Beaver Tails

• 1/2 c warm water (110 F/45 C)
• 5 t active dry yeast
• 1/3 c white sugar
• 1 c warm milk (110 F/45 C)
• 1 1/2 t salt
• 1 t vanilla
• 3 eggs, beaten
• 1/3 c vegetable oil
• 5 c whole wheat flour
• Vegetable oil for frying (must be at least 3 in./10 cm deep)
• Garnish
• 2 c white sugar
• 1/2 t ground cinnamon
• 1/4 t ground cardamom
• Lemon
• Alternate Garnish
• Maple butter - as much as you like - or can afford!
• Chocolate syrup

1. Mix 1 t of the sugar in the warm water. Add yeast and let stand until the yeast begins to foam.
2. Stir in the milk, the remainder of the sugar, salt, vanilla, eggs, and vegetable oil until the sugar has dissolved.
3. Mix in about half the flour, and stir until no additional flour can be incorporated.
4. Turn the dough onto a floured surface, and knead in flour until the dough loses its stickiness. Continue until smooth and elastic, about 10 min.
5. Form the dough into a ball, place into an oiled bowl, turn the dough to cover completely with oil. Cover and set aside for about 1 h or until the dough has doubled.
6. Punch down and knead a few times.
7. Shape into the bottom of a cookie sheet.
8. Divide by running a pizza cutter to divide into 5 x 4 pieces on the sheet. Cover with plastic wrap and set aside to rise about 10 min more.
9. (At this point, the dough can be refrigerated for a couple of hours.)
10. Heat oil to 375 F/190 C.
11. Mix all the garnish dry ingredients together and place in a large, flat container (a second cookie sheet would do.)
12. Remove one square from the cookie sheet and shape by pulling into an oval that is about 1/4 inch thick. Leave the other squares, covered, on the cookie sheet while you do this.
13. Fry the pastries, preferably one at a time until golden brown (1-2 min. on each side or 2 - 3 min. if deep frying.)
14. Let the cooked tails drain on a draining rack or by using paper towels.
15. Sprinkle sugar garnish mixture on the tail and squeeze a small amount of lemon juice over the tail.
16. Alternately, spread maple butter on the tail and drizzle with just a little chocolate syrup.

warm water, active dry yeast, white sugar, warm milk, salt, vanilla, eggs, vegetable oil, whole wheat flour, vegetable oil, white sugar, ground cinnamon, ground cardamom, lemon, alternate, maple butter, chocolate syrup

Taken from www.epicurious.com/recipes/member/views/beaver-tails-52863321 (may not work)