POTATO LIFE CYCLE RECIPES

Steps:

• Dissolve yeast in warm water in a bowl. Let stand until the yeast softens and begins to form a creamy foam, about 5 minutes.
• Mix milk, mashed potatoes, shortening or butter (see Cook's Note), sugar, and salt together in a bowl; add yeast mixture and egg. Stir 2 cups flour into the milk mixture until incorporated. Stir in remaining 2 cups flour to make a soft dough.
• Turn dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead until smooth and elastic, about 7 minutes. Place dough in a lightly greased bowl, turning once to coat all sides of dough with oil. Cover bowl and put in a warm place until dough has doubled in size, about 1 hour.
• Punch dough down and shape into a ball. Cover the bowl and let rest for 10 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Grease 2 baking sheets.
• Shape dough into 24 rolls and place onto prepared baking sheets; let rise until dough springs back when you touch the side of a roll with your fingertip, about 25 to 40 minutes.
• Bake rolls in the preheated oven until golden brown, 10 to 12 minutes.

Steps:

• Place potato pieces in a steamer basket in a large saucepan. Add water to saucepan to just below basket; bring to boiling. Steam, covered, about 20 minutes or until potatoes are tender when pierced with a fork. Remove from heat. Uncover pan and cool slightly. Thoroughly mash potatoes with a potato masher or ricer.
• Heat milk until hot but not boiling (120°F to 130°F). Pour hot milk into a food processor fitted with a dough blade or a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook. Add date paste and yeast. Sprinkle 1 tablespoon flour over the milk mixture. Cover and set aside in a warm place at least 10 minutes or until frothy.
• Add the 2¾ cups flour, 1½ cups mashed potatoes, and salt (if using) to milk mixture. Process or mix on low speed for 2 minutes.
• If using a food processor, dust the bottom of a large bowl with flour and transfer dough to bowl. If using a stand mixer, leave the dough in the mixer bowl. Cover bowl with a damp cloth and set aside in a warm place about 1 hour or until dough doubles in size.
• Line a 9x5-inch loaf pan with parchment paper. Transfer dough to a lightly floured work surface and knead it a few times. Shape dough into an oblong ball and place in the prepared pan. Cover with a damp cloth and set aside in a warm place about 30 minutes or until doubled in size.
• Preheat oven to 375°F. Bake loaf about 40 minutes or until top is crispy and golden-brown. Remove loaf from pan and cool completely on a wire rack.