I never liked school , not one day , i loved my friends and i loved most of my teachers but i didn’t like “school” . i disagreed with the system ! i disagreed with the Arabic teacher trying to let me memorize Arabic rhymes , wondering what kind of a job will i get when i grow up by doing so?? i didn’t like the trip with the school bus knowing that my freedom will stop the second i arrive in school and they shut the doors . i didn’t like Monday, Tuesday , Wednesday .. i was okay with Thursday because Friday was off.. but i LOVED Saturday !
Saturday , was a school day and Sunday was off , Saturday was the day between brackets .. the brackets were friday and sunday . i never skipped Saturdays .. i had a secret …
every saturday , a German mother of a Senior student in school used to come in with a car full of donuts bags . transparent cellophane bags with 3 donuts . in German they were called “Krapfen” . Krapfen were my secret . i secretly loved them but couldn’t admit it !
the bell rang of the third lesson ending and i ran downstairs hoping to be the first in line to get my bag of Krapfen .. but as usual there was already a crowd for the Senior girls around the donut lady . they were all shouting 2 please , 3 please. i stood in a short distance with my money in my hand wondering if i will ever be able to get a pack .
all week long i denied myself a treat from the school cantine to be able to save my pocket money and buy just 1 pack . they were way to expensive for my quite moderate pocket money . i watched as the girls munched happily on their donuts every saturday and wished deep down to scream out and tell them how i longed to try them , how much i went through to save the money but it was too late . the Krapfen were all gone . and the lady took her empty bag , the money and left. the disappointment of having to wait another week was beyond explanation. for the first time , i actually had the money but couldn’t buy the donuts .
i spent the next week planing .
Saturday was here again . it was the third lesson and i asked to go to the toilets . the teacher asked me to hold on !! (one of the famous things in our school , was being able to hold on ! they taught us to wait .. and wait .. and wait .. . very similar to army training) .
i insisted and eventually , the teacher let me go just 5 minutes before the bell rang . it was perfect ! i ran to the Terrace where the Krapfen lady stands and from a far distance i saw her walking towards me with the big bag of donuts . my heart throbbing with joy i waved and waved with my money . she walked slowly towards me and i thought maybe i should run to her ? but before i thought any further, the senior girls came running through pushing me out of my place .
the lady opened her bag and without a glimpse at me started handing over the donuts to the same group of senior girls . .. i pushed through, they pushed me back , i pushed even harder and gave the lady the money .. she gave me a pack .
I sat down on the brick bench with my pack open and a donut in my hand . finally . a bite .. angels were dancing in my mouth . i ate the 3 donuts and spent the rest of the school year trying to get another pack ..
my mommy tried to find alternatives , went to bakery shops to try to get me donuts but never have i ever found the angles again .
when i started baking i tried so many recipes but they were never satisfying . until one day , i hired a nigerian nanny for my kids. she offered one morning to make me donuts .. and against all odds , i met my angels again and they were dancing in my mouth all over again.. a bite from a childhood i missed the most . i watched her making the next batch , and another one .. and i finally learnt to make donuts !
and today i will introduce you to my recipe for dancing angels with the hope you all get to experience a bit of my childhood and think of me while you enjoy them :
Ingredients
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup sugar
pinch of salt
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1 egg
4 tbsp oil
1/4 cup milk
oil for deep frying
How to make it
Sift flour and baking powder in a large bowl.
Add sugar and salt and mix.
In another bowl,lightly beat egg and mix oil.
Mix in flour mixture until crumbly.
Stir in milk.
With floured hands,lightly knead the dough until smooth (If too sticky,
add some flour).
Leave the dough in the mixing bowl in a warm place for about 2 hours.
Roll out the dough into 1/4 inch thickness on a floured surface.
Dip doughnut cutter in flour.Use to cut-out doughnuts.
Heat oil for deep frying.
Carefully drop doughnuts into hot oil, only a few at a time.
Fry, turning once, for about 3 minutes or until golden brown.
Remove from oil and drain on paper.
Sprinkle with powdered sugar or cinnamon-sugar mixture,if you like. nutella or a simple glaze works the best !
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