Crafty Friday 8/12 - Elephant Ears

The County Fair is coming!!

In true county fair style we have 4-H projects galore floating around the house. Not all of them are complete though. Tomorrow will be the mad project dash. Even waiting until the last minute, I'm really proud of my kids for going a little out of the norm and making knitted and crocheted items as well as baking homemade granola and cheese bread. Now knitted projects may not seem that abnormal to you, but we went around and counted every single project in that category last year and there were six including one made by the older daughter.

Now 4-H may be the reason we are at the fair, but what visit to the fair is complete without an elephant ear?


We always stop and get one or two to share. Ours are always topped with cinnamon-sugar, but I've heard that this is more of a regional thing. Is that true? I'd love to know.

Inevitably I start craving these in January when the snow is piled up and the cold winds are blowing. There are no fairs around then though so the next best thing is making my own. I know that these are one of those things that the atmosphere of the fair just makes them better, but hey.....they are still good.

And not a single word on how bad they are for me. I already know and I don't care.


Elephant Ears

1 1/2 cups milk
1 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons white sugar
3/8 cup shortening
2 tablespoons active dry yeast
4 cups all-purpose flour
1 quart oil for frying
3 tablespoons ground cinnamon
6 tablespoons white sugar

In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine milk, salt, 2 tablespoons sugar and shortening. Heat until shortening melts and sugar dissolves. Remove from heat and let cool to lukewarm, about 110*F. Sprinkle in yeast and let sit until foamy. Transfer mixture to large bowl, and stir in flour to make a dough. Knead until smooth, cover and let rise 30 minutes. In a large heavy skillet or deep fryer, heat 1 inch of oil to 375*F. Roll out 1 to 2 inch balls of dough into thin sheets. Fry sheets 1 to 2 minutes on a side, until puffed and golden. Drain on paper towels. Combine cinnamon and 6 tablespoons sugar. Sprinkle over warm pastries. Serve.


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