Peel the potatoes and cut them into evenly sized chunks; rinse briefly to remove excess starch.
Place potatoes in a large pot and cover with cold water by about an inch; stir in 1 teaspoon salt.
Bring to a boil, then reduce to a gentle simmer and cook until very tender, 15 to 20 minutes.
Warm the milk and butter together in a small saucepan or microwave until the butter melts; keep warm.
Drain the potatoes well, return them to the hot pot, and let steam off for 1 minute.
Mash the potatoes, slowly pouring in the warm milk-butter mixture until smooth and creamy.
Fold in the sour cream and garlic, then season with remaining salt and the pepper to taste.
Top with chives and serve hot.
Notes
Variation: Swap sour cream for 3 oz cream cheese for extra tang and body. To keep warm, hold the mash over very low heat, covered, and add a splash of warm milk if it thickens. Leftovers reheat well with a bit of milk or butter.This recipe is an original creation inspired by classic Creamy Mashed Potatoes Made Easy flavors. All ingredient ratios and instructions are independently developed.