Happy New Years

New Years came and went fairly uneventful here on the Island. A few small fireworks and a few loud fiestas, what happened at midnight I don't really know as I was in bed way before that. I did attend a potluck New Years Eve supper at the trailer pNark at Contessa and Colin's rig  http://www.contessajewall.com/ and even managed to deep fry up a batch of German New Years Cookies, which really aren't cookies, they are more like fritters but we have always called them cookies. I rarely make these because I don't like deep frying at home and usually my mother makes them on New Years Day, but since my house here is so open and the smell doesn't linger too long I have actually done a little more deep frying here. I am having problems uploading pictures so I copied this page from  http://www.mennonitegirlscancook.ca/  plus they are much better at photographing food than I am, and it is a great site for recipes and pretty food pictures.

I made a second batch on New Years day and invited a Mexican friend and her family but the rest of the family couldn't make it so it was just her and I. She shares her recipes with me all the time and it was nice to have something to share with her. We ate, laughed and chatted and I even taught her to play "Dutch Blitz" , A card game that you will find in almost any German house hold. At one point I left to get something from the kitchen and I come back to find my table moved...humm, apparently your table needs to be square with the world. She had positioned my table so that the corners are pointed North, South, East and West, apparently this is important, have no idea why. 

Are you square with the world for the New Year? 

This is a recipe repost from several years ago but I think it is worth a reminder today that tomorrow is the day to heat up a pot of oil, make a batch of raisin fritter batter and call your friends and family over to celebrate a new beginning to the new year.
Every year we open up our shop to our extended family.  I use a campstove to heat the oil and ask everyone else to bring something savoury to share for a late afternoon meal after the little ones have napped.

Here is Anneliese's recipe.  Pick one and begin a wonderful tradition in your home.

•  2 tablespoons yeast
• 1/2 cup warm water
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 5 beaten eggs
• 1/4 cup melted cooled butter
• 2 1/2 cups warm milk
• 1 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 4-6 cups raisins  (or you can eliminate the raisins all together as some prefer them plain)
• 7 cups flour
• additional sugar for dipping or rolling while still warm

1. Sprinkle the yeast and 1 teaspoon sugar over the warm water in a large bowl.
2. Let the yeast mixture sit until it becomes foamy.
3. Add the sugar, beaten eggs, melted cooled butter, warm milk and salt and stir together really well.
4. Add the raisins and 4 cups of flour and beat hard with a wooden spoon.
5. Stir in the remainder of the flour and cover with a lid or plastic wrap and allow to double for about an hour.
6. Heat the oil to 375 and using two tablespoons drop spoons of batter into the oil.  When cooked on one side, they will naturally turn over.  Test the first few with a toothpick to be sure they are cooked in the center.  If they are not quite cooked in the middle, try making them slightly smaller. Do not overcrowd your pot.  (see photo)
7. Once evenly browned, remove them using a slotted spoon to paper towel.
8. You can roll them immediately in sugar or allow everyone to have their own technique for dipping into sugar while eating them.  If you want to freeze the leftovers, roll them in sugar first.

This has been a wonderful year for the Mennonite Girls Can Cook.  We are overwhelmed with gratitude for the opportunity this blog has allowed us.  Without all of you who support us we wouldn't have a reason to post our recipes here or have a book that we can use to fund raise for feeding hungry children.  We are so blessed by your friendship and we pray that we will continue to be a blessing to you through sharing what God has given us in our faith and heritage.

From all of us at MGCC . ..may you have blessed new year!