan cheese and butter. Add salt.
12. Mix everything well on low-medium heat for about 5 minutes, stirring frequently, until the cheese is absorbed and you reach your desired consistency. Season with more salt, if desired.
13. Serve potatoes warm or hot. Swirl olive oil (from the bowl with roasted garlic) or melted salted butter into the potatoes. Top with squeezed-out roasted garlic cloves.
14. Top with fresh thyme and freshly ground black pepper. Season with more salt on top if desired.