Churros

Ingredients

• vegetable oil or olive oil
• 1 cup water
• 1/2 cup margarine or butter
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 3 eggs
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon (optional)

Chocolate for Churro Dunking

• 4 ounces dark chocolate, chopped
• 2 cups milk
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch
• 4 tablespoons sugar

Directions

1. 1

   Prepare to fry the churros by heating oil in a pan (1 to 1½ inches deep) to 360°F.

2. 2

   To make churro dough, heat water, margarine and salt to rolling boil in 3-quart saucepan; stir in flour.

3. 3

   Stir vigorously over low heat until mixture forms a ball, about 1 minute; remove from heat.

4. 4

   Beat eggs all at once; continue beating until smooth and then add to saucepan while stirring mixture.

5. 5

   Spoon mixture into cake decorators' tube with large star tip (like the kind use to decorate cakes).

6. 6

   Squeeze 4-inch strips of dough into hot oil.

7. 7

   Fry 3 or 4 strips at a time until golden brown, turning once, about 2 minutes on each side; drain on paper towels.

8. 8

   (Mix sugar and the optional cinnamon); roll churros in sugar or dump the sugar on the pile of churros.

9. 9

   Note: REAL churros are made without cinnamon mixed with the sugar, but the cinnamon adds an extra nice flavor.

10. 10

    To Make the Cocolate Dunking Sauce--------.

11. 11

    Place the chocolate and half the milk in a pan and heat, stirring, until the chocolate has melted.

12. 12

    Dissolve the cornstarch in the remaining milk and whisk into the chocolate with the sugar.

13. 13

    Cook on low heat, whisking constantly, until the chocolate is thickened, about five minutes.

14. 14

    Add extra cornstarch if it doesn't start to thicken after 5 minutes.

15. 15

    Remove and whisk smooth.

16. 16

    Pour and serve in cups or bowls for dunking churros.