Chocolate Potato Balls

1/2 cup prepared instant mashed potato
2 teaspoons butter or margarine
1/4 cup cocoa
1/2 teaspoon vanilla or orange extract
4 1/2 to 5 cups confectioners' sugar
2 1/2 cups (7-ounce package) flaked coconut
Garnish: candied cherries, nuts, optional

Combine potato, butter, cocoa and vanilla in large mixing bowl; blend well. Gradually stir in sugar; mix until smooth. (Mixture resembles uncooked fondant.) Add coconut; knead until completely blended.

Roll into 1 1/2-inch balls; press a cherry or nut into center of each, if desired. Wrap in plastic wrap allowing enough wrap to twist. Tie with ribbon yarn; hang balls on tree. Or, do not wrap; store balls in an airtight container.

Makes about 4 dozen balls.

[Newspaper clipping]

[Would this work with real mashed potatoes, or do they have to be instant? And what, exactly, does uncooked fondant look like? And if you've made enough candy to know what it looks like, would this recipe be an unacceptable shortcut for cheap-n-easy fake candy or is it good enough to be an interesting variation on traditional candy-making methods? I don't know any of these answers.]

[Sorry about the dearth of recipes; I was out of town. But I'm back.]