Apple Beignets (Christmas Eve Treat)

~ 1 ½ cup flour
~ 1 cup plus 1 tsp. sugar
~ 1 pinch of salt
~ 1 ½ tsp. cinnamon
~ 2 eggs
~ 1 ½ cup milk
~ 2 tsp. melted butter
~ ¼ tsp. vanilla
~ 5-6 cooking apples

In a bowl, mix together flour, 1 tsp. sugar and a pinch of salt. Stir in 2 eggs, lightly beaten, milk, melted butter and vanilla. Beat the batter until it is smooth and let it stand at room temperature for about 20 minutes.

Peel and core 5 or 6 cooking apples and cut them into fairly thick slices. Dip the apple rings into the batter and drop them, a few at a time, into deep fat heated to 345º F to 355 º F. Fry the rings for about 2 minutes on each side or until golden brown. Remove with a slotted spoon and drain them on paper towels.

Coat them with a mixture of 1 cup sugar and cinnamon and serve them hot (also good with a sprinkling of finely chopped walnuts and a scoop of vanilla ice cream.