Normally I would post this on National Doughnut Day, but since many American doughnut shops offer free donuts on National Doughnut Day, I thought you'd want to plan ahead. Check out the list below--or check with your local donut shop!
National Doughnut Day started as a fund raiser for Chicago's The Salvation Army. Their goal was to help the needy during the Great Depression, and to honor The Salvation Army "Lassies" of World War I, who served doughnuts to soldiers.
National Doughnut Day celebrates the doughnut, an edible, ring shaped piece of dough which is deep-fried and sweetened. This holiday event began in 1938 as a Chicago Salvation Army fundraiser for much needed funds during the depression. The day also recognized special women known as "Doughnut Lassies" who made and served doughnuts to homesick WWI soldiers in France, since doughnuts were thought to be the quintessential American food. Here's a song from a 1918 songbook celebrating doughnuts in WWI.
A doughnut’s just a doughnut, boys, ’til you are “over there,”
And day and night you’re in a trench away in France somewhere;
You get a fresh-made doughnut, seems it comes from heaven above,
That doughnut, boys, reminds you of a slice of mother’s love.”
Doughnuts are popular in many countries and prepared in various forms as a sweet snack that can be homemade or purchased in bakeries, supermarkets, food stalls, and franchised specialty outlets. They are usually deep-fried from flour dough, and shaped in rings or flattened spheres that sometimes contain fillings. Other types of batters can also be used, and various toppings and flavorings are used for different types.
For a wonderful entry on Doughnut Day, go to Months of Edible Celebrations for a great discussion of the history and a recipe from Entenmann's Big Book of Baking for Chocolate Cake Donuts, as well as information about The Donut Book by Sally Levitt Steinberg, granddaughter of Adolph Levitt, the inventor of the first doughnut machine (1920). As Louise says in her entry, "Sally brings the doughnut to life." You've got to read this.
And, there are a lot of free doughnuts on Friday, June 3 this year! Subject to change, of course.
Krispie Kreme is giving out one free doughnut of any kind, no purchase necessary. (at participating stores)
LaMar's Donuts: Follow this Facebook link to get a “golden ticket” for a free donut on Friday, plus a free 16-ounce Lamar’s cup with any purchase.
Dunkin' Donuts: Buy any drink and they'll throw in a complimentary doughnut (while supplies last)
Randy's Donuts: Customers get free donut holes at this famous Los Angeles donut shop from 6 a.m. to noon.
Shipley Do-Nuts: is giving each customer one free do-nut (that's how they spell it!), 5 a.m. to noon.
Tim Horton's: is celebrating National Donut Day by handing out one free donut with any purchase made (one per customer).
Cumberland Farms: is giving out one free donut per customer buying a coffee or a fountain drink between 5 a.m. and 10 a.m.
Honey Dew Donuts: Purchase any medium-sized beverage, and you'll get a free (Up) Beat Cancer Donut--chocolate frosted with blue and red sprinkles. This donut was created to raise cancer awareness.
Duck Donuts: Go to the Facebook page of Duck Donuts—a chain with dozens of East Coast locations from the Jersey Shore to North Carolina—for a coupon valid for a free sugar donut on National Donut Day.
Doughnut Plant NYC: is giving out a free mini cake donut (one per order while supplies last).
Winn Dixie: locations in AL, FL, GA, LA & MS -- giving away one free "jumbo" donut hole to customers--one free per guest, per store visit, while supplies last.
Entenmann's Bakery will give away a total of more than 150,000 donuts in more than a dozen cities around the country, including Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Cleveland, Denver, Louisville, New Haven, New York City, and San Diego, plus Entenmann’s is hosting a sweepstakes on Facebook with 10 lucky winners getting free donuts for a year.
Look for other free donuts and celebrations in your town!
Here's the original SALVATION ARMY LASSIES’ DOUGHNUT RECIPE . Not sure about the lard, but it's the original recipe, after all, so historical.
SALVATION ARMY LASSIES' DOUGHNUT RECIPE
Yield: 4 doz. doughnuts
Ingredients
5 cups flour
2 cups sugar
5 tsp baking powder
1 ‘saltspoon’ salt
2 eggs
1 3/4 cup milk
1 Tub lard (!!)
DIRECTIONS
Combine all ingredients (except for lard) to make dough.
Thoroughly knead dough, roll smooth, and cut into rings that are less than 1/4 inch thick. (When finding items to cut out doughnut circles, be creative! Salvation Army doughnut girls used whatever they could find, from baking powder cans to coffee percolator tubes.)
Drop the rings into the lard, making sure the fat is hot enough to brown the doughnuts gradually.
Turn the doughnuts slowly several times.
When browned, remove doughnuts and allow excess fat to drip off.
Dust with powdered sugar. Let cool and enjoy.
No comments:
Post a Comment