New Orleans Dinner 3 of 3: Beignets

 1/4 cup room temp. water
1-1/2 tsp yeast
2 TBS shortening
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup boiling water
1/3 cup + 2 TBS + 1 tsp evaporated milk
1 egg, beaten
1/2 to 1 tsp vanilla
3 3/4 cups flour
Oil (for frying)
Powder sugar for dusting
Dissolve yeast in room temp. water. Combine the shortening, sugar and salt. Add the boiling water, then stir in the evaporated milk. Let cool to room temperature then add the yeast water, egg and vanilla. Slowly mix in the flour until it forms a ball. Cover and refrigerate 1 hour. Working in small portions, roll dough out 1/8 inch thick, cut into 3X3 inch square (or triangles or diamonds...whatever shape you like). Heat oil to 360, cook dough 3-5 minutes, until brown (making sure to flip halfway though). Let cool completely then sprinkle with powder sugar (if they are still hot when you sprinkle the powder sugar on the sugar will melt and become sticky).

If you're wondering what beignets are, then are like a cross between doughnuts and elephant ears (also called funnel cakes); translated: really, really good!!!

With hungry thoughts from the kitchen;
Gabrielle W.
So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. ~1 Corinthians 10:31