#2673 - Mashed Potato Donuts

(by Mrs. Frank Martz - friend)

5 medium red potatoes
2 TBSP butter + extra for potatoes
3 eggs
2 cups white sugar
5 cups flour
1 cup milk + extra for potatoes
5 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. vanilla
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 tsp. nutmeg

Peel the potatoes and place them in a saucepan with 1 tsp. salt--cover them with water, bring to a boil and cook until tender. Remove from heat--drain the potatoes. Add 2 TBSP butter and 1/4 cup of milk to the drained potatoes--mash them with a potato masher until you have mashed potatoes. In a mixer add mashed potatoes, 2 TBSP butter and 2 cups white sugar--beat. Add eggs--beat. Add baking powder, vanilla, cinnamon and nutmeg--beat. Add 1 cup milk--beat. Slowly add flour--beat (continue with a wooden spoon if too thick for the mixer). Sprinkle extra flour on your counter--take a couple of big spoons full of batter and drop them on the counter--sprinkle the top of the batter with a little more flour. Use a rolling pin to roll the dough to 1/2" thick. Cut donuts and holes using a donut cutter--gather up the scraps and re-roll to 1/2" thick. Add more batter when necessary. In a heavy saucepan or a deep fryer, add the canola oil and heat to 365 degrees--fry donuts. When donuts are browned on one side, flip them and fry the other side. Drain donuts on paper towels. Cool the donuts.