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Portugal

Although we're having home-made pizzas and a green salad for dinner, on the dessert menu is Farturas. Essentially they're the Portuguese version of Churros and are enjoyed as snacks or crispy desserts.

Farturas
1 cup water
8 tablespoons butter 
2 tablespoons sugar
1 cup flour
4 eggs
Grated peel of 1/2 of a lemon
Sugar/cinnamon mixture for sprinkling
frying oil 

1.   In a one-quart pot, combine the water, butter, grated citrus peel and sugar.  Cover and bring to a boil over medium-high heat.  

2.  When the water is boiling, using a wooden spoon at the ready, dump the flour all at once into the boiling water and stir as fast as you can until the batter is pulling away from the sides of the pot, almost forming a ball of batter.  Shut the heat and remove the pan.

3.  Allow the batter to cool slightly for about one minute while still in the pot.  Beat in one egg at a time into the batter, beating well after each addition so that the egg is incorporated well.

4.  Pour 5 inches deep of oil (peanut works well) into a deep pot.  Heat the oil so that it is hot (350 degree F) but not smoking.  

5.  Fill a pastry bag with the batter. 

6. When the oil is hot, but not smoking, squeeze some of the batter into the oil in an "S" shape or your desired shape of sticks or coils. Fry until golden. Remove to a plate and coat well with the cinnamon/sugar mixture. Repeat with the remaining batter. 




Fartura Rating -- 8.0.  "That's pretty good." --guest contributor Kelly remarked after the first bite. Tony didn't say much but then proceeded to eat the entire plate so I think he gave it high marks.  For a
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