Hanukkah Honey Puffs Food

LOUKOUMATHES: HONEY PUFFS

Steps:

• Sift the flour with the baking powder into a bowl.
• Add sugar, oil (or butter or margarine), milk, and the egg, and mix with a wooden spoon until smooth.
• Heat 1-2 inches of oil in a saucepan or deep frying pan to just below the smoke point (medium to medium-high on most stoves).
• When the oil is hot, drop the batter by the small teaspoonful into the oil and fry until golden on all sides.
• Drain on paper toweling.
• Get enough dough on your spoon to equal the size of a unshelled almond.
• Keep a small bowl of cold water next to the workspace and dip finger before pushing batter into the oil (to keep batter from sticking).
• Place on serving platter and drizzle with honey.
• Dust with walnuts and cinnamon, and serve.

HONEY PUFF

Steps:

• Combine cream cheese, flour, milk, eggs, honey, vanilla, salt, and baking powder in a blender and process on high for 3-4 minutes or until well blended.
• Heat the butter in a 10-inch baking pan at 375 degrees until melted. Swirl to coat pan.
• Pour the cream cheese mixture into the prepared pan. Bake at 375 degrees for 25-30 minutes or until a knife inserted in the middle comes out clean. (the puff will rise and fall like a souffle).
• Sprinkle baked puff with powdered sugar.

LOUKOUMADES (HONEY PUFFS)

Steps:

• In a large mixing bowl combine milk, flour and brandy.
• Beat until batter is thick and bubbly.
• Fill a large heavy pan with oil to a depth of at least 2". If possible it is better to use an electric deep fryer or electric fry pan because of the constant controlled temperature.
• Heat the oil to 375-400*. Work in a well ventilated room.
• Drop batter from teaspoon or tablespoon into hot oil.
• Dip spoon in cup of cold water each time before dipping in batter so batter will not stick to spoon.
• Fry 4-5 loukoumades at a time turning often until puffed and golden on all sides. The frying process usually takes 2-4 minutes.
• Remove from oil and drain in colander or in bowl lined with paper towels.
• Heat honey and 2 Tblsp. of water in a saucepan.
• To serve, arrange hot Loukoumades on a platter and pour hot honey over each one. Sprinkle with cinnamon. If desired, sprinkle with chopped walnuts.Serve hot and immediately.
• Left over cooked dry Loukoumades may be wrapped in plastic or aluminum foil and frozen. When ready to use, defrost completely, place uncovered on ungreased baking sheet and heat through in preheated moderate oven. Serve with honey, cinnamon and finely chopped walnuts as above.