Beignets for Breakfast (or whenever)

I am from the New Orleans area originally in a small town that is just on the Mississippi state side called Picayune.  I grew up with the New Orleans influence.  New Orleans has the awesome place called the Café Du Monde that has the GREATEST beignets (pronounced ben-yay) in the whole world.  They are awesome and served fresh and hot.  What is a beignet?  It is a French style doughnut in a square shape covered in powdered sugar.  Don’t wear black when eating a beignet.  It is messy.  But so, SO good. 

Here is the recipe if you are up for making them from scratch and this will make about 12 of them.  Personally, 12 is never enough unless you are but one person.  We also make at least two to three dozen in a sitting.  You can find this recipe at All Recipes.com.  Or Paula Deen has a recipe, which can be found here. 

• 1 cup water
• 2 tablespoons yeast
• 1/2 cup shortening
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 2 cups boiling water
• 1-3/4 cups and 2 tablespoons evaporated milk
• 4 eggs, beaten
• 15 cups flour
• 8 cups vegetable oil for frying
• 2 cups confectioners' sugar for dusting

1. Pour 1/2 cup room temperature water into a small bowl. Sprinkle the yeast over the water and let stand for about 5 minutes to dissolve.
2. Combine the shortening, sugar, and salt in a large bowl. Pour the boiling water over the shortening mixture and then stir in the evaporated milk. Wait for the mixture to cool down until it is lukewarm. Then, add the yeast and water mixture and beaten eggs.
3. Slowly mix in the flour until the dough forms a ball. Cover the dough with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes to 1 hour.
4. Working with a small portion (a little larger than a baseball) at a time, roll out the dough 1/8-inch thick. Cut the rolled out dough into strips 2 to 3-inches wide, then cut again in the opposite direction and at an angle, making diamond shapes.
5. Heat your oil for frying in a deep and wide, heavy-bottomed skillet over medium-high heat to 360 degree F (180 degrees C).
6. Slide dough slowly into the oil to avoid splattering and deep fry until they puff up and are golden brown, 3 to 5 minutes. Carefully remove onto a rack with paper towels underneath and allow to cool until you can handle them. Place in a clean paper bag with confectioners' sugar and shake gently until covered generously or, use a sifter to dust the beignets with powdered sugar.

Or if you want something simple, but still very, VERY good, Café Du Monde does sell a mix.  You can buy it from their website or you can get it from places like World Market.  The cost is roughly $4. 

Treat yourself and/or your kids!  Make these with hot chocolate!  

Make your hot chocolate extra special and add two spoonfuls of hot cocoa mix to some coffee (decaf for the kids), a little bit of vanilla creamer, a spoonful of sugar, then top it with whip cream and sprinkles!  This is a Dirty Goat Farm favorite!  Especially when it is chilly outside!

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