Recipe: Mashed Potato Fudge

Mashed Potato Fudge
rec.food.cooking/Sally Heartmade
Makes 64 (1-inch) pieces.

1/2 C unseasoned, well-mashed cooked potato (about 1 medium potato)
3 C powdered sugar
1 C flaked or shredded coconut
1 tsp vanilla
2 squares semisweet chocolate

While the potato is hot, beat in the sugar and coconut, then the vanilla. Press into a lightly greased 8-inch square pan. Melt chocolate and pour over top. Chill and cut into squares. Keeps indefinitely in airtight container in refrigerator.

Variations:

Tennessee Christmas Mints: Substitute a few drops of oil of peppermint for the vanilla. Tint fondant pink and flatten balls to approx 1/2-inch thickness

Candied Fruit Balls: Substitute rum, lemon or maple flavoring for the vanilla. Add 1/2 C finely chopped candied fruit such as cherries, pineapple, apricots or dates. Dried orange or lemon peel can also be used. Allow to dry at room temp for at least 24 hours. These keep well at room temp for 2 weeks if covered with plastic wrap.

Filbert Squares: Add 3/4 C chopped unsalted filberts, lightly toasted, to recipe while kneading mixture. Roll out onto smooth surface in a square approx 1-inch thick. Cut into 3/4-inch squares.

Chocolate-Dipped: Melt 1/4 cake paraffin wax with 6 oz chocolate chips and 2 squares unsweetened chocolate. Dip refrigerator-hardened balls or squares of candy in chocolate and place on wax paper to dry. If desired, press an almond into the top.

Peanut butter: Roll potato mixture on wax paper sprinkled with powdered sugar until very thin. Spread with creamy peanut butter and then roll into a long log. Roll in a little more powdered sugar and refrigerate. Slice to serve.

Easter Eggs: Shape the potato mixture into any size egg-shape. Place in freezer to harden. Line a cookie sheet with wax paper. Dip eggs into chocolate (see Chocolate-Dipped recipe above). Place on wax paper and refrigerate.

Coconut Peaks: Form mixture into peak-topped mounds, using about 1 Tbsp each. Set on wax paper and allow to dry for 30 minutes. Melt about 3 oz baking chocolate and dip the bottom of each peak into the chocolate. Chill in refrigerator to harden.

Maine Needham: Increase potato to 3/4 C, powdered sugar to 2 lbs, coconut to 1/2 lb, and vanilla to 2 tsp. Beat in 1 cube butter. Spread onto cookie sheet and freeze 1 hour to harden, then cut into pieces and dip in chocolate as above.