FLITCH -COAL REGION POTATO CANDY-Helga's Happy Holidays

[@hikewithmike4673]

I like the historical background of this recipe...that is good to know!

[@PennsylvaniacookingBlogspot]

You're welcome!

[@trryhin]

Oh my goodness, I grew up with this! My grandfather was a PA coal miner. We used to have this stuff every Christmas, it was one of my favorites growing up and I completely forgot about it. Going to have to make some!!!

[@PennsylvaniacookingBlogspot]

Git'r done! It will be a great Christmas treat!

[@melissalambert7615]

I've seen other potato candy recipes but not this one. Nice recipe, love peanut butter.

[@PennsylvaniacookingBlogspot]

Hope you like it, i think it's the best one!

[@glamdolly30]

Here in the UK I never heard of potato candy before seeing Helga's recipe, I'm intrigued now, and just have to try it!

[@shirleylaboy603]

It still tastes good if it isn't pretty. Thanks for sharing your recipe Helga. 🙂❤️

[@PennsylvaniacookingBlogspot]

Thank you 😋

[@bostonterriermomakasandy9722]

I have very fond memories of this candy my aunt made it every year at Christmas, Yum Yum. We just called a potato candy.

[@PennsylvaniacookingBlogspot]

Glad it brought back good memories!

[@vickierhard1441]

thank you/ my great gramma made it. memories.

[@PennsylvaniacookingBlogspot]

You're welcome, glad i could bring back good memories!

[@lindaedwards9756]

I’ve eaten it but never seen it made . Delicious.

[@PennsylvaniacookingBlogspot]

Now you see how! Thank you!

[@karinoshea3330]

Christmas just isn't the same without mashed potatah candy! Mom grew up in Davidsville and we grew up in Oklahoma eating Gobs and Mashed Potatah Candy. Its fun to make in front of the unsuspecting Okies! 😇 much love e from a huge fan in Oklahoma!!!

[@robinsnest68]

May I ask what Gobs are?

[@karinoshea3330]

@@robinsnest68 sure! They are another name for Whoopie pies. Mom always made chocolate with a vanilla boiled icing bc that was her grandfather's favorite to take to the coal mine for dessert. Each were wrapped in waxed paper and since the icing was in between the cakes, they were "gobs" of fun to eat!

[@PennsylvaniacookingBlogspot]

Western half of the state calls gobs what we call whoopie pies, LOL. I always know which part of the state someone is from when they one or the other, LOL!

[@PennsylvaniacookingBlogspot]

@Karin Oshea Our part of the state refers to them as whoopie pies and I've done a vid on them. But we make them in all kinds of flavors, peanut butter, red velvet, shoofly etc. I remember the first time I heard them called gobs and I was like what the heck? Regional, LOL.

[@glamdolly30]

@@karinoshea3330 Ooh sounds so good! Here in the UK your American cakes and sweet treats sound so exotic and yummy - ours are pretty boring by comparison!

[@shovelhead8]

I make lots of stuff that does not look as good as it should, do to a lack of practice. Thank you for sharing your recipe with us, Helga. Stay safe and stay warm. Not doing any baking this year, so I have to live vicariously through your videos.

[@PennsylvaniacookingBlogspot]

Awww, sorry you aren't baking, you're a wonderful baker! Thank you and you stay warm too! They are calling for single digits on Christmas here, I could do without that!

[@karenb.9247]

Looks good! I am going to give it a try next week. Thank you for sharing!!

[@PennsylvaniacookingBlogspot]

You're welcome!

[@glamdolly30]

Wow, what a fascinating recipe Helga, thank you for sharing. We don't have this in the UK. Who knew you could make candy from a boiled potato? I learned something new today! Should you use smooth not crunchy peanut butter? This is social history, it reminds us how our forefathers (or more likely, fore-mothers, lol!) got creative in the kitchen to provide the sweet treats their children - and the whole family - loved at holiday time. God bless the housewives of yesteryear, who worked so hard to provide the magical Christmases their families remembered with warmth and affection forever. And you're absolutely right to point out these kinds of sugary foods were special treats back then. Unlike today when so much sugary food is eaten (often unwittingly in processed foods - even the savoury stuff), people did not eat this kind of sweet stuff every week, or even month! And of course as you say people burned off anything sugary with all the manual work they did back then. Even factors like fewer cars and more walking from A to B burned off the calories! Your Christmas content is always such a joy, and brings something so heart-warming to the festive season. I will be settling down with my elderly Mum and a pot of tea and mince pies for this year's Helga Christmas Story (and replaying your previous ones). Mum had a health scare this week and was rushed to hospital - we are so glad she's home now and recovering. Thanks be to God. And thanks to YOU Helga for your wonderful KZbin content all year round, you are a sweetheart and a ray of sunshine, whatever the weather! Wishing you & yours a very special Christmas. XXX 🎅🎈🎄🎅🎈🎄🎅🎈🎄🎅🎈🎄🎅

[@PennsylvaniacookingBlogspot]

The Depression Era brought about a lot of creativity! Use the smooth, just a nicer texture for the candy, I think! Yes, a lot of people, especially younger and non rural have little idea of what it took for everyday life. I have the Christmas video ready to go, it will be out on the 24th at 6am EST. Thanks so much for the comments and I amso very glad your mom is home and doing better! You'll have to let me know what you think of this year's story!

[@glamdolly30]

@@PennsylvaniacookingBlogspot Well that is perfect timing - Christmas Eve is my favourite day of the year, and 'Helga's Christmas Story' will make it all the more special. We are so looking forward to this year's festive tale! Bravo for getting it 'in the can' already, when you must be so busy with all your Christmas preparations. I know from experience that by and large, Christmas only happens thanks to the hard work of we wonderful women! 🤣 Thank you again for the gorgeous seasonal content you create at this time of year - and of course for all your videos throughout the year. I will of course leave you another comment in acknowledgement & appreciation of the story time video. It's lovely of you to put yourself out to entertain us every holiday with your special video, and I know so many around the world really appreciate it, Marry Christmas! XXX

[@debbyatwell7851]

love it have not had this potato candy for a long time up in WV we call it potato candy too

[@PennsylvaniacookingBlogspot]

Glad you liked it!

[@Red_Queens_Jubilee_Club]

We used to have a party the Sunday before Christmas. I made everything and it was all homemade. One year I made potato candy. No one around had ever heard of it so I was on my own. I thought it was a lot of work. I rolled that dough almost paper thin, as per the recipe, and by the time I rolled it into a pinwheel it was the size of a nickel. The recipe said to leave it uncovered so it could dry out and get sort of hard. I so paranoid about bugs and I was equally paranoid 35 years ago that I don't think I slept for about a week. Here I am at age 45, where I've been for 20 years, and I've learned I didn't have to roll so thin because sewing 1/8th inch and cooking 1/8th inch are not necessarily the same. 😳 The candy was a hit, BTW.

[@betsymeyers1976]

MerryChristmas, Helga! I love your time honored recipes!

[@PennsylvaniacookingBlogspot]

Glad you like them! Thnaks so much, Merry Christmas!

[@nancydriscoll3]

I've heard of this but never tried it. I think I will now! Thanks.

[@PennsylvaniacookingBlogspot]

It's so good!

[@mikedavis1137]

Make me laugh… I haven’t heard this side of the mountain or the other side we also had hollars 😂😂

[@PennsylvaniacookingBlogspot]

Yup, got them too, and kricks, LOL.

[@GrannyMonster]

call it what you want you can call me jealous

[@PennsylvaniacookingBlogspot]

jealous

[@imapip6313]

Still pretty enough to eat 😊 Thanks for keeping it real and for the recipe

[@PennsylvaniacookingBlogspot]

Thank you!

[@robinsnest68]

OMG I forgot about this!!! Hiya from Honesdale!

[@PennsylvaniacookingBlogspot]

Hiya! This stuff really is delicious! I don't know why it's been so long since I made it...

[@stephaniekalina-metzger8142]

They had this on ice up in Sch. Haven when I visited the Shenandoah kielbasy festival--very good!

[@stephaniekalina-metzger8142]

Anyone know why they call it Flitch?

[@PennsylvaniacookingBlogspot]

@stephaniekalina-metzger8142 Probably relates to the origin of the word being a slab of tree trunk. The rolled up candy resembles rings in the tree trunk.

[@hannah748dale]

I grew up with this at Christmas time! I’d love for you to do a video on pink sugared popcorn! Another Christmas favorite 💝🍿🎄

[@PennsylvaniacookingBlogspot]

Great idea!! I'll add that to future list! Thank you!

[@glamdolly30]

Oooh YUM, yes please, sounds delicious!

[@dianatennant4346]

I never heard it called flitch I will have to remember that I always just heard potato candy.

[@PennsylvaniacookingBlogspot]

Might depend on the region you're from. But either way, it's yummy!

[@marygallagher3428]

Very interesting candy - first I've ever heard of potato candy :-)

[@PennsylvaniacookingBlogspot]

It's easy and wonderful!

[@marylouconnolly9628]

❤️❤️❤️

[@hikewithmike4673]

this looks awesome!!

[@PennsylvaniacookingBlogspot]

It really is delicsious! Simple but so good!

[@SteveC38]

That looks so good, Helga! Merry Christmas!

[@PennsylvaniacookingBlogspot]

Thank you! Merry Christmas!

[@BigGaz1953]

Merry Christmas Helga

[@PennsylvaniacookingBlogspot]

Merry Christmas, Gaz!

[@TheDisgruntledMechanic]

Making Flitch was a b*tch! I am sure around here it will get eaten no matter how it looks!

[@PennsylvaniacookingBlogspot]

Yup, pretty much! And yup, I'm still eating it!