Koeksisters

I'm currently trying to get through my mammoth cooking tasks for Africa Day. The list includes double quantities of bobotie, malva pudding and an attempt at koeksisters. I last made koeksisters in a home ec class way back when. That being said I googled it and found a few recipes one of which I am currently attempting. The recipe I found doesn't have an indication of the quantity it makes so it is going to be a surprise. If anything, this will be a baby taste of home on the day (if I don't eat them all beforehand)

Koeksisters

The secret of the crisp syrupy outside of koeksisters is that they are taken straight from hot oil and dipped into ice-cold syrup. This seals the syrup outside and leaves the inside dryish in contrast.

Ingredients:

• 375ml water
• 800g sugar
• 2ml (1/2t) cream of tartar
• 2ml (1/2t) ground ginger
• 3 cinnamon sticks
• 500g cake flour
• 30ml (6t) baking powder
• 2ml (1/2t) salt
• 50ml (4T0 butter or margarine
• 2 eggs
• 250ml milk
• oil for deep frying

Instructions:

• To make syrup, heat water in a saucepan, add sugar and stir until dissolved. Add cream of tartar, ginger and cinnamon.
• Boil, uncovered, for 5 minutes. Do not stir, remove from stove and chill.
• While syrup is chilling, make koeksisters. Sift flour, baking powder and salt together.
• Add butter and rub in with fingertips until mixture resembles fine crumbs.
• Beat eggs and milk together and add to dry ingredients. Mix dough well, then knead lightly for 2 minutes to make it pliable.
• Cover basin with wax paper and leave for 1 hour.
• Roll dough to a thickness of 7.5 to 10mm. Cut into strips about 8 cm long and 2.5 cm wide. Cut each strip into three lengthwise, leaving one side uncut. Now plait the three pieces and press ends together firmly.
• Heat oil to 190ºC and deepfry koeksisters for 1 minute. (Do not fry too many at once)
• The syrup will warm up about halfway through, so divide the syrup into two bowls.
• Remove from oil, drain on brown paper for 1 minute and dip in cold syrup for 30 seconds. Remove from syrup and place on a dish to dry.

You'll probably see lots of recipes posted in the next few days as dishes are prepared.