Mashed: Speaking of Mashed Potatoes

Subject: Speaking of Mashed Potatoes
Newsgroups: rec.food.cooking
From: Michael (Dog3 at mindspring.com)
Date: Sat, 6 Jan 2001 11:18:02 -0600
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Mashed 'taters is a versatile dish. You can to almost anything with them. Let your imagination wander. The following recipe landed in my mailbox from one of my listserv groups.

Today's Recipe: Mashed Potato Candy
Submitted by: Blanche V.

When I was first offered a taste of mashed potato candy I thought to myself, "Eeew, how gross!" But as soon as I took a taste, I had to eat my words -- and a ton of candy! This was one of the best candies I'd ever tasted. I was in awe! Potato? You would have never guessed. Don't tell people what's in it and they'll never guess, either!

3/4 cup mashed potatoes (hot)
2 lb. powdered (confectionary) sugar
1/4 lb. butter
7 oz. flaked coconut
2 tsp. vanilla
1/2 tsp. salt
12 oz. package chocolate chips
4 oz. unsweetened baking chocolate
1 slab of paraffin wax

Place the sugar, coconut and salt in a bowl with the softened butter. Add the potatoes and the vanilla. Mix well by hand.

Pack the mixture into a 9" x 13" pan. Place in the refrigerator to cool. Then, cut into 1.5" squares.

In the meantime, melt the chocolate chips, baking chocolate, and wax in a double boiler. Stir until no lumps remain.

Using a toothpick, dip the individual squares of candy into the chocolate. Place on a piece of wax paper to cool.

* I only take a couple squares out of the refrigerator at a time so that they remain cold.
From: Gabby (msmealey at nospam.hvgb.net)
Date: Sat, 6 Jan 2001 13:19:46 -0400
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I've also had those done up as pinwheels with peanut butter as the filling. They do taste great!
From: Sharon L. Igoe (sligoe at EYEx.netcom.com)
Date: Sat, 06 Jan 2001 16:15:50 -0500
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That's how we do it! We boil a potato, mash it with butter until it's absolutely smooth, put it in the fridge to cool. When it's hard, take it out of the fridge, add a bit of vanilla and a dash of salt, then mix in confectioner's (powdered) sugar until a nice smooth dough is formed. Roll out on a board sprinkled liberally with the powdered sugar, spread with peanut butter (smooth works best---the dough is very tender) roll up like a jelly roll and cut into slices. Best when eaten soon and a good quality peanut butter is used. My mom made this for Christmas every year--now I carry on the tradition! Enjoy!
From: Mary Pelis (mep at physics.umass.edu)
Date: Sat, 06 Jan 2001 13:27:14 -0500
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Boy! Did *you* just bring back a flood of memories with this recipe! My mother has been making potato fudge since the 60's! I haven't eaten it in years, but I remember the wonderful contrast of the unsweetened chocolate and the coconut sweet fudge underneath. It has always been my brother's favorite Christmas candy. Thanks for the memory!
From: Michael (Dog3 at mindspring.com)
Date: Sat, 6 Jan 2001 12:51:12 -0600
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Mary Pelis wrote:
> Boy! Did *you* just bring back a flood of memories with this recipe! My mother
> has been making potato fudge since the 60's!
> Thanks for the memory!

You are most welcome. I made 'em once, delish. It's bizarre the foods we find appetizing sometimes isn't it?

Michael