Fruit Fritters

Fritters are not as sweet as doughnuts, but so very delicious!

Ingredients:

3/4 cup of your favorite dried fruit, chopped (apples, apricots, pears, peaches, bananas, cherries, dates, or pineapple)

1 tablespoon lemon juice

2 eggs, divided

1/4 cup milk

1/3 cup sour cream

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 1/3 cups all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon nutmeg

1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

2 tablespoons granulated sugar

cooking oil

confectioners' sugar

Directions:

In a small bowl, toss dried pears with lemon juice; set aside. In a large bowl, beat egg yolks; add milk, sour cream, and vanilla. Mix well. In a medium bowl, sift together flour, baking powder, salt, nutmeg and cinnamon. In another medium bowl, beat egg whites until frothy. Gradually add sugar and continue beating until stiff peaks form. Add flour mixture to egg yolk mixture and blend. Fold egg whites and pears into batter. In a heavy pan or deep fryer, heat 2 inches of cooking oil to 375 degrees. Drop batter by slightly rounded teaspoonfuls into hot oil. Note: larger fritters will be doughy in the center. Fry until crisp and golden brown, turning once. Drain on paper towels. Place in a paper bag and shake with cinnamon sugar.

This recipe makes 35-40 small fritters.