Time Well Spent

We had a wonderful holiday break. It seemed to pass too quickly though. If it were up to me every day would be Christmas break - I really do like having those little rascals home and it never seems like we have enough time to do everything we want to do. We did get a chance to spend some time in the kitchen.

Sam got a chance to redeem himself in the turkey department (more on that later):

We held our annual New Year's fry. While some people take New Year's Day as an opportunity to embark on their post-holiday diets, we are busy deep frying things. This year, Sam's parents joined us on our journey back to my Dutch roots and helped in the making of Oliebollen. Translation, oil balls. This description is rather unfair because they really are no worse than a doughnut and because they have currants and apple inside they are practically healthy. Like the logic?

Oliebollen

1tbs lemon juice

1 small apple, small diced

4 ½ cups flour

½ cup currants

2 cups warm milk

I small packet of yeast (1/4 ounce)

1 teaspoon sugar

1 teaspoon salt

1 quart of oil for frying

Powdered sugar for dusting

Add yeast, sugar and milk together; stir until smooth. Allow to sit 5 minutes. Add apple to lemon juice & set aside. Mix flour and salt in bowl. Make a hole in the center of flour mixture and slowly add milk (I did it in the bowl of the KitchenAid). Mix until smooth. Add currants and apple pieces in the lemon juice. Cover the bowl with a clean dishtowel and allow to rise about 1 hour in a warm place.
Heat oil to 356ºF or 180ºC. Using a spoon, carefully drop 2” balls of dough into the oil allowing them to brown (about 8 minutes – rotating them occasionally). Allow to drain on paper towels. Arrange on plate and generously sift powdered sugar over the tops.

And, last but not least, the freakishly large turkey legs that were not to be forgotten:

Definitely time well spent.