A few missed things!

As missionaries there are many things that we miss living here in Croatia. Obviously we miss our family and friends, that kinda goes without saying but we also have some other loves that are missing from our lives here in Croatia. Sonic, okay who doesn't love Sonic??? I mean you folks in the North really miss out! Sonic is the best drink place around and I really miss it!!

Oh and lest I forget, WALMART, is it even possible to forget Walmart? I would do anything to have an American Walmart here in Croatia. An American Walmart with American products, are you kidding me? I LOVE Walmart!

Oh yea and another fav is Cheddars, this restaurant is wonderful and really inexpensive for today's market. Their prices haven't really changed in the last 10 years and the food is still just as good. Yea, I miss Cheddars too. 

Sometimes there are things or places you miss that you didn't know you even loved until there weren't any anymore. Point in case, Krispy Kreme Doughnuts.  Honestly in the states I didn't really crave these little sugar-laden babies but when they're not available they become pretty desirable.  Hey isn't that true about most things. The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence and the doughnuts are always sweeter on the other side of the big blue wet thing. 

Anyhow, my family loves doughnuts so I decided to try to make some real ones. Not the ones from biscuit dough but real live yeast doughnuts. 

Krispy Kreme Doughnuts Copycat Recipe #51199

by Roosie

2½ hours | 2 hours prep

24 doughnuts

Doughnuts

• 2 (1/4 ounce) packages yeast
• 1/4 cup water (105-115)
• 1 1/2 cups lukewarm milk (scalded, then cooled)
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 eggs
• 1/3 cup shortening
• 5 cups all-purpose flour
• canola oil

Creamy Glaze

• 1/3 cup butter
• 2 cups powdered sugar
• 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
• 4-6 tablespoons hot water

Chocolate frosting

• 1/3 cup butter
• 2 cups powdered sugar
• 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
• 4-6 tablespoons hot water
• 4 ounces milk chocolate chips or semi-sweet chocolate chips

1. Dissolve yeast in warm water in 2 1/2-quart bowl.
2. Add milk, sugar, salt, eggs, shortening and 2 cups flour.
3. Beat on low for 30 seconds, scraping bowl constantly.
4. Beat on medium speed for 2 minutes, scraping bowl occasionally.
5. Stir in remaining flour until smooth.
6. Cover and let rise until double, 50-60 minutes.
7. (Dough is ready when indentation remains when touched.) Turn dough onto floured surface; roll around lightly to coat with flour.
8. Gently roll dough 1/2-inch thick with floured rolling pin.
9. Cut with floured doughnut cutter.
10. Cover and let rise until double, 30-40 minutes.
11. Heat vegetable oil in deep fryer to 350°.
12. Slide doughnuts into hot oil with wide spatula.
13. Turn doughnuts as they rise to the surface.
14. Fry until golden brown, about 1 minute on each side.
15. Remove carefully from oil (do not prick surface); drain.
16. Dip the doughnuts into creamy glaze set on rack then when slightly cooled spread chocolate frosting on top.
17. Dip in sprinkles or other toppings after chocolate if desired.
18. Creamy Glaze: Heat butter until melted.
19. Remove from heat.
20. Stir in powdered sugar and vanilla until smooth.
21. Stir in water, 1 tablespoon at a time, until desired consistency.
22. Chocolate Frosting: Heat butter and chocolate over low heat until chocolate is melted. Remove from heat.
23. Stir in powdered sugar and vanilla until smooth.
24. Stir in water 1 tablespoon at a time, until desired consistency.

I found this copycat recipe on RecipeZaar and it was great. It was a little tricky after I doubled it but it still made some great doughnut. 

Actually they were really easy conisdering they used yeast and I'm a bum when it comes to making yeast bread. I was amazed that they turned out so good and they were fast too. Anyhow after I dipped them in the glaze they were REAL doughnuts. 

Not just some semblance of those sweet American treats but real doughnuts. I took then to a friend's house and they were gone before too long. 

These were a great treat for the missionary who is a little doughnut-home sick or the mom who wants to give it a go. 

Let me know how they come out of you decided to try them. 

YUMMY, you won't be sorry except for maybe the calories! 

Sunshine!

Finally after a week of nonstop rain or drizzle it's finally sunny!! I'm so excited about the potential of the sun and if you could see my clothes line you would understand. I think I'm on load number 6 already. I have high hopes of getting it all done.

Honestly I'm not one of those who can get it all done. I'm sure if that were my focus and didn't take any time for family I could manage to keep a perfect home but often I get off kilter. I have never in all of my almost 19 years of marriage been able to balance everything and honestly I can't see it happening any time soon. I'm  a multi-tasker no, I'm not and I'm sure it's too late for me to learn to be.

Anyhow, I'm trying to get it all done today and as I was walking in the kitchen today I noticed the prettiest setting. It was totally on accident but it was so pretty. It gets hot in the house quick on a warm day if you don't let some of thee cool morning air in. So I was, and it made me happy.. :0)

Anyhow, between the laundry and the fridge that keeps calling my name I managed to change out the flowers in the vase on the red buffet. I found the pale pink roses in the yard and filled the vase with some of the red thorn bush that also grows in our yard. I love having any sort of fresh flowers in the house and really it's possible if you look around nature enough to find then for free! Actually I just heard the washer go off so I better hurry this post up. 

In Croatia we can get Nesquik chocolate milk mix but it's about $10 for a bag that lasts about a week in our house. So yesterday stumbled upon a recipe for chocolate syrup and since it was so easy I printed it. Last night Hannah made it and this morning we enjoyed yummy chocolate milk for breakfast and it cost little to nothing. 

I can't remember where I found this particular recipe but there are lots of them floating out there in Blogville. 

Here's the one Hannah used for her syrup. 

1 C cocoa powder

2 C water

4 C sugar

1/4 tsp salt

1 tsp vanilla

1. In a large pot mix 1 cup of coaoa wth 2 cups of water and cook over and medium heat stirring occasionally. 

2. Add 4 cups of sugar and stir until completely dissolved. 

3. Bring the mixture to a full rolling boil. Reduce heat to medium low and let it boil for 3 minutes. 

4. Remove the syrup from the heat and add 1/4 teaspoon of salt. 

5. Add 1 teaspoon of vanilla. 

6. Stir the syrup. *the syrup will thicken as it cools*

7. Let it cool for 20 minutes and then transfer it to a quart canning jar. Give it a a day or overnight to thicken and you can enjoy it in the morning. 

You can either print out the actually recipe or here is a nice 4x6 recipe card you can print out and place in that old recipe box of yours.

Anyhow, the washer is nagging so I better get!!! Have a great weekend!