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Peanut Butter and Spuds Candy

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MURDER IN AN IRISH PUB is the fourth book in the Irish Village Mysteries by Carlene O’Conner but the first I’ve gotten around to reading. I enjoyed it so much I’m determined to start at the beginning and catch up with this delightful series. Given the backstory about protagonist Siobhán O’Sullivan (pronounced “shiv + awn) and the multitude of siblings she is raising on her own, I would recommend starting with the first book. Despite not fully knowing the previous stories and what happened to the O’Sullivan broods’ parents, I was still captivated by the plot revolving around the international poker tournament being held in the Irish village. Ms. O’Conner captures the authentic feeling of Ireland and the small village with detailed descriptions and colloquial sayings and words which added a layer of charm. I had a good chuckle over the visual her description brought to mind when she wrote: “He had the face of a silver fox but the body of a lazy dog.” Her characters come to life and I especially liked Siobhán. Even though her family owns Naomi’s Bistro, Siobhán decided to follow her dreams and become Garda Sullivan, a policewoman. This is a bit different from other cozy amateur detectives, but she still portrays the cozy mystery spirit.

I was also greatly intrigued by the “locked room” scenario surrounding the murder. I found the author’s method impressive and quite clever to throw the investigators and the reader off from discovering the truth. I think it takes a lot of creativity to make it believable and the author pulls it together quite effectively. There are just enough clues to make the reader keep turning pages to see if Siobhán can figure it out (I certainly couldn’t but then again I was willing to go along for the ride instead of puzzling it out) and enough action to keep me turning pages faster and faster. A surprising reveal wrapped the ending up in a satisfying ending and makes me want to find out what Siobhán does next.

While the book doesn’t include recipes, Siobhán and her brothers and sisters own Naomi’s Bistro in the village of Kilbane. They produce a multitude of mouthwatering meals for their customers. Ms. O’Connor had the opportunity to meet Chef Noel McMeel at the Chicago Irish American Heritage Center earlier this year at the annual IBAM, Irish Books and Music festival. She was fortunate to have the chance to chat with the chef, who offered his permission for her to share his recipe for Peanut Butter and Spuds Candy. I’m happy that she passed along the recipe to me to share! Two simple ingredients produce a sweet confection while peanut butter provides a nice contrasting flavor and visual appeal in the rolled dough. This unique candy is sure to please anyone with a penchant for sweets! 

 

 

 

Potatoes sweetened with powdered sugar for the dough, rolled and then spread with peanut butter, Peanut Butter and Spuds Candy is a unique Irish confection! Recipe shared with permission granted by Chef Noel McMeel, author of IRISH PANTRY via Carlene O'Connor, author of MURDER IN AN IRISH PUB.

 

Amazon Synopsis

When competing card sharps stir up Siobhán O’Sullivan’s quiet Irish village, a poker tournament turns into a game of Hangman . . .
 
In the small village of Kilbane in County Cork, for a cuppa tea or a slice of brown bread, you go to Naomi’s Bistro, managed by the many siblings of the lively O’Sullivan brood. For a pint or a game of darts—or for the poker tournament that’s just come to town—it’s the pub you want. 
 
One player’s reputation precedes him: Eamon Foley, a tinker out of Dublin, called the Octopus for playing like he has eight hands under the table. But when Foley is found at the end of a rope, swinging from the rafters of Rory Mack’s pub, it’s time for the garda to take matters into their own hands. Macdara Flannery would lay odds it’s a simple suicide—after all, there’s a note and the room was locked. But Siobhán suspects foul play, as does Foley’s very pregnant widow. Perhaps one of Foley’s fellow finalists just raised the stakes to life and death.
 
With conflicting theories on the crime—not to mention the possibility of a proposal—tensions are running high between Siobhán and Macdara. Soon it’s up to Siobhán to call a killer’s bluff, but if she doesn’t play her cards right, she may be the next one taken out of the game . . .

 

 

 

 

A special thanks to Carlene O’Connor for providing a winner with a hardcover copy of MURDER IN AN IRISH PUB.  Contest ends Wednesday, March 6, 2019 at 11:59 pm PST and is limited to U.S. residents. Please use the Rafflecopter box located below to enter. The winner will be announced on this page and on Cinnamon & Sugar’s Facebook page, as well as notified by email (so check your spam folder!) 

 

 

 

 

Potatoes sweetened with powdered sugar for the dough, rolled and then spread with peanut butter, Peanut Butter and Spuds Candy is a unique Irish confection! Recipe shared with permission granted by Chef Noel McMeel, author of IRISH PANTRY via Carlene O'Connor, author of MURDER IN AN IRISH PUB.

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Peanut Butter and Spuds Candy

Recipe shared with permission granted by Chef Noel McMeel, author of Irish Pantry. "LIFE'S TOO SHORT NOT TO BE IRISH," they say. To show that I'm Irish through and through, I'm going to share my recipe that combines my favorite Irish thing, the potato, with enough sugar to make my sweet tooth sing. An unlikely pairing, maybe. But here's a case of the sum being even better than its parts.

Ingredients
  • 1 small floury potato (such as russet)*
  • 4 cups (400g) confectioners' sugar, plus more for rolling**
  • 1/2 cup (125g) crunchy peanut butter
Instructions

  1. Peel and cube the potato. Cover the potato with cold water in a medium saucepan and bring it to a boil. Cook until the potato is fork-tender, then drain the potato through a colander and place the cubes in a large bowl. Mash them with a potato masher until fluffy.

  2. Sift the sugar into the potatoes a little at a time, stirring to mix. Don't panic when the potato gets watery. Keep adding the sugar until the mixture starts to look like dough. 

  3. Lay out parchment paper and sprinkle it with confectioners' sugar. Roll out the dough with a rolling pin until it's thinner than a piecrust but not falling apart.

  4. Warm the peanut butter in the microwave for 10 seconds at a time until it's smooth but not runny, checking after each increment. Spread over the dough

  5. Roll up from the long side like a jelly roll and put in the refrigerator for 2 hour, until firm.

  6. Slice into small pieces. Store tightly covered in the refrigerator. 

Notes:

  1. Makes about 1 pound candy.

Cinnamon & Sugar's Notes:

  1. * U.S. potatoes are huge, often weighing over 1 pound! Pick a small potato that weights about 6 ounces. 

  2. ** Depending on the size of your potato, you may need to use more confectioners' sugar. Just keep adding to the potato mixture, in small increments, until a pliable dough is formed.

 

Potatoes sweetened with powdered sugar for the dough, rolled and then spread with peanut butter, Peanut Butter and Spuds Candy is a unique Irish confection! Recipe shared with permission granted by Chef Noel McMeel, author of IRISH PANTRY via Carlene O'Connor, author of MURDER IN AN IRISH PUB.

 

 

 

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

I’ll answer the comment questions here: Have you ever been to Ireland? No, but my husband and I are planning a trip this fall to celebrate our 20th wedding anniversary! I loved getting a preview of Irish village life and an introduction to Irish words and people in this book. 

 

 

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Potatoes sweetened with powdered sugar for the dough, rolled and then spread with peanut butter, Peanut Butter and Spuds Candy is a unique Irish confection! Recipe shared with permission granted by Chef Noel McMeel, author of IRISH PANTRY via Carlene O'Connor, author of MURDER IN AN IRISH PUB.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you receive my blog post via email you will need to visit my website to view the video.

 

 

I was provided an advance copy with the hopes I would review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

 

Potatoes sweetened with powdered sugar for the dough, rolled and then spread with peanut butter, Peanut Butter and Spuds Candy is a unique Irish confection! Recipe shared with permission granted by Chef Noel McMeel, author of IRISH PANTRY via Carlene O'Connor, author of MURDER IN AN IRISH PUB.

 

 

If you’re interested in the IRISH PANTRY by Noel McMeel, click on the book to visit Amazon. Chef Noel McMeel is a chef from Northern Ireland, who is the executive head chef at Lough Erne Golf Resort and Hotel in Enniskillen, County Fermanagh. He describes his cooking as “modern Irish cuisine”.

 

 

 

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64 thoughts on “Peanut Butter and Spuds Candy”

  8. I’ve been to England, Scotland and Wales, but did not make it to Ireland, which is something I need to remedy!

  13. I’ve always wanted to visit Ireland, but haven’t had the opportunity. I read the first book in this series. Loved it!

  14. Oh gosh, I have never been bit would love to go. I want to see everything there, perhaps venture into Wales, Scotland, tour a bit in England and France. That would be a dream come true!

  20. No we have never been, but our adopted son has Irish ancestry and hopes to get there someday. He’s proud to be Irish!

  23. I’ve never been to Ireland…or really off the west coast of the US. I will get to Europe sometime in my life though! I’m determined!

  25. I’ve never been to Ireland, but I hope to get there some day. This recipe sounds amazing. Thanks for the chance at this amazing book.

  30. I’ve never been to Ireland, but would love to “someday”.

    I grew up calling this recipe “potato candy” and we used creamy peanut butter instead of crunchy. The first time my mom made it she had to bribe my brother & I to try it (“candy” & “potato” were not compatible in out minds, lol), but once we did she couldn’t keep us out of it! btw, I’m 71.

  35. I have never been to Ireland. Never been out of the United States.

    Thanks for telling me about Carlene O’Conner, a new to me author. “MURDER IN AN IRISH PUB sounds wonderful and a book I would love to have the opportunity to read.

    Of all the candy I have made, I have never had potato candy. May just have to give the Peanut Butter and Spuds Candy recipe a try. the peanut butter makes it sound yummy.

  36. I have never been to Ireland before.

    This recipe reminds me of my great grandmother who still kept up her Victory Garden until she died in the late 1970’s. She would make mashed potato fudge from a recipe that she had been using from WW2. It was delicious.

  38. We’re going to Dublin on our way to Scotland this spring. (I’m excited.) And I love this series!

  40. Most of my ancestors are from Ireland and I was lucky enough to go there once. I would love to go back. Thanks for the chance to win this book.

  41. I have never been to ireland although about 50 years ago i typed a ladies christmas envalopes for her and all of the people lived in ireland i know so many of those were returned as i couldn’t read her writing and i wasn’t allowed to ask questions. The abusive foster parents would hire us out for anything we lived in rural part of the bay area and social workers never came up as they thought that since there were 14 children nothing would happen. So ireland does ring a bell i should of used a map for some of the cities that is my thinking now too late.

  42. I went to Ireland while in high school. It was wonderful.
    My husband and I were supposed to go two summers ago for a music tour. We didn’t get to go because our granddaughter was born!
    Some time, I hope.
    Maine has a potato sweet, too.

  45. My family is very Irish, and I have always wanted to visit the Emerald Isles. I’ve been told we are from around county Glenn, but anywhere would be nice to visit!

  53. No, I have never been to Ireland. I have many friends that have and said it was beautiful.

  55. The candy sure looks yummy. Never been to Ieland, but have read books about that area.

  56. No I haven’t but it is on my bucket list. My father’s mother came from Ireland, Margaret Flynn.

  58. I have not been to Ireland, but it is on my bucket/win-the-lottery list. I’d really like to take my kids there.

  59. So jealous of your trip to Ireland. Maybe someday my husband and I will be able to go. Especially since I just found out from both my parents Ancestry DNA test that I have Celtic blood on both sides.

  60. Never have gotten to visit Ireland, even when we did go across to England (London mostly) while living in Europe. I have always wanted to see Ireland, and Scotland, but at this stage of my life, expect those visits will have to be through books and pictures.

  61. I have never been to Ireland, although I’ve been to the rest of the UK. Ireland is on my wish/bucket list.
    And I’ve never made potato candy, so this recipe is on my TO DO lost.
    Thabk you!

  62. I’ve never been to Ireland but as I’m half Irish I would really love to go. So I’d like to read cozies that take place there!

  63. I have never been to Ireland, but all over England, Scotland & Wales… Driving on the wrong side of the road, on the wrong side of the car, Stick, no less, is a Hoot…

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