72 Blue Ribbon Cook Book
DEEP FAT FRYING

GENERAL RULES:

1. Choose a heavy kettle, preferably iron. A frying basket is a great con-
venience, though a wire egg-beater may be used. A thermometer is
important.

2. The vegetable oils are most satisfactory, as they do not burn readily
nor absorb odors. It is not advisable to use lard alone, but % lard
and 14 suet is a good animal fat combination.

3. See that there is enough fat to entirely cover the food. Do not add too
much food at one time, and always test fat before adding more food.

4. Drain food on soft paper. Never pile together.
5. Temperature for deep fat frying:

(a) Cooked materials, as croquettes, 385-395 degrees F. If no thermo-
meter is at hand, test fat with inch cube of bread, which should
brown in 40 seconds.

(b) Uncooked mixtures, as fritters and doughnuts, 360-370 degrees F.
Bread test 60 seconds.

(c) French fried potatoes, 395-400 degrees F. Bread test 30 seconds.
Do not rely on the smoking of the fat as a test, as fats smoke at
different temperatures. :

6. In cleaning up, strain fat through cheese cloth. If fat is dark, clarify by
adding thin slices of raw potato, and cooking until bubbling ceases.
Strain. Wipe utensils with paper, put in pan, cover with cold water,
add washing soda and let come to boil. Throw water away and wash.

Doughnuts, No. 1—2 to 4 tablespoons shortening, # cup sugar, 2 eggs,
1 cup milk, 4 teaspoon salt, } teaspoon Blue Ribbon nutmeg, about 4
cups flour, 4 teaspoons Blue Ribbon baking powder.

Cream butter, add sugar, then well-beaten eggs. Measure and sift
me age 3 cups flour, and other dry ingredients. Add alternately with
milk to first mixture. Add more flour to make a dough that is just stiff
enough to handle easily. Turn on floured board, press lightly with floured
hands to } inch thickness. Cut in rings, twists, or balls and fry. As
doughnuts come to the top, turn at once, and keep turning frequently.
They will cook in about 2 minutes. When cool, roll in powdered sugar.

Doughnuts, No. 2—Use sour milk and } teaspoon Blue Ribbon soda,
instead of sweet milk and baking powder. |

Raised Doughnuts—1} cups milk, } yeast cake, } cup brown sugar, 2
eggs, 4 teaspoon salt, { teaspoon Blue Ribbon nutmeg or mace, } cup
butter, about 43 cups flour.