A word about Cruellers

One word about cruellers (well maybe more than one word, for those of you who know me I never say anything with just one word!) work.

First you need more flour to get the dough so it isn't sticky, and so that it is easy to roll into 1/2 inch thick strips. I twisted the strips, so that they looked more like those beautiful donut shop cruellers everyone sees inside the glass case at Bernhard's Bakery in Newport (522 York Street) or at The Cookie Jar (919 Monmouth Street)in Newport, (my personal favorite) -- that didn't work out so well. They were very good, according to my husband and my oldest son, a donut connoisseur. But they fell apart and they took a lot of time,as you have to be very careful frying them in the hot oil,and the oil gets kinda old fast-- so the later ones are easily burned before they get finished. This small feat set me back a couple of hours this morning from my task of researching the Kentucky Post articles at the library. My advice is that you should plan to make creullers for special occasions only! Now I know why we never had this recipe when I was a child. It just took too much time in the morning. My grandmother was an excellent cook, but usually everything was planned out and Sunday dinners were her specialty. I believe it really wasn't about the food, actually it was about family, because every meal was planned so that our family would be there together sitting around one large oak pedastal table inserted with 4 or 5 leaves that were made by my grandfather to accomadate all of us, and there were a lot of us at times. These were the only meals that you were expected to attend, after you went to church of course. Sometimes there were over 12, and it was loud, with arms flying all over the place alongside many differing opinions about the state of the world, clothing styles, babies, the weather, baseball, football, grades, my hair... you name it... and it all began with a prayer... and two very special people... and of course baseball letters.