Fried balls

Today's recipe is fried bread balls.  We will begin by using the recipe posted in the previous blog, for the dough using the bread machine.  This time we will roll out our dough to about 1/2" thickness on the cutting board.

Roll out your prepared dough on a floured surface.  Begin by cutting small balls from the rolled dough.  I use an empty spice bottle because it makes just the right size and thickness I desire.

This is how the raw dough balls look.

Heat your oil either in your deep fryer or pan on the stove, to about 375 degrees, nice and hot.    When the oil is ready, I drop them, 12 at a time, into my deep fryer basket.  You need to watch them, turn them once using a large fork and fry until golden brown.  It usually only takes 5 to 8 minutes to fry one dozen balls.  

While hot, I place them in cinnamon and sugar mixture, coating them well and drain them on a platter covered with a paper towel.  If you prefer, they can be rolled in powdered sugar. 

 We love donuts at our house but they can be expensive, so this is the next best thing.  These are wonderful with coffee or milk, either warm or cold.  I hope you enjoy these for breakfast, brunch, snack or anytime you crave donuts.  

This is how the finished product looks. 

Sharing recipes for cooking at home

These blogs are for sharing recipes to make at home.  With the economy in the toilet these days, it makes sense to do more cooking at home.  

Is this fancy cooking?  No, not the fancy recipes you might see on those Food Network shows, not the $200 truffle pizzas you could buy at Chef Ramsey's expensive restaurants but it is fun cooking.  Many of you, whoever you are, may not think of cooking as fun, but it can be.  My second husband and I have been married for 13 years now and we have always loved cooking together.  Cooking as a couple is one of the best ways to curse, laugh and just enjoy each other's company.  

I also have to mention that I see so many bread machines for sale at yard sales.  Many of them brand new and so many people told me they got one as a gift and just don't know how to use it.  I got two brand news ones at yard sales for $5 each.  I kept one and gave the other one to my daughter.  I have been using mine for three years now and it has been the best $5 investment I ever spent. So if you have one, use it, if not, look for them at yard sales and buy one.  They are easy to use and such time savers.  So relax, whoever you are reading this, and try this first recipe.

Easy & quick pizza pockets

Pizza dough:

I cup very warm tap water

1 tsp salt (optional)

1-1/2 tbsp. soft margarine

2 plus 3/4 cups all purpose flour

1 tsp. dry yeast

Add each ingredient on the list, as listed, into the bread machine.  Look for the dough setting on your machine and turn it on.

When bread dough is done, turn out onto floured surface and break off small (1/2") pieces and roll into balls.  Roll each ball out to a circle with a rolling pin and place 1 tsp of pizza or spaghetti sauce in the center of the circle.  Place 1 slice of pepperoni on the sauce and sprinkle a small amount of shredded Mozzarella cheese and you may sprinkle some Parmesan cheese here too.  Keep all fillings in the center to avoid oozing out the edges during cooking.

Fold circle over, pinch edges with fingers or a fork until sealed and heat your deep fryer to a high temperature( 350 degrees.)  Drop two at a time in fryer basket, cook one side until lightly brown, turn and cook other side.  Pockets will puff up during frying.  

Drain on a platter covered with paper towel and you can sprinkle with Parmesan cheese if you like.

These pockets cook in very little time for preparation and total cooking time.  You can make bread dough ahead, freeze it, then thaw some while working and whip these up when you get home from work.  These pockets are not greasy and everyone at my house loves them.  They never go to waste because they are delicious cold too.

Enjoy!