Sunday, January 21, 2018

MAKING WINTER WARM AND COZY with Ginger Bolton






A very warm welcome to our friend, Ginger Bolton. Survival of the Fritters is the first in Ginger's new Deputy Donut Mysteries. And I am proud to say that the darling kitten on the cover is loosely based on my Twinkie!

Don't miss Ginger's giveaway at the bottom of the post.







 When I was a kid, about the only time we had donuts was when my father brought them home from a local bakery. What a treat! To me they were an exotic food that I couldn’t imagine making at home.

Then, when I was a teenager, I was reading a cookbook and found a recipe.

Knowing my folks wouldn’t want me to use a lot of oil, I fried my cake donuts in about a half inch of oil The donuts ended up nicely nutmeggy, but almost harder than our teeth.

I had proven that donuts were definitely an exotic food that I again couldn’t imagine making at home.

Well, almost . . . Some of our failures stay in our brains as challenges.

So . . . here’s a way to warm a wintry day: Make donuts shaped like snowflakes, and then eat them.


SNOWFLAKE DONUTS

Ingredients List:

1 7/8 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2  - 1 teaspoon nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 egg, beaten
½ cup milk
½ cup sugar
1 tablespoon melted unsalted butter
Vegetable oil with a smoke point of 400º or higher, or follow your deep fryer manufacturer’s instructions
Confectioners’ sugar

Recipe steps:

In one mixing bowl, stir the dry ingredients with a fork or whisk until blended.

In a large mixing bowl, blend the egg, milk, sugar, and butter.

Pour the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients. Stir until blended, adding flour if necessary to make the dough firm enough to handle.

Chill the dough for ½ - 1 hour.

With a floured rolling pin, roll dough on a floured board to 1/3 inch think.

Using floured snowflake cookie cutters, cut out the doughnuts. If the cutter has a large solid central section, use a smaller cookie cutter to cut a hole in the center. This will allow the donut to cook evenly.

Place the donuts on silicone baking sheets or floured waxed paper.

Knead the scraps together and roll out and cut more donuts. Continue until all the dough is cut out. Cut the last few with a small round cookie cutter to make donut holes.

Allow the donuts to rest 5 or 10 minutes.

Heat the oil to 360º.

Fry the donuts a few at a time so they’re not crowded. When the first side is golden, turn them over. When the second side is golden, remove them and drain them on paper towels.

While the donuts are still warm, dip their tops in confectioners’ sugar or shake the donuts, 1 at a time, in a paper bag of confectioners’ sugar to coat completely.

Dry ingredients.
Dough firm enough to handle.
Cut with floured cookie cutter.
Fry.

Serve!


Ginger Bolton writes the Deputy Donut mystery series—coffee, donuts, cops, danger, and one curious cat. When Ginger isn't writing or reading, she's crocheting, knitting, sewing, walking her two rescue dogs and generally causing trouble. She’s also fond of donuts, coffee, and cafes were folks gather to enjoy those tasty treats and one another’s company. As Janet Bolin, she wrote the Threadville mystery series.

 Visit Janet at:
http://gingerbolton.com/
https://www.facebook.com/AuthorGingerBolton/
https://twitter.com/ginger_bolton

Survival of the Fritters, the first mystery in the Deputy Donut series, comes out January 30. Comment below for a chance to win a copy.

70 comments:

  1. These sound so good! I wish I could make them right now. I hope to win! I want to read this book! Thank you for the giveaway!

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  2. Fabulous recipe and I'd love to read the book! EMS591@aol.com

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  3. They look good. I’m looking foward to reading the book.
    sgiden at verizon(.)net

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  4. I haven’t deep fried anything in years if I start these might be where I would go. suefoster109 at gmail dot com.

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  5. This book is on my TBR list. I can’t wait to read it! cking78503(at)aol(dot)com

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  6. Those are so cute and look tasty. It's been a long time since I ate any donuts and that probably won't change any time soon. However, I can read books about donuts - ha! The book looks 'tasty' too!

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  7. Sounds like an easy way to make a wonderful treat. Thanks for the recipe & giveaway. doward1952(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  8. We used to have a deep-fat fryer when I was a kid, and I remember my mother trying to make donuts--once. We never saw the fryer again. Love the idea of using a cookie cutter--and I have that snowflake one. I'll have to try this recipe!

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  9. Wow these are some great looking donuts I bet I could squash blueberries and make a sauce..thanks for the giveaway the book looks lovely.
    Marilyn ewatvess@yahoo.com

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  10. Love the title of your new book and the donuts look delish!

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  11. My Mom used to make apple fritters, boy were they good! Looks like I have another series to add to my growing TBR. Cops and donuts. LOL Thank you for this opportunity. pgenest57(at)aol(dot)com

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  12. I loved the Threadville Series & can't wait to read this one. So glad the author has a new series going. doward1952(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  13. These look amazing! I think I'm going to surprise my two boys with some Sunday evening donuts during the championship football games tonite!

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  14. I'm eager to read your new book. Thanks for the giveaway!

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  15. Thank you for sharing the recipe for SNOWFLAKE DONUTS. I've always had fond memories of doughnuts as far back as I can remember. My Mom made the most delicious yeast doughnuts! Bless her heart I can remember when my brother and I volunteered her to make umpteen dozen to be sold for 50 cents a dozen for our scout troops fundraiser. She never complained and we were rewarded with lots of doughnut holes to eat. :) I have make Mom's doughnuts from time to time and they always bring me back memories of my Mom and her doughnut making times. I will definitely be trying your Snowflake Doughnuts.

    I would very much love to read "Survival of the Fritters". Greatly appreciate the chance to win a copy. Thank you!
    2clowns at arkansas dot net

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  16. A wonderful feature and giveaway. The recipe is enticing and perfect for winter. Thanks. elliotbencan(at)hotmail(dot)com

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  17. Sounds like a great read! Thanks for the chance. Maceoindo(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  18. Your donut recipe looks so accessible. I admit it has always been the frying that has kept me from making attempts. Am something of a chicken in this type of thing. Spattering daunts me. Kudos to you for overcoming your perception of difficulty to make donuts!
    little lamb lst at yahoo dot com

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  19. Sheila Siarkuewucz day sounds like a cozy mystery I'm going to like. Thank you for doing the giveaway! generallylost(at) hotmail(dot)com

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  20. Ok, I must admit, I love donuts! I will definitely make these. Thank you for the recipe and the opportunity to enter. A new series to put on my list!!! meg85242 at gmail dot com

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  21. Welcome back, Ginger aka Janet! I'm delighted to hear about your new series and enjoy your donuts vicariously!

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  22. I am definitely going to use this recipe, they look delicious. Looks like a wonderful new series! tami.norman@gmail.com

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  23. I will definately try the recipe it sounds delicious. I would love to win Survival of the Fritters. Thank you for the chance. Lamonicaks(at)gmail(dot)com

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  24. Can’t wait to start this series! Mwutsey@aol.com

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  25. That’s a pretty cool recipe. I also use pullsbury biscuits and cookie cutters and fry them and dip them in sugar in a pinch.

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  26. Those donuts are so pretty for winter! Thanks for sharing your donut recipe and for the giveaway!

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  27. Love the title of this book and am anxious to try the Snowflake donuts. What a great project for a wintery day! dbahn(at)iw(dot)net

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  28. I so love donuts---but my diet doesn't allow for them. I cheated this morning and had one anyway! I'd love to win this book.
    suefarrell.farrell@gmail.com

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  29. The only donuts in my town growing up were from the pizza place on Sunday. I'm sure they didn't make them there, but that's where they were for sale. It was quite a treat.
    libbydodd at comcast dot net

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  30. Ooo a new series! Growing up, my dad made homemade donuts as a surprise, and he was always so proud of his creations - love the snowflake cut-out!

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  31. I'm always looking for new books. This one sounds delicious! ��

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  32. Great recipe and great story! Congratulations on the new series and thanks for the chance to win! aut1063(at)gmail(dot)com

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  33. Thanks for the chance to win. suefoster109 at gmail dot com

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  34. Would love a chance to start a new cozy mystery series... thanks!

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  35. Would love to win this book. My nephew is a cop, I love donuts and Cozy Mysteries. Plus the name and cover is just so appetizing!!

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  36. Delectable donuts. My grandchildren would devour them. Love your new book. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

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  37. Can't wait to read the book. Can't go wrong with donuts and a mystery.

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  38. When I was a kid my mom used to make donuts almost every weekend. They never looked as pretty as these snowflake donuts, but they were really yummy. We used to love sprinkling on the powdered sugar.
    turtle6422(at)gmail(dot)com

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  39. Love Twinkie on the cover. Sounds like the start of a great new series. Book is on my TBR list, can't wait to read.
    diannekc8(at)gmail(dot)com

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  40. The recipe sounds delicious! I hope to get to read your new book, it sounds like a great read! lclee59(at)centurylink(dot)net

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  41. Yum!!! I made regular donuts like this all the time when my kids were little. I make them now because I like them .. Yum!!! Congrats on the new book, want to read it for sure!! nani_geplcs@yahoo.com

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  42. Looking forward to reading your new series. I like donuts but try not to indulge too often. I’m a sucker for beignets!
    patdupuy@yahoo.com

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  43. I'm looking forward to reading your new book. The donuts look delicious.

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  44. The book sounds delightful. The cover is wonderful. I love the palette and that rascal poking his head up... And you're the second author in twenty years that makes me want to try doughnuts!

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  45. Love fritters and looking forward to reading Survival of the Fritters! Yum!

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  46. Can't wait to try the recipe, and looking forward to a new book and series to read! Sbarr1313@gmail.com

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  47. Both the recipe and the book look great!

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  48. Love the cover and looks like a great read centraleast2 at gmail dot com

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  49. This sounds like a great book. I love the recipe also.
    moo bay7399(at)gmail(dot)com

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  50. I love that cover, and those donuts look delicious! Thanks for the recipe. mbradeen@yahoo.com

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  51. I have special childhood memories of the local donut shop. Always love a news cozy mystery series! Thanks for sharing you recipe and new series.
    bcollin981 at gmail dot com

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  52. The book sounds awesome. I love donuts. The recipe looks delicious. Thank you for this chance! areewekidding(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  53. Love the recipe and I'd love to read this book. Ty for the giveaway, legallyblonde1961@yahoo.com

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  54. I cannot wait to read this! I hope to make these yummy doughnuts next weekend--I love trying new recipes.
    Thank you for this opportunity.
    Sandi.Amburgy(at)gmail(dot)com

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  55. What a treat! I would love to read this; Thank you for the opportunity! Doesn't get any better than cats, fritters, and cozy mystery! jeaniedannheim (at) ymail (dot) com

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  56. Long ago and far away in an earlier version of myself, I had a deep fat fryer. I fried home made French fries for my family...fryer is long gone. Family is grown. But these do look tempting! Is your series set in Wisconsin? I think that’s where my deep fat fryer and I parted company. Looks like a fun read. Thanks for the chance to win. Lldawnjm (at) gmail (dot) com.

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  57. I love the cover of the book and the recipe, which I'm going to try. Who doesn't love flaming hot donut!
    Thanks for the chance to win your book.
    vabedel@aol.com

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  58. Anything featuring doughnuts grabs my attention. Thanks for the opportun browning gloria at hotmail

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  59. Deputy Donut, sounds great. Thanks for the opportunity.
    browninggloria at hotmail

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  60. The donuts look delicious and the cover is really cute. I also like the title of your book. Thank you for a chance to win! Piogkm19@aol.com

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  61. The donuts sound delicious and the book sounds,awesome too. Thanks for the chance to win. Lisamil46@gmail.com

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  62. Thank you for the donut recipe. I've never tried to make them at home, but thanks to you I just might! Sounds like a great new series!

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  63. Forgot to add my email to my comment, ioncookbooks(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  64. Gosh those donuts look delicious! Thanks for the chance to win. Rootseller55 at gmail dot com.

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  65. This sounds like a fun series I would enjoy reading. I love Deputy Donut's name and the recipe sounds great for winter!
    maypopmom (at) yahoo (dot) com
    Maryann

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  66. This sounds like a fun series I would enjoy reading. I love Deputy Donut's name and the recipe sounds great for winter!
    marypopmom (at) yahoo (dot) com
    Maryann

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  67. The recipe sounds good and I'd love to read this book. Thanks for the chance in the giveaway. ljbonkoski@yahoo.com

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  68. Love donuts and look forward to reading this book. Thanks for the chance to win
    Becky Prazak
    rjprazak6@gmail.com

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  69. May ask my niece the baker to try this recipe! Love books with kitties.

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  70. This recipe sounds so yummy and kind of reminds me of some homemade donuts my mom used to make on a special night for dessert, just because. I loved those surprises! Can't wait for this book too!
    awilcox1182@gmail.com

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