Doughnuts (Wikimedia Commons)

In honor of National Doughnut Day, I offer you a doughnut recipe from the Great Depression Era.

It is fitting as the Salvation Army originally created National Doughnut Day to help those struggling in the 1930s and 71 years later, they are still raising funds through doughnut sales to help those burdened by the current economic recession.

Read and watch all about it in this post about National Doughnut Day.

For more on doughnuts:

• Psycho Donuts having crazy good time despite protestors
• National Doughnut Day thanks to the Salvation Army
  

Sweet milk doughnuts recipe
1 cup sugar
2 tablespoons melted shortening
2 eggs, slightly beaten
1 cup milk
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon salt
3 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1/8 teaspoon ginger
4 3/4 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon lemon extract

Combine egs and sugar, blend carefully.  Sift flour, measure, and sift with salt, baking powder, and spices.  Add alternately with combined milk, shortening, and extracts to first mixture.  Chill dough.  Turn onto lightly floured board and roll in sheet 1/3 inch thick.  Cut with floured cutter.  Fry in deep fat (365 F.) until brown.  Drain on crumpled absorbent paper.  Sprinkle with sugar.