Mashed Potato Balls

This year, I decided to add some additional creativity to my leftovers. When I make my next day mashed potatoes, reheating leftovers seems to go okay, but with regular mashed potatoes after a day, they just aren't the same when you warm them. So, having seen a pin on Pinterest a while back for Fried Mashed Potato Balls, I decided to see how that worked for us. I, of course, didn't actually have the right ingredients, so I improvised a little, but the family enjoyed the results. The recipe that inspired is here.

Fried Mashed Potato Balls

2 c mashed potatoes
1 egg
1/2 c shredded cheese (I used an Italian blend, but any flavor should do)
1/4 c grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 c bread crumbs (I don't actually measure, put a little on a plate and then add as needed)

Combine the mashed potatoes, eggs, and cheese in your bowl. Form into small balls and roll in bread crumbs. Place in hot skillet with oil. Turn, allowing them to brown on all sides.

I suppose that you could also make these using fresh mashed potatoes, but you would want to let them cool before adding the other ingredients.

Disclaimer

Pumpkin Bread

After making the Pumpkin Swirl Cheesecake for Thanksgiving, I found myself with leftover pumpkin. I only had a large can at home, so my leftovers were just over 15 oz. I wanted to make something easy with the pumpkin, so I looked for a bread type recipe in my collection. I have made some in the past, but I don't think this was the one - unfortunately, I hadn't written any of them in my cookbook, so I was left guessing. I decided to add chocolate chips to one of the loaves of bread, I didn't have minis, which I prefer in bread, so I used regular chocolate chips.

Ingredients:
2 1/2 cups sugar
1 cup canola oil
3 eggs
1 (15-ounce) can pumpkin (or 15 oz fresh pumpkin)
3 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup mini semisweet chocolate chips (optional)

Preheat oven to 350.

Spray the bottom of two bread pans with cooking spray.

Blend the flour, baking soda, spices and salt, set aside.

Combine the sugar, eggs, oil and pumpkin in a bowl. Stir with a whisk until combined.

Fold in the dry ingredients, stirring until combined. If you are adding chocolate chips, add them and stir to combine.

Pour into two prepared bread pans. Baked for 50 - 55 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

Cool for a few minutes in pans before turning out.

Disclaimer