1 cup dry potato flakes
1 cup boiling water
1 egg, beaten
1 teaspoon salt
⅛ teaspoon ground black pepper
1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
Place potato flakes in a medium-size bowl. Pour in boiling water; stir until blended. Let cool.
Stir in egg, salt, and pepper. Blend in enough flour to make a fairly stiff dough. Turn dough out on a well floured board. Knead lightly.
Divide dough in half. Shape each half into a long thin roll, the thickness of a breadstick. With a knife dipped in flour, cut into bite-size pieces.
Place a few gnocchi in boiling water. As the gnocchi rise to the top of the pot, remove them with a slotted spoon. Repeat until all are cooked.
