Friday, July 5, 2013

Doughnuts


Since I was a child, we have tried to make homemade doughnuts. When I was younger, my sister, Angela, attempted them using Pillsbury biscuits. They were okay, but nothing to write about.

I have tried several recipes over the years and finally found one that makes almost doughnut shop doughnuts.

I just made them this morning for the family. My fussy eater, Tyler asked me to make them on his birthday in a next week… It is hard to imagine my youngest is turning fourteen years old!


I found this recipe over at allrecipes.com; it is suppose to be a knock-off version of Krispy Crème Doughnuts.  It does take almost three hours to make these, they are well worth the time!

I made the icing and dipped half of the doughnuts in regular glaze. Knowing my children’s love of chocolate, I added Hershey’s Chocolate Syrup. I did not measure how much I added just mixed it to taste and color.

Do not forget to fry up the doughnut holes; they were a big as the doughnuts were!

 

2 (.25 ounce) envelopes active dry yeast

 1/4 cup warm water (105 to 115 degrees)

 1 1/2 cups lukewarm milk

 1/2 cup white sugar

 1 teaspoon salt

 2 eggs

 1/3 cup shortening

 5 cups all-purpose flour

 1 quart vegetable oil for frying

 1/3 cup butter

 2 cups confectioners' sugar

 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla

 4 tablespoons hot water or as needed

 

Directions

Sprinkle the yeast over the warm water, and let stand for 5 minutes, or until foamy.

In a large bowl, mix together the yeast mixture, milk, sugar, salt, eggs, shortening, and 2 cups of the flour. Mix for a few minutes at low speed, or stirring with a wooden spoon. Beat in remaining flour 1/2 cup at a time, until the dough no longer sticks to the bowl. Knead for about 5 minutes, or until smooth and elastic. Place the dough into a greased bowl, and cover. Set in a warm place to rise until double. Dough is ready if you touch it, and the indention remains.

Turn the dough out onto a floured surface, and gently roll out to 1/2 inch thickness. Cut with a floured doughnut cutter. Let doughnuts sit out to rise again until double. Cover loosely with a cloth.

Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir in confectioners' sugar and vanilla until smooth. Remove from heat, and stir in hot water one tablespoon at a time until the icing is somewhat thin, but not watery. Set aside.

Heat oil in a deep-fryer or large heavy skillet to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Slide doughnuts into the hot oil using a wide spatula. Turn doughnuts over as they rise to the surface. Fry doughnuts on each side until golden brown. Remove from hot oil, to drain on a wire rack. Dip doughnuts into the glaze while still hot, and set onto wire racks to drain off excess. Keep a cookie sheet or tray under racks for easier clean up.

Tuesday, July 2, 2013

Emergency Fluffy Pancakes


You get up Saturday morning and you are craving pancakes. In the kitchen, you start the coffee pot. The kids are buzzing excitedly that you mentioned pancakes. Gathering your ingredients, you open the refrigerator only to remember you are out of eggs. Not wanting to disappoint the kids, and not in the mood to run to the grocery store before your first cup of coffee, what do you do?

Lucky for you I am here to save the day! The recipe below is for eggless pancakes. Yep, I said eggless! Not only is the recipe great for that situation above, but it will work will for those of you who have an egg allergy. Or for those who are vegans.

Unbelievably these will be light and fluffy.If you don’t bother to tell anyone these are eggless, your guests won’t even notice!

1 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
2 teaspoon baking powder
1 cup whole milk
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 tablespoon water
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 tablespoon butter

 

Combine dry ingredients and mix slightly. Add milk, oil, water, and vanilla. Whisk together until just combined. Remember that with pancake batter you want it slightly lumpy. Set aside to rest for a few minutes.

Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat until hot.

In the meantime, melt the butter and it to the pancake batter.

When pan is hot, with a measuring cup or ladle, pour 1/4 cup of batter into the skillet for each pancake.

Cook until bubbles form on the surface. Carefully flip pancakes with turner/spatula and cook until golden brown.

**If you batter seems a bit thick, add 1 tablespoon of water**