Lunch: Apple Fritters with Orange Glaze

Recipe by Melissa Roberts Hanukkah is the celebration of ritual oil that miraculously lasted for eight days instead of one, which is why oil factors prominently during the holiday. While latkes (potato pancakes pan-fried in oil) are traditional—and we've

This recipe includes superfoods such as:

Apples

Health benefits of Apple Fritters with Orange Glaze

Apples will improve your body's sensitivity to insulin (Reference: http://care.diabetesjournals.org/content/27/1/281.full)

Ingredients

2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup sugar
2 1/4 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon fine salt
2 large eggs
3/4 cup whole milk
3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted and cooled slightly
2 teaspoons grated orange zest from 1 navel orange (set aside orange to use for juice in glaze)
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
2 Golden Delicious apples (1 pound total), peeled, cored, cut into 1/4-inch-thick slices
About 3 cups vegetable oil

Instructions

Whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl. In another bowl, whisk eggs, then whisk in milk, melted butter, zest, and vanilla. Add wet ingredients into dry and fold until just combined (do not overmix), then fold in apples.
Heat 3/4 inch of oil in a 10- to 12-inch deep heavy skillet over medium heat until it shimmers. Drop a little batter into the oil. If it bubbles and rises to the top, the oil is ready. If it browns immediately, reduce heat. (Or use a deep-fat/candy thermometer to heat oil until it registers 375 °F.) Using two tablespoons (soup spoons), drop spoonfuls of batter, each containing 2 apple slices, into oil. Working in batches of 5, cook fritters, turning over halfway through, until golden brown, center is just cooked through, and apples are tender, 3 to 4 minutes total. Transfer with a slotted spoon to paper towels to drain. (Make sure oil returns to 375 °F between batches.)