Yankee-Belle Cafe

You cannot get simpler than this.

The real Lisa's children were used as cover models for this book... Taylor, McKenna and Nolan

My friend Lisa (my upcoming book "The Lawman's Second Chance" is dedicated to Lisa and Jeff Tydings, my dear friends, and to Beth Endlich, Love Inspired Senior Editor Melissa Endlich's mother... cancer is never convenient...) went to the Super Bowl, and she knows I love three things:

God
Sweets
Baking.

Oh, wait, I should list family in there somewhere, right????

She brought me back pralines (which Dave LOVED and wolfed down like a hunger-crazed coyote out behind the house... Really, Dave?  REALLY??????)  Sorry, off-track... Okay, so pralines (they pronounce them praw-leeens, clearly they do not understand Yankee phonetics in N'Orleans).

And she brought me THIS:




Yes, it is a box of beignet mix. I've never made beignets, much less from a box, but we had to try it because I gave up chocolate for Lent, there is no chocolate in this box, and I was on Day Two and borderline homicidal...

THEREFORE!!!!  We made beignets:

2 cups mix
7 oz. water.

THAT'S IT. SERIOUSLY. NO KIDDING!!!!

Mix. Roll out like you would biscuits. Cut into squares.



Heat oil in frying pan (about one inch)



Put squares in (I did 4 at a time). Turn often with slotted spoon or fork. Listen to K-Love radio while working...

These were the tiny strips I had left at the end, so I made them into French Bow-knots but they weren't as good as the square pillows... unless you like more of the crunchy outside and less puff-middle...

Drain on paper towels, sift with powdered sugar, DONE.





And the taste? Melt-in-your-mouth amazing!

WHERE'S THE LOVE BUTTON??????

You can order the box of mix here: Cafe Dumonde

Just over $3/box.... and amazingly, impressively GOOD!!!

Thank you, Lisa and Jeff!