Patch Paczkis

Given my Polish heritage, I can't help but indulge in Paczki Day. Sometimes I buy them, but when I have the time, I like to make them myself. There is nothing better than eating them warm from the fryer!

Here's how you can make your own:

You will need:

• deep frying pan
• slotted spoon
• newspaper or paper towels

Ingredients:

• ½ cup vegetable shortening plus 1 tablespoon water
• 1 package dry yeast
• 1 cup milk warmed between 115 and 120 degrees
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 4 eggs
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• 4 cups all-purpose flour
• oil (canola or vegetable) for deep frying
• jam, preserve or pudding of your choice
• powdered sugar

Directions:

1. Melt shortening and water in a medium sized bowl, set aside to cool off a bit, you don't want it pipping hot.
2. In another bowl, add yeast and warm milk and stir until the yeast dissolves. 
3. In a large bowl, add sugar, eggs and vanilla then beat together.
4. Now add shortening and water mix.
5. One cup at a time, slowly add flour. If dough is still sticky after 4 cups add a little more, only 1/4 cup at a time until the dough doesn't stick to your hands.
6. Knead dough until well blended.
7. Place in a clean bowl then put a towel on top and set someplace warm to rise.
8. Once it has doubled in size (usually a few hours) punch it down and let rise again. (About one more hour.)
9. Once dough has risen again, place on floured surface and roll out to a little less than 1/2 an inch.
10. Using a a large circular or oval cutter, cut dough into Paczki shape.
11. Place on cookie sheet and let these rise for about 30 minutes.
12. Line another cookie sheet or your counter top with newspaper or paper towels.
13. Start heating oil to be between 325 and 350 degrees...make sure to keep a thermometer in your oil at all times...do not let it get too cold or too hot.
14. Fry each Paczki for 1-2 minutes on each side until golden brown.
15.  To fill Paczki take jam or vanilla pudding and put it into a pastry bag with a medium sized tip. Inject, then sprinkle with powdered sugar and enjoy!

*With your leftover scraps I highly recommend making donut holes, then quickly mixing them with cinnamon sugar in an air-tight container...they are delicious!