Beaver Tail Fried Pastries

LAURIE's Note:

This is my copycat recipe for the Canadian version of Elephant Ears, often called or sold as "Beavertails". Try them with garlic and butter or chocolate syrup or a fruity jam. A lot of steps but not so overly time consuming that they are not worth the little extra effort!!! Enjoy them!! I don't have an idea how many this makes as the kids eat them faster than they can be fried.

• Total Time: 1 hrs 12 mins
• Prep Time: 1 hrs 10 mins
• Cook Time: 2 mins

Ingredients:

Yield: 36 tails

• 1/2 cup warm water
• 5 teaspoons active dry yeast
• 1 pinch white sugar
• 1 cup warm milk
• 1/3 cup white sugar
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 eggs
• 1/3 cup vegetable oil
• 5 cups whole wheat flour
• 1 quart oil (for frying)
• 2 cups white sugar
• cinnamon (touch)

Directions:

1. In a large bowl, stir together the yeast, warm water and the pinch of sugar.
2. Let stand until it is a slightly foamy (approximately 5 minutes).
3. Then add the other 1/3 cup of sugar, milk, vanilla, eggs, oil and salt.
4. Stir it all until it is smooth.
5. Mix in about half of the flour and continue stirring it.
6. Gradually add more flour.
7. Turn the dough onto a floured surface when it is firm enough to handle.
8. Knead for approximately 6-8 minutes.
9. Add more flour if you need it to form a firm elastic dough.
10. Place dough in a greased bowl and cover.
11. Let dough sit covered until it rises and doubles (approximately 35-45 minutes). Lightly deflate the dough and pinch off a piece the size of a golf ball.
12. On a floured surface use a rolling pin to roll out the small ball of dough into an oval shape.
13. Put it aside and cover it with a clean tea towel while you continue to do the same with the remaining dough.
14. Heat approximately 4 inches of oil in either a deep-fryer (375 degrees) or a wok or a Dutch oven.
15. Before placing the flattened dough into the oil, stretch them into ovals and thin them and enlarge them (to resemble the tail). Place the tails in the oil one (or two) at a time.
16. Fry in the oil, turn them once until the tails are a deep brown.
17. This process usually takes about 1 to 2 minutes per side.
18. Carefully remove the tail from the oil and let it drain on a paper towel.
19. Place left over sugar in a flat dish like a pie pan and add the cinnamon.
20. Toss the tail into the bowl while it is still hot.
21. Shake off any extra sugar and cinnamon mixture.
22. Serve warm.