Why not donuts? Donuts?

CEBU, Philippines — The monsoon season generally mean frequent rain showers and cold nights. Yes, typhoons come now and then too, like “Ompong” that the country just had last week. The rains and winds that come at this time usually do more harm than good – the seas are rough for fishermen to sail out, the crop fields get flooded, and various health risks emerge from both the cold temperatures and runoff floodwaters.

The fact that school and offices get suspended during turbulent weather is both good and bad news. Good, because school kids and working adults get an extra day or two of rest. Bad, because the day off is not meant to be fun, what with the strong winds and heavy rains outside.

Well, true, it can be a good time for family bonding. And yet with everyone holed up inside, moms worry how to keep everyone’s tummies from grumbling. In times like these, the kitchen is eternally busy – meals and snacks for family members big and small become major undertakings.  

For snacks, why not donuts? No, not the complicated baked ones but the deep-fried type that’s simple to make. Making the snack can be a good bonding activity for the family.

For homemakers who want to quickly grab the idea of a donut snack, there’s no need to go the hit-or-miss way. It’s surely such a disappointment to set oneself up with all that work and hot oil only to end up with donut that nobody wants but the house dog. There’s a fried donut recipe that even those that are not usually fan of deep frying will find completely worth it!

The fried donuts in the following recipe shared by www.yummy.ph from the October 2014 issue of Good Housekeeping Philippines are sure to be a hit at home. The whole family join can join in the fun and help to deep fry a few donuts.

Homemade Fried Doughnuts

Ingredients:

3½ cups all-purpose flour

1 tablespoon instant dry yeast

½ teaspoon salt

1 cup water

¼ cup sugar

1 pc egg

3 tbsp butter, melted

canola oil, for frying

Procedure:

•Mix flour, salt, and yeast in bowl. Set aside.

•In a mixer bowl, blend water, sugar, egg, and melted butter on low speed. Add half of the flour mixture into the wet ingredients until flour is just incorporated. Add the remaining flour and mix until combined. Increase speed to medium and continue mixing dough, scraping down sides as necessary until dough is smooth, about 5 minutes.

•Transfer dough to a large oiled bowl. Cover with a clean kitchen towel, and let rise in a warm place for about 1 hour or until doubled.

•Remove towel and turn out on a floured surface. Roll out dough to ¼-inch thickness. Using doughnut cutter or a 3-inch and 1-inch cutter, cut doughnut shapes into the dough, rerolling scraps to make more doughnuts or holes.   

•Transfer finished doughnuts to a floured baking sheet until oil is ready for deep frying.

•Heat oil to 375°F in a deep sauté pan. Place doughnuts in hot oil, 2 to 3 pieces at a time. Use chopsticks or back of a wooden spoon to flip doughnuts over. Use slotted spoon for cooking the holes. Fry until golden brown on all sides. Drain on paper towels. Serve doughnuts tossed or filled with your favorite sweet flavors.