makin' donuts.

after months and months

(ok, my whole life really)

of wanting to make donuts, 

i finally just decided to dive in head first.

i referenced the hundreds of donut recipes 

i had bookmarked... too, too many.

this one linked to alton brown's recipe, so i knew that would be a good, reliable place to start.

i woke up super early to make the dough and let it rise.

there is something wonderful about baking in the wee hours.

makes me feel legit.

 step one:

heat 1 1/2 cups milk and 1/3 cup vegetable shortening in a small saucepan until shortening has melted.

set aside to allow to reach luke warm temp.

step two:

pour 1/3 cup warm water into bowl of stand mixer and sprinkle with two packages of yeast.

let set for 5 min. or til bubbly.

add milk and shortening mixture.

step three:

add 2 eggs (beaten), 1/4 cup sugar, 1 1/2 tsp. salt, 1 tsp. nutmeg, plus 2 1/4 cups flour and combine on low speed using paddle attachment until flour is incorporated, then turn speed up to medium til well combined.  add another 

2 1/4 cups of flour, beginning again on low speed and increasing to medium once all flour has been added.  

mix until well combined.

 step four:

change to the dough hook and beat on medium speed until the dough pulls away from the bowl and is smooth,
about 3 or 4 minutes.

*(mine took a little longer and i had to add a little more flour)

 

step five:

transfer to a well-oiled bowl, cover and let rise for 1 hour or until doubled in size.

go about your normal morning routine, 

not telling any little impatient people

what you have planned for them today...

 step six:

find some cute little aspiring chefs to help you
roll that dough

(on a well-floured surface)

out to 3/8 inches thick.

step seven:

cut dough into whatever big and little size circles 

you feel like.

then place them on a floured baking sheet, cover with a tea towel and let rise for 30 minutes until fluffy.

 you can re-roll the scraps one time,

if desired.

this crowd certainly desired.
and playing with the scraps from the scraps is certainly a good way to pass that 1/2 hour you have to wait for the donuts to rise...

(playing princess aurora and prince philip 

is another good way...)

step eight:

once donuts have risen,

place donuts, 3 or 4 at a time,

into preheated oil for about 1 min. on each side.

(this part was a little nerve-racking, but all went well.
don't worry, you can do it)...

 place donuts on inverted baking rack over three layers of paper towels, flipping after one minute to drain other side.

and then, the fun stuff...

decorate and fancy up to your liking...

we bagged up the donuts and delivered them to friends and neighbors, so we weren't left with 30 donuts to eat all by ourselves.

not saying we couldn't...

give it a try, you won't be sorry!

easter donuts, perhaps?