Potato Ghosts Recipes

POTATO GHOSTS

Steps:

• Peel and quarter potatoes, then cover with water in a 4-quart pot and season well with salt. Simmer, partially covered, until tender, 15 to 20 minutes.
• While potatoes are simmering, heat butter and milk in a small saucepan until butter is melted. Remove from heat and cover to keep warm.
• Preheat oven to 400°F with rack in middle.
• Drain potatoes and force through ricer into a large bowl (or mixer bowl if using stand mixer). Beat in milk mixture, yolks, and 1/2 teaspoon each of salt and pepper with an electric mixer at low speed until combined.
• Spread about one-third of potatoes in a buttered 1 1/2-quart shallow ovenproof dish. Transfer remaining potatoes to pastry bag. Pipe potatoes close together into 2 1/2- to 3-inch-high pointed mounds to form "'ghosts" and garnish each mound with 2 seeds for "eyes.".
• Bake until tips of ghosts are golden and potatoes are firm, 20 to 25 minutes.
• Cooks' Note: Potatoes can be piped into dish 1 day ahead and chilled, loosely covered with plastic wrap.

DUCHESSE POTATO GHOSTS

Steps:

• Peel and quarter potatoes and in a large saucepan cover with salted cold water by 2 inches. Bring water to a boil and simmer potatoes until tender, about 15 minutes.
• While potatoes are simmering, in a small saucepan heat butter with milk over moderately low heat until melted and keep warm.
• Drain potatoes in a colander and force through a ricer or food mill into a bowl. With an electric mixer beat in milk mixture, yolks, and salt and pepper to taste.
• Preheat oven to 400°F.
• Spread about one third potatoes in a buttered 1-quart gratin dish and transfer remaining potatoes to a pastry bag fitted with a 3/4-inch plain tip. On potatoes in dish pipe potatoes close together into pointed mounds to form "ghosts" and garnish each mound with 2 seeds for ghosts' "eyes". Potatoes may be prepared up to this point 1 day ahead and chilled, covered loosely.
• Bake potatoes until heated through and tops of "ghosts" are golden, 15 to 20 minutes.