A Nun's Sigh ( sweet fried puffs)

By Johanna

Ingredients

• 1 c water
• 1/3 c butter
• 1 c all purpose flour, sifted
• 1 pinch salt
• 2 Tbsp granulated sugar
• 4 lg eggs
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 tsp lemon or orange zest
• canola oil for frying
• powdered sugar, for dusting after fried

Preparation

Step 1

1. Sift together flour, salt and sugar and set aside.
Heat water and butter together until butter melts.
Add flour mixture all at once to butter mixture, and stir rapidly with a wooden spoon until dough leaves sides of pan and forms a soft lump. Remove from heat.
Cool 15 minutes.

2. Add and beat in one egg at a time, beating hard after each addition. When dough is not longer shiny, stir in vanilla and lemon or orange zest.

3. Scoop up a heaping teaspoon of the dough and, with a second teaspoon, push it off into hot oil(350^) or until a 1-inch cube of bread browns in 60 seconds.

4. When puffed and olden brown, drain on paper towels.
Sprinkle with powdered sugar and serve hot.
You may split slightly and add a dab of custard or lemon curd inside if desired, and drizzle with caramel or chocolate.