Sopapillas--Easier than you think!

I have a sweetie of a friend, Julie, who is also a Spanish teacher.  She is stuck making these for school demos.  She brought the stuff over here last week for our Concord Girls group and shared them with us. 

If you have never had these delights they are a lot like a donut or a beignet that you would see in New Orleans area.  They are the same concept, fried dough topped with something.  In this case we topped with powdered sugar and honey. 

So, here is the super simple recipe! This is ideal if you homeschool and want a ethnic food thing or if you just love these yummy delights!

INGREDIENTS
2 cups flour
2 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 Tbs. shortening
1 Tbs. sugar
1/2 tsp. salt
3/4 cup warm water
oil for fying (can use your deep fryer)

1.  Sift together flour, sugar, baking powder and alt.  Cut in shortening. Stir in water until combined. Knead for 2 minutes, adding more flour if needed.  Let dough rest in a covered bowl for 25 minutes.

2.  Roll dough on lightly floured surface until 1/4 inch thick.  Cut into diamond shaped pieces.

3.  Pour oil to 2 inches depth in saucepan or electric skillet (or deep fryer).  Heat to 400 degrees.  Add two pieces of dough at a time and cook until puffed. (We used my dutch oven and added up to 4 pieces).  Turn with tongs to brown the other side.  Put in paper towel lined bowl to drain.

4.  Serve warm with butter, honey, cinnamon-sugar or powdered sugar.