Too Cute Tuesday was bound to eventually fall on Mardi Gras. We really wanted to make something festive but masks seemed so one-time-use-only. King cake with its hidden baby would have been ideal, only all the recipes that Dorrie found took 4 hours from scratch. There were some shortcuts (like using refrigerated cinnamon dough) but using the shortcuts would have made everything too short.
So tonight, we're saluting the French (my people) in general with some classic beignets. That's right ladies and gentlemen, no need to wait for your next visit to New Orlean's Cafe du Monde to enjoy this treat!
I personally never fry things at home because I'm afraid once I find out how easy it is, I'd fry everything. But Mardi Gras and Too Cute Tuesday means that all my personal rules get thrown out the window.Laissez les bons temps rouler! Check out the original recipe at Allrecipes if you want the instructions without my ridiculous commentary and additional dough making tips.
Materials
- 2 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast
- 1 1/2 cups warm water (110 degrees F/45 degrees C)
- 1/2 cup white sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup evaporated milk
- 7 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/4 cup shortening
- 1 quart vegetable oil for frying
- 1/4 cup confectioners' sugar
Cocktail of the Day: Salmon Run Reisling (a Dorrie favorite)
0. Heat water but don't boil it. Yeast works in water temperatures between 100 and 110 degrees F. Sarah Tip: You can get water hot enough from the tap!
1. Put two eggs, salt, sugar, and evaporated milk in a large bowl and blend well. Bonus: Mooch off your cool friend's nice Kitchenaid mixer.
2. Add four cups of flour and blend again. Sarah Tip: Don't cram the flour in the measuring cup. You are supposed to have some air in there when you measure.
3. Add shortening, blend. Add the remaining three cups of flour, blend.
4. Sarah Tip: You should need dough when everything is combined so if you have too much flour, you can try to knead it in. Also knead with the base of your hand not your fingers. Use this time to add flour if it's liquidy and add liquid if it's too floury.
5. Put the bread in the freezer to chill since you don't have time to wait for it to work overnight. Cross your fingers that it works to be a slacker.
6. In the meantime, have a lovely bit of riesling. Ahh. Happy Tuesday.
7.Roll out the dough in a round and cut it into little pieces. Heat oil to 360 degrees F and fry baby fry. Tip: Make each piece really thin, otherwise they won't cook all the way through. ]
8. Dust with powdered sugar and enjoy!
Too Cute Tuesday: Putting the "gras" in Mardi Gras…
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