One thing I never told you: these donuts are actually called SPUDnuts. As in potato-nuts. Because you have to put potatoes in them. And they are really good. Don't know why I withheld that little piece of info from you. Probably because I didn't want to have to explain (kinda like a politician there) what a spudnut is. So much easier to just say that my mom makes the best donuts. But, spudnuts are the same- only better- than your regular, run-of-the-mill donut.
And now, without further ado, I give you my mom's famous spudnut recipe:
SPUDNUTS
3 cups warm milk (not too hot or it will kill your yeast)
1 cup sugar
3/4 cup shortening
2 scant Tablespoons salt
1 1/2 cup mashed potatoes (can be instant- but real is better---use your Thanksgiving leftovers)
1 tsp. lemon extract
1 tsp. nutmeg
4 eggs
3 Tablespoons dry yeast
10 cups flour
Combine dry ingredients and cut in shortening. In a separate bowl beat eggs. Form a well and pour in wet ingredients. Mix together. Let raise twice. (actually, once is fine)
Roll out to 1/4 inch thick. Cut donuts and let rise until they double in size.
Deep fry in hot oil until golden brown.
Glaze:
1/4 cup milk
2 cups powdered sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
(add cocoa if you want a chocolate glaze)
Mix together and dip donut completely in glaze and let excess drip off.
That's it. No big secret. And so you have election time/ Halloween spudnuts. Go forth, change the world with your spudnuts. But, here is a little secret: if you want to save the world, you have to save the cheerleader.
oh, and Sunday is my birthday
