Begorrah! Sweets From Me Sister, Kathy!

The Song of Wandering Aengus
W.B. Yeats (1865–1939)

I WENT out to the hazel wood,
Because a fire was in my head,
And cut and peeled a hazel wand,
And hooked a berry to a thread;
And when white moths were on the wing,
And moth-like stars were flickering out,
I dropped the berry in a stream
And caught a little silver trout.

When I had laid it on the floor
I went to blow the fire a-flame,
But something rustled on the floor,
And someone called me by my name:
It had become a glimmering girl
With apple blossom in her hair
Who called me by my name and ran
And faded through the brightening air.

Though I am old with wandering
Through hollow lands and hilly lands,
I will find out where she has gone,
And kiss her lips and take her hands;
And walk among long dappled grass,
And pluck till time and times are done,
The silver apples of the moon,
The golden apples of the sun.

When my sister was just a Girl Scout, a few years ago (she's me elder by less than a year, but I'll not be telling you her exact age! Not if I expect to see me old age, mind ye!) she learned a few recipes. One of those made me shudder when I heard its name. I was not happy to taste it. No way!

But I did. And I loved it! And now, these many years later, I'll pass the recipe on to you! It's easy to make, and you'll enjoy the results. It's called:

IRISH POTATO CANDY

2 (1 lb.) boxes powdered sugar (yes, it takes a lot!)
1/2 c. hot mashed potatoes, drained (just boiled and mashed, no butter, milk, or salt!)
1 sm. jar peanut butter (some like crunchy. I prefer smooth in this recipe)

Mix sifted sugar into potatoes a little at a time by hand. (Don't panic when potatoes liquify as the first sugar is added. This is what it's supposed to do. Just keep adding sugar until it is pastry consistency.)

Sprinkle wax paper with additional powdered sugar.

Take a baseball-sized ball of mixture and roll it out like pastry. Spread with peanut butter and roll like a jelly roll.

Wrap the rolls in plastic wrap; chill and slice.

Makes 2 rolls.

I got this particular recipe from Cooks.com. I seem to remember that Kathy rolled the pieces in cinnamon after slicing them, but that may be something else. If it sounds right to you, try that, as well.

I don't know if Kathy remembers this, but I do. One of those fine childhood memories. Thanks, Sis!

Now, here's something to read while you have a wee draft:

My god! What happened to you?" the bartender asked Kelly as he hobbled in on a crutch, one arm in a cast.

"I got in a tiff with Riley."

"Riley? He's just a wee fellow," the barkeep said surprised. "He must have had something in his hand."

"That he did," Kelly said. "A shovel it was."

"Dear Lord. Didn't you have anything in your hand?"

"Aye, that I did--Mrs. Riley's left breast." Kelly said. "And a beautiful thing it was, but not much use in a fight!"