Cooking with Anya: Beignets

Anya is obsessed with the new Disney movie "The Princess and the Frog". We took her to watch it in the theater twice and we are now counting down the days until the DVD release (March 16).

Right after seeing the movie for the first time, she started asking if we could make beignets (deep fried French pastries). She literally asked me EVERY day when we were going to make them. I found a recipe and gathered the ingredients, but never seemed to get around to making them.

On Saturday, Nathan took Anya to dance class and Eric and I headed out to Target. While there, I found a Princess and the Frog cookbook that I knew I couldn't pass up. When Anya got home and I gave her the cookbook, she was on cloud nine. For her, it was the best present she has ever gotten.

The first recipe in the book is Tiana's Famous Beignets and it was then that I knew we would be making that recipe. Sunday morning Anya woke up very excited to get started on the beignets. Now on to what Anya had to say since this is "Cooking with Anya". :)

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Do you want to know how great these taste? They taste very good. My favorite part about making them was sprinkling on the powdered sugar. I loved eating the powdered sugar and getting it all over my face. I think everyone should make these because you will love the powdered sugar.

Tiana's Famous Beignets

Tiana's Cookbook - Recipes for Kids

Makes 14-16

3 cups flour

1/3 cup sugar

2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp nutmeg

1 cup buttermilk

1/3 cup water

1 egg, beaten

1/2 tsp vanilla extract

Vegetable oil, for frying

Powdered sugar, for dusting

In a medium bowl, combine 2 3/4 cups flour with the sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt and nutmeg. Whisk everything together.

In a large bowl, whisk together the buttermilk, water, egg, and vanilla. Stir in the flour mixture.

Use some of the remaining flour to dust your work surface. Place the dough on it and pat into large 1/2" thick square. Dust the top with more flour if it gets sticky. Next, slice into 2 1/2" squares.

Heat 2" vegetable oil in heavy saucepan on stove until temp reaches 325. Carefully drop 3 dough squares into the hot oil. Fry 3 minutes on each side. Use a slotted spoon to transfer beignets to a wire rack set atop paper towels to drain.

Dust the beignets with powdered sugar and enjoy!