I don't remember specific "baking potaoes" in the past, S but we do get them now. Peter used to part boil then oven. Pip microwaves them. I've not done any in a while...

I'd have thought the electric hand blender difficult to get started with the spuds Dave? An alternative to the masher I have is a food mill (bought to process a glut of tomatoes one year...). It does a nice job but by the time I've got it out of the cupboard and dismantling and washing afterwards, I'd rather the plain hand masher.