Homemade Doughnuts

Happy new year to all.

Last week when it snowed I decided

to make homemade doughnuts.

I called my mother for her recipe and

took the plunge of making them alone.

Thank goodness my dear friend, Karana, stopped by 

on her way home from work to help me fry and glaze them.

 Let raise twice. Roll and cut out. Let raise again and fry.

 Fry, glaze and eat.

Homemade Doughnuts

5 cups water

5 Tbsp. dry yeast

1 Tbsp. sugar

 1 1/2 cups sugar

1 cup shortening (I used half butter, half Crisco)

5 eggs, beaten

4 tsp. salt

1 Tbsp. vanilla

1 Tbsp. nutmeg (cut back if you aren't a nutmeg fan)

15 cups of flour

Glaze
2 lbs. powdered sugar
2 Tbsp. cornstarch
1 cup milk
1 tsp. vanilla

Dissolve yeast and sugar in 1 cup of warm water. Set aside.

In a very large bowl: cream sugar and shortening. Add eggs,

salt, vanilla, and nutmeg. Mix until combined then add yeast mixture.

Add flour alternately with remaining 4 cups of water.

I used my small hand mixer for the first few cups of flour- 

then I used a wooden spoon to mix the rest of the flour in.

Cover and let raise double, punch down. Let raise double again.

Mix together glaze ingredients. Set aside.

Half dough and roll out to 1/2 in. thick. Cut circles and lay on a lightly

floured surface. Stretch doughnut centers out as you lay them down.

Let raise double again. Heat lard, canola oil or Crisco to 375 degrees.

It's important to maintain that temperature as at this temperature 

the oil seals the outside of the doughnut so it doesn't soak in. If the 

oil is too hot the doughnut will get too brown and crisp on the outside 

before the inside has time to be cooked through. If the oil is not 

hot enough, the doughnut will absorb too much of the oil and 

the texture will be soggy and greasy.  

Fry until golden brown. Lay on paper towels for a minute or so.

 Place doughnuts in rows on a wooden stick or wooden spoon handle. 

Lay across glaze bowl and pour glaze over doughnuts with a ladle. 

Let drip for a minute and place on trays. Eat as many

as you can fresh because they are the best!

Freeze for another snowy day.

Enjoy,

Hope