Banana Beignets?

So this is a picture of what I made--what I TRIED to make. They are called Mini Banana Beignets and I found it in my food network magazine. Apparently they're basically donuts with some mashed up bananas in them. So I tried making them. This is what I got. 

Yeah to me they look like potatoes. I won't lie, but I messed up badly... I think it was just because my dough was a little too liquidy. Even though these didn't look anything like the real banana beignets, they were still DELISH. Anyway, so after a few of these failed ones, I decided to use my leftover batter for something useful. This is what I improvised. (It's just a cake with chocolate)

What do I call this creation? Chocolate Banana Cake! (Very unoriginal, I know.) It's basically just banana bread with chocolate syrup poured over and sugar sprinkled over it. Pretty good, but I want to try the real banana donut. Maybe I'll try it again sometime... or use it for my thanksgiving party that I'm going to hold!
This is the recipe for any of you that would like to make it.
Mini Banana Beignets---Time:25 minutes
Makes about 30 beignets.
2 tablespoons vegetable oil, plus more for frying
1 1/2 cups cake flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/4 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/3 cup plus 1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 large egg
1/2 cup whole milk
1/2 cup mashed banana (about 1 ripe banana)
1/4 teaspoon banana extract (optional)
1. Heat about 2 inches vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until a deep-fry thermometer registers 375 degrees.
2. Meanwhile, whisk the flour, baking powder, salt, 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon and 1/3 cup granulated sugar in a large bowl.
3.Whisk the egg, milk, mashed banana, and 2 tablespoons vegetable oil in another bowl. Add the banana  extract if desired. Combine the remaining 1/2 cup granulated sugar and 1 teaspoon cinnamon in a shallow bowl and set aside.
4. Whisk the banana mixture into the dry ingredients until just moistened. Working in batches, drop rounded teaspoonfuls of dough into the hot oil and fry until golden brown, about 15 seconds per side. Remove with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels, then roll in the cinnamon sugar while still warm.

This is how to make the banana beignets. As for myself, I just poured the batter in small cake pans and baked at 350 degrees for about 30-40 minutes. If you decide to try and make this, then enjoy!~

~Yours truly, Ryfry

The Beginning of a New Legacy

Hi! My name's Ryan Chen and this is going to be a blog of my cooking creations, their recipes, and a personal "food critic" evaluation of them. Currently, I am a junior at Monta Vista High School and will be graduating in 2012. In the meantime, I want to make the most of my time and cook as many interesting dishes as I can. As a lover of food, I plan to either follow a career in cooking, or have it as one of my major hobbies. I just love the feeling I get when people taste my food and are surprised at how good (or bad) it is. Only bad thing is... many people are simply too nice to come plain out and admit "this food sucks". I guess it's a good thing to be nice, but when you really need to improve... it's not helpful. In addition to the pleasure in peoples' faces, I also think cooking is just a GREAT skill to have. I have friends who have to eat out all the time when their moms are away on vacation or some business trip. Sure anyone can cook--like what Chef Gusteau in Ratatouille said-- but not everyone can cook well. If a rat can cook, a dad can cook, but I don't want to just be at the culinary level of some animal that lives off trash. I want to be able to taste a food, change it for the better and remake it into a totally different dish. This is what defines a cook; not by how fast one can cut cucumbers or how well one can knead dough, but how well one can use his ingredients to make food.
If there's one thing I hate, it's the thought that most people become doctors because they want to HELP people. Sure the thought of helping people is nice, and maybe a few people will think like that, but most people just want the money. Money basically supports you in life; it helps get you a nice house, wife, reputation and pleasure in life. You may spend a ton of years just practicing and doing tedious studying to become a doctor, but it's worth it once you hit your 30s. My mom's always telling me how she would not have dated my dad if he was not the doctor he is now. A perfect example of what I DISLIKE. The good thing about being a renowned chef is that it's fun, useful and that money will not determine true relationships. Ahhh... the good new days that I wish would happen in my future. If only my parents would be more supportive and not want me to get some job that makes as much as some engineer or doctor... But for now, I might as well start getting some experience in cooking in case I ever want to build my own restaurant or be an Iron Chef on t.v!
Stay tuned for more foods, recipes and reviews!