Fun Food for St. Patrick's Day
by Rachel Keller

Candy made from potatoes? Try this delicious recipe and several other fun food ideas for St. Patrick's Day!

 

Chocolate Potato Candy
 
This recipe uses cooked mashed potatoes, but without milk or butter added to the potatoes.
 
4 cups powdered sugar
4 cups flaked coconut
3/4 cup cold mashed potatoes (without added milk or butter)
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla
1/2 salt
1 pound chocolate or candy coating
 
Combine sugar, coconut, potatoes, vanilla, and salt and mix well. Line a 9-inch pan with foil covered with a non-stick spray (or use butter or shortening on the foil). Spread the mixture into the pan, cover and refrigerate overnight. Cut into rectangles. Cover and freeze. Melt the chocolate and dip the bars into the coating. Place on waxed paper to harden. Store in an airtight container.
 

Irish Potato Candy
 
Despite the title, this one does not have any potatoes in it.
 
1/4 cup butter, softened
4 oz. regular cream cheese, softened (not the low-fat variety)
1 tsp. vanilla
16 oz. powdered sugar
7 oz. (about 2 1/2 cups) sweetened flaked coconut
1 T. cinnamon
 
Cream the butter and cream cheese together. Add vanilla and powdered sugar, beating until the mixture forms a ball. Stir in the coconut, and roll the mixture into small balls. Roll the balls into the cinnamon, and chill until firm (about an hour). You can roll the candies a second time in cinnamon after they have chilled.
 

Irish Potato Candy
 
Here is a different Irish Potato Candy, but this one does have potatoes in it!
 
1 T. mashed potatoes
2 1/4 cup powdered sugar
1 12 oz. jar peanut butter
 
Place the mashed potatoes in a mixing bowl. Add powdered sugar 1 cup at a time, beating well after each addition. Spread into a greased 10x15 inch pan. Spread peanut butter over the top. Roll as for a jelly roll. Cut into slices
 
Makes 16 servings.
 
Per serving:
101 Calories
6 g. Protein
20 g. Carbohydrates
1 g. Fiber
11 g. Fat
<1 mg. Cholesterol
88 mg. Sodium

St. Patty's Day Cupcakes
 
The color and chocolate chips make these a wonderful treat, and you won't need a mixer for these super-quick treats either!
 
1 3/4 cup flour
1 4-serving size package instant pistachio pudding mix
3/4 cup mini chocolate chips
2/3 cup sugar
2 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
2 beaten eggs
1 1/4 cups milk
1/2 cup oil
1 tsp. vanilla or 1/4 tsp. almond extract
1/2 can (1 cup) cream cheese frosting
green colored sugar
1/2 cup candy-coated milk chocolate pieces
 
In a large bowl, stir together flour, pudding mix, chocolate pieces, sugar, baking powder, and salt. In a small bowl, combine the eggs, milk, oil, and vanilla or almond. Stir into flour mixture just until combined. Fill greased or paper-line muffin tins about 2/3 full. Bake at 375 for 18 to 20 minutes or till golden brown. Cool on a wire rack. Frost and sprinkle with green sugar and/or other candy pieces, such as green M&Ms. Makes 18 cupcakes.
 

Other ideas
 
Add some mint flavoring to cookies and decorate with green sugar and green candies.
 
Take a white cake mix and add some green food coloring. Frost with white frosting tinted green, or frost with white frosting and sprinkle with green-tinted coconut, green sugar, or green decorations.

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Copyright 2001 by Rachel Keller