Donut Day

picture courtesy of Better Homes and Gardens

So Miss P and I had getting crap off her floor cleaning her room on our agenda today (Day of 4 of the Rainy Spring Break Tour). Suddenly, making donuts sounded more fun and adventurous. So make donuts we did.

I've never made donuts before, hence the 'adventure' aspect. We scoured our recipes and settled on this one by BH & G.

Ingredients
3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/3 cup milk
1/2 cup butter, melted
4 eggs, beaten
2/3 cup sugar
Vegetable oil for deep-fat frying
Cinnamon-Sugar or sifted powdered sugar

Directions

1. In a bowl combine flour, baking powder, cinnamon, salt and nutmeg; set aside. In another bowl combine milk and melted butter. In a large mixing bowl combine eggs, and sugar; beat with electric mixer until thick (about 5 minutes). Add milk mixture; stir with a wooden spoon to combine. Add flour mixture and stir with a wooden spoon until smooth. Cover dough; chill at least 2 hours (dough will remain slightly sticky).

2. Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface. (What I like to do: I use painter's tape to tape wax paper down over half of my kitchen island - I get a bit grossed out at the idea of putting the dough directly on the island.) Roll dough to 1/2-inch thickness. (Note: this dough rolled out perfectly!) Cut dough with a floured 2-1/2-inch round cutter. Use a 1-1/4-inch cutter to cut the hole for the doughnut. (You can also use a standard doughnut cutter.)




3. Fry 2 or 3 doughnuts at a time in deep hot fat (375 degrees F) for 2 to 2-1/2 minutes or until brown, turning halfway through cooking with a slotted spoon. (Make sure it doesn't get too hot though, or your donuts will burn quickly on the outside and be a little underooked in the middle. Or the fire alarm will go off. Or both.) Drain on paper towels. Repeat with remaining doughnuts and doughnut holes. Makes about 15 doughnuts and doughnut holes




4. Shake warm doughnuts in a bag with Cinnamon-Sugar or powdered sugar. Serve warm (or reheat each doughnut 8 to 10 seconds in microwave on high).



We loved watching the donuts puff up on the frying pan. (Make sure to deposit your grease in an empty can for later disposal.)

Another successful P and mom adventure! And the icing on cake (or the powdered sugar on the donut?) P *cleaned her room* while the dough chilled, by herself without prompting - guess she wanted a little more adventure!