You see, my mom and close friend Stephanie consider it their royal duty to foil all my and Andy's anti-princess intentions, earnestly doing their utmost to bequeath unto the girls Disney Princess games, toys, books, dress-up clothes, and movies at every chance.
So when Alexa asked please please please please PLEEEEEEEEEEASE could she have a Princess & the Frog (a movie I actually loved, by the way) party for her fourth birthday, I inwardly groaned a mighty groan, but ultimately relented, lest I be thrown into the dungeon.
But Alack! I was in charge of this party (heh heh heh!) and well, you know me, I nerdily took this party as an opportunity to create and educate. In honor of the New Orleans setting for Princess & The Frog, I made a birthday menu of: café au lait (which was served with much, much more lait than café), swamp gumbo (a.k.a. vegetarian gumbo), and of course, beignets.
I had never made beignets before, and I don't know how authentic they turned out to be, but they were surprisingly easy to make and really fun to eat. And everyone loved them - most importantly, Alexa!
Cafe du Gaskin Beignets
Serves 12
3 teaspoons active dry yeast
2 cups very warm water
1 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon salt
3 eggs
1 & 1/4 cups evaporated milk
9 cups all-purpose flour (yes, nine!)
1/3 cups shortening
4 cups vegetable oil for frying
confectioners' sugar to taste
honey to taste
In a big bowl, dissolve the yeast in warm water. Then add the granulated sugar, salt, eggs, evaporated milk, and blend well. Mix in half the flour and beat until smooth. Add the shortening and remaining flour. Blend well. Cover and chill for about an hour, but not more than 24 hours. Roll out the dough 1/8 inch thick. Cut into shapes roughly 2 1/2 inches across (squares work nicely, but you can make any shapes!) Fry them several at a time in 360 degree F (180 degrees C) hot oil. The oil really does have to be this hot, or the beignets will not pop up! When the beignets have popped up and turned a light golden color, carefully flip them over for a few seconds, to brown the other side. Remove them from the oil and drain them onto paper towels. Drizzle honey and shake confectioners' sugar on top. Serve warm.
