3/4 c. sugar
2 eggs
4 tbsp. vegetable oil
1 c. sour milk
1 tsp. baking soda
Dash salt (or more)
1/2 tsp. cinnamon (or more)
1/4 tsp. nutmeg (or more)
4 1/2 c. flour

Put first 3 ingredients in mixing bowl; with a wire whisk, whip until very thick. Add 1 teaspoon baking soda to sour milk (it will foam). Stir milk into egg/sugar mixture; add flour, spices and salt until absorbed.

Flour pastry board; turn dough out onto it. Dough should be handled as little as possible. Using hands, gently pat dough out to a thickness of 1/2 inch. Cut doughnuts out with floured doughnut cutter.

In an electric frying pan at 375 degrees, melt shortening to a depth of 1 1/2 inches. Slide doughnuts gently into oil. Cook doughnuts until golden brown on bottom and begin to crack and bubble on cooked side; flip doughnuts. Remove and drain on paper towel. Yield: 3 dozen.

To make sour milk, put 3 1/2 tablespoons vinegar in a measuring cup and add enough milk to make 1 cup.