Beignets

Ingredients

• Active dry yeast -- 1 (1/4-ounce) packet
• Warm (about 110°F) water -- 3/4 cup
• Flour -- 3 1/2 cups
• Sugar -- 1/4 cup
• Cream -- 1/2 cup
• Egg, beaten -- 1
• Butter, melted -- 2 tablespoons
• Salt -- 1/2 teaspoon
• Powdered sugar -- for sifting
• Salt -- 1/2 teaspoon

Method

1. Mix the yeast and warm water together in a small bowl and let rest for 10 minutes to activate the yeast.
2. Sift together the flour and sugar into a large mixing bowl. Make a well in the center of the flour and add the yeast mixture, egg, cream, melted butter and salt.
3. Stir with a wooden spoon to mix the ingredients and bring the dough together. Add a little more flour is too wet or a little more cream if it is too dry.
4. Remove the dough to a floured surface and knead for 5 minutes, or until the dough is smooth and elastic.
5. Remove the dough to a large, lightly oiled bowl and cover with a cloth or plastic wrap. Set in a warm corner until doubled in size, around 1 to 1 1/2 hours. Or put it in the refrigerator to rise overnight and finish the beignets for breakfast.
6. Remove the dough to a lightly floured work surface. Punch the dough down to deflate it, and roll it out into a rough rectangle about 1/2 inch thick. Cut the dough into 2-inch strips. Then cut the strips at an angle into diamond-shaped pieces of dough about 2 inches on each side. Set the dough pieces on a lightly floured baking sheet, cover lightly and set aside to rise again until doubled, about 30 to 45 minutes.
7. Heat the oil in a deep pot or deep fryer to 360°F. Shake the flour off the dough pieces and, working in small batches, fry them in the hot oil, turning them until both sides are golden brown. Remove to a paper towel-lined baking sheet and repeat with all of the dough.
8. Put some powdered sugar into a sieve and sprinkle it liberally over the beignets. Serve immediately with coffee.