An Old Family Favorite

When we made our plans for our road trip to visit daughter Sarah, SIL Lance, and their newborn Gabriel, Sarah made a request.  She asked if one of our family meals during our visit could be an old family favorite - Apple Fritters with the traditional Pennsylvania Dutch sides.

This was a recipe of my grandmother's that was passed to me from my mother.  We always had lunch at my grandparents' home after church on Sunday, and this was a favorite meal.

Although I haven't made this meal for several years, our four children used to love it when they were younger, and I'd make this meal for dinner.

One - it's more like a dessert so it always seems like we are breaking some rules and getting away with it.
Two - these fritters are delicious.
Three - they remind us of the funnel cakes that we often get at our local amusement park.
Four - this recipe is an easy way to use up a few apples that may be sitting around, and it's likely you have the other needed ingredients in your pantry.

Ingredients:

1 cup sifted flour
1 1/4 t. baking powder
1/4 t. salt
1/4 t. cinnamon
2 T. sugar
1 egg, beaten
1/3 cup milk
2 t. crisco, melted
2 large apples, pared and diced
1 T. lemon juice
confectioners sugar

Directions:

Sift all dry ingredients except the confectioners sugar together.  Combine egg, milk, and melted crisco and add to dry ingredients.  Turn in the apples and lemon juice.  Fry large spoonfuls in about 1/2 inch of vegetable oil at 375 degrees until nicely browned on both sides.  Sprinkle with confectioners sugar before eating.

Note from our years of experience with these tasty fritters - do not inhale while taking a bite.  The sugar will swoosh down your throat and make you cough.  At least one of us forgets this rule every time we have these.  Perhaps we are slow learners.  Or perhaps they are just so good we do try to inhale them.

Now there are certain sides that always need to be served with apple fritters.

Ring bologna and cheese are non-negotiable.  I know there are certain areas of our country where it is impossible to get good ring bolony.  That's a problem, because this meal is not properly put together without it.

And, if you're gonna do the ring bologna correctly, it'll need some good mustard.  Spicy is best.

To make this meal and get it exactly right, add some pickles and olives to the plate.

A final word of advice - you may want to double the recipe.  I guarantee you'll be wanting some of these fritters again for breakfast the next day.  Bon appetit!