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Beignets and Churros (Pareve or Dairy)
by Eddy Robey
Too often these days, we hear something yummy referred to
as being sinful. The other side of the coin is that
someone who has practiced a bit of self-denial says that
they have been good. I was taught that we will be held
accountable, if we fail to enjoy the legitimate pleasures
of the beautiful world G-d has created for us. One of
those legitimate pleasures is a holiday feast with
friends and family.
In these times when being abstemious passes for virtue,
one of the joys of Chanukah is the freedom to enjoy fried
food. In every country, there is some special morsel
cooked in oil to commemorate the miracle. In France, the
holiday goodies are called Beignets. Those of you who
have visited the French Quarter of New Orleans, may have
had them with a cup of Cafe au Lait. The same dough is
shaped differently and called Churros in Mexico, which
was at one time a French possession. Both treats are
popular at the Disney resorts.
These are very simple to make. They can be mixed right
before you are about to fry them. For those of you who
are not accustomed to deep-fat frying, I recommend buying
an electric fryer, which is thermostatically controlled.
They are very inexpensive. I have one which is both a
fryer and crockpot in one, a great convenience. Fried
food is only greasy, if it is fried at too low a
temperature, and therefore absorbs the oil. 375 degrees
is right.
Ingredients
1 cup boiling Water
1/2 cup (1 stick) Margarine or Butter
1 cup Flour
4 Eggs
Sugar, powdered or granulated
Cinnamon (optional)
Oil for frying
Method
In a medium sized saucepan, heat the Butter and Water
together, until the butter is melted. Add the flour all
at once, and stir vigorously until the dough forms a
ball. Remove form the heat and allow to cool for 5
minutes. Add 1 egg, and beat until it is thoroughly
combined. Repeat, adding the remaining Eggs one at a time
and beating thoroughly after each one. The dough will be
very stiff.
Heat the oil to 375 degrees. If you do not have an
electric fryer, use a fat thermometer. While the oil is
heating, place a large bowl of ice water close by. This
is for you to use if you are burned; do NOT put butter on
burns.
Remember to fry wearing long sleeves and an apron to
protect you and your clothes. Put the Sugar and Cinnamon,
if you are using it, into a large paper sack.
Put the dough into the hot oil by teaspoonfuls for
Beignets. or pipe it through a pastry tube for Churros.
Do not try to crowd the pan, as that will lower the
temperature and make them greasy. Fry until golden on one
side. Turn and complete frying. Lift them from the oil
with a slotted tool and put them into the sack with the
Sugar. Shake to coat them, then remove and put them on a
platter. Repeat with the rest of the dough. Serve.
A bonus hint for Disney fans: Mix 2 cups of
peeled, diced Apples with the dough before frying and
tossing in Cinnamon Sugar. That is how they make the
Apple Fritters.
*****
This is an excerpt from
.It's
Not Just Chicken Soup.
ISBN 1-929077-44-0
© 2001 Eddy Robey
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Eddy Robey M.A.
Author of It's
Not Just Chicken Soup. Like all Jewish mothers,
I feed everyone in sight, and have been at work in the
kitchen for over 25 years. Correspondence should be
addressed to <eddyrobey@aol.com> and will be read
as soon as the dishes are done. You can find many of my
recipes online at Gantseh
Megillah Please feel free to
forward this to anyone you think would enjoy it, as long
as you include my copyright.
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