This is my father's recipe from many years ago. Always a family favorite. It is a LARGE batch. For a smaller batch you may want to halve it. I am adding it as I recieved it in its original form as that is the recipe I can attest to. This recipe makes soft fluffy fried dough.
Ingredients:
2 cups milk
5 TBSP sugar
5 TBSP shortening
2 Tablespoons salt
2 packets of active dry yeast
2 cups warm water
6 cups all purpose flour
2 qrts vegitable oil for frying
for dusting the tops: confectionary surgar or cinnamon and sugar
Instructions:
Scald milk, add sugar, shortening and salt, Mix then let cool to a lukewarm temp. In a large bowl add yeast to warm water and let dissolve. Once dissolved, add milk mixture and two cups of flour. Beat until smooth. STIR in enough additional flour to make a stiff dough. Knead until smooth and elastic. (8-10 minutes.)
Place in a greased bowl, (making sure to grease the top of the dough.) Cover and let rise in a warm place until it doubles in size. Generally about an hour.
Heat cooking oil to 375 degrees F.
Divide the dough into about 8 balls. (Depending on size you want the actual "ears" to be.) Roll/stretch out in the shape of an elephant ear. Deep fry 3-5 minutes on each side-until golden brown. Remove from oil and rub one side in either confectionary surgar or cinnamon-sugar mixture.
(We like to melt butter and brush butter on one side before sugaring.)
Fun fact: Smaller versions of elephant ears are called "mouse ears", so make sure you make some mouse ears for the littles in the family.
