Sopapillas

Sopapillas Sopapillas: 3 1/3 cups all-purpose flour 3 teaspoons baking powder 2 tablespoons white sugar 1 teaspoon salt 2 tablespoons vegetable shortening 3/4 cup water lukewarm 1/2 cup whole milk lukewarm Vegetable or canola oil Cinnamon Sugar: 1 cup white cane sugar 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon Sopapillas: In a large bowl add dry ingredients: 3 cups of flour, baking powder, sugar, and salt. Whisk to combine. Add shortening and using your fingers or a pastry blender, combine it with the flour mix until it is fully rubbed in and the mixture resembles sand. Scoop a well in the center of the flour and shortening mix and add warm water and warm milk. Using a wooden spoon, stir the mixture until well combined. Once combined, use your hands to knead the dough, for about 5 minutes. If the dough is too sticky, add the remaining 1/3 cup of flour a little at a time. The dough should be just lightly sticky, easy to work with, soft and smooth. Knead the dough into a smooth ball. If needed, transfer the dough to a lightly floured surface while you knead it. Once you formed a ball, place the dough on a lightly floured surface and cover with a damp towel. Let it rest for 30 minutes. The dough can also be wrapped in plastic food wrap and refrigerated for 24 hours. Fry: After 30 minutes, cut the dough in 4, and roll each piece into a small, smooth ball. You can also skip cutting the ball into pieces, and just roll the entire piece, its just harder to work with it this way. One by one, roll out each ball on a floured surface into an imperfect rectangle that is about 1/8-1/4 inch thick. Cut into 3 inch squares and arrange them on a tray that has been covered with parchment paper. Add oil to a deep pan, saucepan or deep-fryer. If using a pan/saucepan, you need to fill it with at least 4 inches of oil. Once the oil is hot, 375 degrees F, add Sopapillas a few at a time and fry until golden brown on both sides. It is important to not add too many at the same time, depends how large is the pan or pot you are using. They should have enough room to puff up. Also, it is very important to move them around. Use chopsticks or two forks, to move them around the pan and turn on the other side. Sopapillas have airy centers, they should inflate almost like balloons when added to the hot oil. When moving them around, turning or removing them from the pot, be gentle and careful, to not pierce them. Cook only until golden brown on each side. Remove and place on a cooling rack that has been placed inside a baking dish. This is done to drain any remaining excess oil. Cinnamon Sugar: Add cinnamon and sugar to a large bowl and whisk to combine. Toss one by one, the still hot Sopapillas into the Cinnamon Sugar mixture or just sprinkle it on top.OR powder sugar Serve warm drizzled with honey.