? In a separate large bowl, mix together the flour, salt, remaining 1 tablespoon of sugar, nutmeg, and cinnamon.
? Beat the two eggs until they’re smooth and no streaks of whites remain.
? Gently mix the eggs into the dry ingredients.
? Add the milk and yeast mixture and combine until the ingredients are mixed.
? Cover with a tea towel and set in a warm place to rise for about two hours or until doubled in size.
? Heat oil in a heavy pot. Use a candy or cooking thermometer to ensure the oil reaches 350° and holds steady. You don’t want the oil to get much hotter, but the temperature will drop as you add the dough.
? I use a small cookie scoop to drop dough in the oil. Now, if you don’t have one, use a heaping tablespoon and scrape it off with a second spoon.
? Cook for 45-60 seconds per side or until browned, then flip.
? Once browned on both sides, drain on a rack or plate covered with paper towels.
? When the doughnuts are done draining, toss them in powdered sugar, or dust with powdered sugar. (Or if you are my editor or my son, please toss in cinnamon sugar.)
Class is in Session
Starring Ivy and Zagan fromAll I Never Wished For
“My wife makes the best zeppelins ever.”
Ivy looked up from the papers she was grading. “What did you say?”
“You make the best zeppelins,” Zagan repeated, coming close and pressing his cheek to her face, long, strong fingers sliding down her side. “You had your first week with a full courseload, you went to three faculty events, you made sure the baby was a happy baby... and then you make zeppelins. You make sure your husband is a happy husband. You know, even thoughIam the djinn, you make all my wishes come true,” Zagan purred, lips nuzzling her neck.
Ivy shut her laptop. The papers could wait. Going back from maternity leave was hard, emotionally and physically.
“Zeppole. They’re not zeppelins, those are old-timey airships.” Ivy turned to him more fully, wrapping her arms around his neck. “What’s more, you have all the knowledge of the centuries, you can speak any language, you’re all powerful—”
“Formerly all-powerful. You freed me from my powers, which are more curse than blessing, the longer you have them. And you know this.” Zagan’s arms wrapped around her waist, hands skimming her hips.
“And you know what zeppelins are.”
“I know, I know, but there are lots of foods that have names for other things, too. Subs. Like submarines? You know, the ones I like, over at the new Italian place? When they do the lunch special, with the meatballs and the homemade sauce, which Mr.Argento calls ‘gravy,’ and the provolone cheese...” Zagan stopped for a moment to sigh. “Oh, and that’s another one! I thought gravy was what you made with the turkey at Thanksgiving, but it is also the good red sauce that Mr. Argento’s nonna taught him.”
Ivy shook her head and laughed. “I think I’m seeing the point. You really thought these little balls of dough were called ‘zeppelins’?”
“If a sandwich is a submarine, a doughnut can be an airship, no?”
“You make me fall in love with you more every day. In all the little ways, sweetie.”
“That is good. Because I ate all the zeppole—but I will make more. I will make them. I just need your recipe, my angel.”
“All of them!”
“There were only about ten left!”
“Ten, Zagan! Ten doughnuts!”
“Tenlittlebites.” Zagan held up his forefinger and thumb to convey how small those bites were.
Ivy rolled her eyes. “And you think you can make them the way I do just by following my recipe?”
“I was all-powerful. I have the wisdom of the ages,” he wheedled.
