Mike is half Irish, and I am part Irish (still in contention about how much, someone in my mom's family did a family history and discovered some of our ancestors came from Ireland, and she was sure it was Norway, or Sweden, and stubbornly refuses to believe the information).
That being said, I do not do a lot of Irish cooking. I made Mike corned beef and cabbage one year. You will note I have not made it again.
In all of our diligent cleaning these last few weeks, I unearthed my Grandma Betty's recipe box. (which alone made all of this tidying and organizing worth it!) I knew I had it, I just wasn't quite sure where it was.
My Grandma was a wonderful cook, and even though my dad and his parents were not close, we did get to enjoy her amazing food on the holidays. Some of my fondest memories are of my grandma in the kitchen. I think she really enjoyed it, as she was always singing. She had a beautiful voice, and really let it out when she was making pie. Heather gave me a wonderful picture of her that she had improved and enlarged, that shows her in the kitchen with her rolling pin, and it appears the camera caught her mid-song. (if I can ever figure out our uber complicated scanner I will share it with you!)
My, this post is getting long just to get to a recipe.
So, in looking through the box, there was nothing really specifically Irish. But potatoes are associated with the Irish, and I have NEVER seen a recipe like this one, so thought it would be perfect to share today!
MASHED POTATO CANDY
3/4 cup cold mashed potatoes
4 c. confectioners sugar
4 c. shredded coconut
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla
8 squares baking chocolate
Mix potatoes and confectioners sugar. Stir in coconut, salt, and vanilla, blend well. Press into large pan so that candy will be about 1/2" thick. Melt chocolate over hot water (do not allow water to boil). Pour chocolate on top of candy. Cool. Cut in squares (32) pieces.
Kind of sounds like a macaroon! If you try it, please let me know how it is. I honestly don't remember ever having this (I am sure I would have recalled it, being chocolate and all...)
and Happy St. Patty's Day!
It was so fun to read this post and reminisce about Grandma Betty. She cooked up a storm. I fondly remember her Italian spaghetti, chicken chow mein, chicken w/homemade noodles, chocolate layer cake, lemon merenge pie and many other pies. It was at her house that I first had coffee with cream and sugar (when the neighbor ladies were over to play Yahtzee). I was very young and thought it a privilege to drink coffee with them. I fondly remember having Grandpa Don's strawberry sundaes after decorating the Christmas tree, too! Lots of wonderful memories from their home on Sherman Ave. Thanks for the fun post!
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