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Doughnut Heaven
Sunday, December 4th, 2005There are days when you just need to say to heck with the diet. Day before yesterday I officially hit the halfway point: 14 pounds off, 14 to go (and if a few more want to go besides, that’s OK by me, too). Joshua had been asking if we could make doughnuts at home, so today was the day.
Boynton McKay, an eatery on the single main block of Camden, with latte’s, great wraps, this and that to eat, has heavenly doughnuts. I’d been trying to figure out the flavors so I asked the head cook a while back….I’d identified cinnamon and nutmeg, maybe cardamom (a favorite “secret” ingredient of mine), and thought it was lemon zest. I was close…no cardamom, and it was buttermilk, not lemon zest that gave it the tangy flavor. So, I hauled out my King Arthur’s Flour baker’s cookbook (and which I’d noticed on the shelf at Boynton McKay). PRESTO! It was the exact recipe with buttermilk, cinnamon and nutmeg. Of course, I added 1/8 tsp. cardamom, too. They boys even liked the dough–which is one part whole wheat flour, three parts white flour, butter, brown sugar, egg and spices, salt, and baking soda (or was it powder?). Here’s phase 1–mixing:
We rolled out the dough and used cookie cutters to cut the donuts and the holes. With 20-20 hindsight, I need a larger cutter and hole cutter. Then, you deep-fry the dough; oil must be at 365 degrees, so I used the candy thermometer. Also almost melted the melamine skimmer, so had to use tongs to retrieve the fried donuts—will have to buy a metal skimmer (the kind the Chinese use is my favorite but I’ve never had one…) for next time.
Then the boys wanted glazed, so mixed some powdered sugar with a tiny bit of milk. Then you either dredge the donut or roll the holes. Finally, set on plate, then inhale.
I used to make donuts when I was about 5 at my Gramma’s house…my cousin Anne and I would eat the holes…yummmm! Back in the mid-60s, you could buy donuts in a roll in the refrigerator case (you know, where you buy crescent rolls and breakfast rolls now), so we made those. It has been more than 4 decades, but I still remembered how! And now Joshua wants to start a new family tradition…donuts! YEAH!
