Celebrate the Groundhog!!

  For this Groundhog Day, how about celebrating that famous Phil (as in, Punxsutawney), by delving into some traditional Pennsylvania Dutch treats.  Since the Penn. Dutch love their doughnuts, why not make it a breakfast party!  Here are some delicious ideas to get you started.  Dutch Baby Pancakes, traditional Dutch Potato Doughnuts, Scrapple, and Warm Apple Cider Punch. Oh, and don't forget the coffee! Black, no sugar please.

Potato Doughnuts Recipe courtesy of Tasteofhome.com

Ingredients

• 2 cups hot mashed potatoes (with added milk and butter)
• 2-1/2 cups sugar
• 2 cups buttermilk
• 2 eggs, lightly beaten
• 2 tablespoons butter, melted
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 6-1/2 to 7 cups all-purpose flour
• Oil for deep-fat frying
• 
  FAST FUDGE FROSTING:
• 3-3/4 cups confectioners' sugar
• 1/2 cup baking cocoa
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/3 cup boiling water
• 1/3 cup butter, melted
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions

• In a large bowl, combine the potatoes, sugar, buttermilk and eggs. Stir in the butter, baking soda, baking powder, nutmeg, salt and enough of the flour to form a soft dough. Turn onto a lightly floured surface; pat out to 3/4-in. thickness. Cut with a 2-1/2-in. floured doughnut cutter.
• In an electric skillet, heat 1 in. of oil to 375°. Fry the doughnuts for 2 minutes on each side or until browned. Place on paper towels.
• For frosting, combine the confectioners' sugar, cocoa and salt in a large bowl. Stir in the water, butter and vanilla. Dip tops of warm doughnuts in frosting. Yield: 4 dozen.

Delicious Potato Doughnuts published in Taste of Home February/March 1994, p27

Scrapple Recipe  (courtesy of Allrecipes.com)

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 pounds ground pork sausage
• 1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
• 1 cup yellow cornmeal
• 1/8 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper

Directions

1. Place sausage in a large, deep skillet. Cook over medium high heat until evenly brown. Drain and rinse in colander under cold water, breaking sausage into pea sized pieces.
2. Return to skillet along with the condensed milk, and heat over medium until just bubbling. Immediately stir in the cornmeal and pepper and reduce heat to simmer. Continue cooking, 5 minutes total; mush will be stiff.
3. Pack into 8x4 loaf pan, cover and chill overnight. To serve, cut into 1/4 to 1/2 inch slices and saute until golden in nonstick skillet.

I like to fry the slices in butter until crispy on the edges.  Then, serve with warm maple syrup.  Delicious!