Lenten Doughnuts

Momma tries to sacrifice during Lent, but the day before Ash Wednesday, I do enjoy a BIG helping of my sweets.
Momma Explains: It has always been beneficial for me to try and make sacrifices during Lent. For me a sacrifice is to refrain from certain foods, desserts and wine. Before I attempt this kind of self control, I do feast on my favorites and I am not talking about brussel sprouts. One Christian tradition involves having doughnuts on the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday. The following recipe is a short cut doughnut recipe. You can adapt this to your tastes. It is fun for children to see how simple doughnuts are to make and even better to eat.

Short Cut Lenten Doughnuts

Take frozen bread dough, purchased at a local supermarket and follow directions to defrost. Let the bread rise according to directions and after the first rising, break into golf ball size pieces. Stretch out the dough and roll into a log that you then form into a doughnut. Do not make the dough too thick or it will not cook properly. You may need to use less dough or more so a few experimental ones will be best. After the doughnuts are shaped, let them rise. They should almost double their size. Then fry in hot fat, shortening or vegetable oil. If you have a deep fryer, that is the best but a deep pot works also. Be careful when working with hot fat and lower the dougnuts into the oil with a slotted spoon. Fry for about 5 minutes, turning once. Remove with the slotted spoon and place on paper towel. Then roll in confectionary sugar or brown sugar and cinnamon. Now make some coffee or tea and dunk away.