Mashed Potato Fudge

Make fudge from leftover side dish from supper or start with a box on your grocery list. Your family may moan at the idea of eating potatoes disguised as fudge, I get that. When I was seven, a package came out-of-the-blue from a place called Pennsylvania to Bill, Bob, Bonnie and Becky. I'm the Bonnie. Our brand new step-father let us open it right away and he figured maybe it was best to just say fudge. Score one for step-dad. There were three kinds of "fudge"....walnut chocolate fudge, vanilla fudge pin wheels with peanut butter, and coconut chocolate fudge. Bonanza right? A package came every Christmas season. It wasn't until I was grown, that this step-grandmother sent the recipe. I'm so gad to share it with you.

I used this brand to make a side dish for supper and had about a cup left over.

Have ready an 8x8 inch square pan already buttered or sprayed with your fav cooking spray. I always line mine with foil. The picture is showing the mashed potatoes from our leftovers. This recipe calls for half a cup of mashed potatoes, but if yours happens to be a bit looser as your family may prefer, just have on hand a bit more powdered sugar to whip in during the final mixing.. If yours happens to be a bit more firm, then just add a bit more water when you are mixing all the ingredients for the fudge.

1/2 half a cup of prepared mashed potatoes

1 teaspoon vanilla

4 cups powdered sugar (one bag)

For the chocolate

3 ounces unsweetened chocolate

4 tablespoons butter

There are many variations to this fudge. I added walnuts. but pecans are great, coconut, or mix the nuts with the coconut. I've even heard of it done as a divinity. All delicious.

Let the doubters try it now.

As mother of four, I remember all the nights of homework, back-to-back science fairs, social studies fairs, the long evenings of helping my kids study for tests for all those years. My husband and I are empty-nesters now and those years of regular parenting were all done on easy street compared to now. The heart in the picture goes out to you. In some tiny, tiny way I hope this easy recipe can somehow help when you need something just plain easy.