Boston Pops Conductor Keith Lockhart Is a Mashed Potato Master

Boston Pops conductor Keith Lockhart posed for a photograph with his wife, Emiley Zalesky on Sept. 23. The Boston Globe

By Emily Wright

November 25, 2014

1 minute to read

Boston Pops conductor Keith Lockhart says Thanksgiving is all about getting his family together and making memories, but the Brookline resident is also looking forward to preparing his signature contribution: mashed potatoes.

“I’m a mashed potato expert,’’ Lockhart said. “There’s a couple directions to go. One of them is a whole lot of cream or cream and butter—kind of a double threat. I’ve been making them with truffles recently, too, which is a fun way to go.’’

Other things on the Lockhart family table will include his mother’s pies.

“My mother is a great baker, that’s what she does best,’’ Lockhart said. “I grew up on a steady diet of pumpkin pies, minced meat pies, and an occasional apple pie on Thanksgiving.’’

Lockhart’s boys are just 2 and 4 years old, but he hopes one day to include them in another family tradition.

“When I was a kid, we used to have a big neighborhood-wide touch football game on Thanksgivin,’’ Lockhart said. “I think as my kids get a little older, we’ll start trying to adopt that tradition.’’

Lockhart will get back to work soon after the holiday to prep for the Pops’ holiday schedule, which will include 36 concerts at Symphony Hall beginning Dec. 3, three screenings of “Home Alone’’ live with the Boston Pops on the 26 and 27, and a few concerts in the outlying Boston area.

For more on how notable Bostonians celebrate Thanksgiving, visit the links below:

WBZ Anchor David Wade Loves Green Bean Casserole for Thanksgiving

RadioBDC D.J. Adam 12’s Thanksgiving Is All About Pie — and Hiking

WBZ Anchor Lisa Hughes Cooks Something New Every Thanksgiving

Celtics President Rich Gotham Just Loves Thanksgiving Leftovers

Flour Bakery Owner Joanne Chang Is a Turkey Girl at Thanksgiving