Beyond the Book: Doughnuts

Hello, my name is Kara Cochrane Williams.  Elaine told my story in Her Kind of Man.  If there's one thing my husband's family likes to do, it's eat.  My husband's brother is a legend in the family for the amount he eats.  It's so not fair that he doesn't have an ounce of extra weight on him.  One of the family favorites is home made doughnuts.  I had never made them before, but I gave them a try the other day.  They  must have been good because my sweet husband Ross ate them until I thought he might be sick. Here's the recipe I used.  It isn't original.  I got it from http://www.cdkitchen.com/recipes/recs/272/Buttermilk_Donuts13829.shtml

INGREDIENTS:

1 tablespoon dry active yeast
1/2 cup warm water
1/2 cup buttermilk
3 tablespoons shortening, melted
3 tablespoons sugar
3 cups flour
3 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
vegetable oil
2 1/2 cups sifted powdered sugar
1/4 cup milk

DIRECTIONS:

Dissolve yeast in warm water in a large bowl; let stand 5 minutes. Add buttermilk, shortening, sugar and 1 1/2 cup flour, baking powder and salt; mix well. Add enough remaining flour to make a soft dough.

Turn dough onto a floured surface and knead several times. Roll dough to 1/2 inch thick and cut with a 2 1/2 inch doughnut cutter. Place doughnuts on lightly floured surface, cover and let rise 45 minutes or until double in bulk. Heat 2-3 inches of oil to 375'F. Drop in 4 or 5 doughnuts at a time.

Cook about 2 minutes or until lightly golden in color, turning once. Drain well on paper towels.

Combine powdered sugar with milk, stir until smooth. Dip each doughnut in glaze while still warm; allow excess glaze to drip off. Cool on wire rack or serve warm.