When you put the potatoes in the pot, just go ahead and turn it on high. You’re just boiling them, they ain’t gon’ burn. You need some salt and sometimes I’ll go ahead and throw in some pepper.
Now you don’t have to sit here and watch it or play with it. Just let it boil for a while and come back to check on ‘em. You can tell they’re done when you stick a knife in and if it falls right back into the water.
After they’re finished, pour off most the water and just start mashin’. Once they all are a little mashed, throw in your butter, some more black pepper, and just keep going ‘til they just as creamy as you like it.
I don’t always fix gravy, usually only when I make pork chops or something like that. I pour a little broth in the pan to deglaze it, then I start puttin’ my flour in. Sometimes I’ll use cornstarch if that’s all I have, but whatchu don’t wanna do is use biscuit flour. That’ll make it taste too salty. I let the flour cook until it starts turning brown, then I add the rest of my broth or milk or whatever I’m usin’ that night.