SPRING RECIPE: WE MAKE CHURROS

It feels like spring has finally sprung! With the brighter mornings and warmer temperatures, we’re daydreaming about garden parties, barbeques and festivals. We may not have booked our summer holidays yet but we’re busy comparing our favourite memories from exotic locations… and our finest foods from recent trips. An almost unanimous favourite? Churros! A little like doughnuts, a lot like a little taste of heaven, these may not be the healthiest snack, but they are a delicious and decadent treat to make for your friends on lazy Sundays or midweek meet ups. Serve with chocolate sauce and dust with cinnamon as well as sugar for a twist on this traditional Spanish recipe.

Ingredients:
•    1 cup plain flour
•    1/4 tsp baking powder
•    1 cup water
•    1 tbsp vegetable oil
•    A pinch of salt
•    1 tsp caster sugar
•    Vegetable oil for frying
•    Several tbsp sugar to sprinkle

1. Pour vegetable oil into a large heavy bottomed frying pan. Make sure there is about 2 inches of oil in the pan to cover the churros. There should be enough oil so that they float freely while frying. Set pan aside.
2. In a medium sauce pan, pour 1 cup water. Add oil, salt, sugar and stir. Bring water to a boil.
3. While waiting for water to boil, pour the flour into a medium-sized mixing bowl and add baking powder and stir.
4. Once water boils, remove saucepan and begin heating oil in frying pan.
5. Slowly pour boiling water from saucepan into flour mixture - stirring constantly with a fork until it is a smooth dough without lumps.
6. Spoon dough into a piping bag with a large, star shaped tip.
7. Carefully squeeze dough into hot oil and fry until golden brown. Remove with a slotted spatula or long-handled fork. Place on a paper towel to drain.
8. Once drained, cut into 8cm lengths. Sprinkle with sugar or drizzle with honey and serve.