Potato Pampushki - cooking recipe

Ingredients

1 1/2 lbs potatoes, peeled
2 2/3 cups mashed potatoes, leftovers are good
1/2 teaspoon salt
black pepper
1/2 cup cottage cheese
2 tablespoons fresh chives, minced
oil, for frying

Preparation

Coarsely grate the raw potatoes and squeeze out as much water as possible. Put them in a bowl with the mashed potatoes, salt and pepper. Mix together.
In another bowl, mix the cottage cheese and chives together.
Using a spoon and your fingers scoop up a portion of the potato mixture, slightly smaller then an egg and flatten into a circle.
Put 1 teaspoon of the cheese filling in the middle; fold over the edges and pinch to seal.
Repeat with remaining potato and cheese mixtures; makes about 12 dumplings.
Heat the oil to 340 degrees Fahrenheit in a deep fat fryer.
Fry for 10 minutes or until deep brown and crisp.
Drain and serve hot.