Mamikaze inspired mash up

Recently Mamikaze publicized this blog as part of her giveaways on her own blog, Life on the Run. As a thank you, I promised (or threatened) to make up a recipe in her honor. I asked her what a few of her favorite ingredients were then based off that list, my rusty brain cogs started to turn. What I came up with is the recipe below. Inspired by Mamikaze's list I thought of a meal I ate many times as an exchange student in the Netherlands. Essentially Dutch comfort food, boerenkool stamppot, is a delicious mix of mashed potatoes and kale usually served with sausage of some sort. It sounds odd, but it was tasty, hearty and just right for dinner after biking home on a cool Dutch evening. I've modified the recipe and included a few of my favorite flavors. I made it tonight for the first time, and it was wonderful.
So here we go, Mamikaze- a recipe in your honor!

Mamikaze's Mashup
2 lbs Yukon gold potatoes
1 cup buttermilk
5 tbsp butter
1 cup thinly sliced shallots
10 oz bag of pre-washed baby spinach
6 oz shredded Gruyere cheese
Kosher salt, fresh ground pepper

Boil Yukon gold potatoes (peels and all) until tender, drain and mash. Add enough buttermilk to make a creamy, mashed potato consistency.

In another pan, melt butter and saute shallots until they are very soft and a little golden on the edges. Add spinach and cook until the spinach is softened, but not overcooked.

Stir the shallot, butter and spinach into the potato mixture then stir in the shredded cheese. Add salt and pepper to taste.

Serve with sausage for your meat eating types, or a vegetarian sausage for those who abstain.
I had a tasty Tofurkey sausage with mine, while the men in our house had chicken sausage.
Enjoy!