Happy Christmas! I found this lovely poem in one of my wartime magazines and wanted to share it with you before we get to the recipe. It shares such sweet sentiments about a woman’s efforts to create Christmas in her home with her son in mind who is fighting far away.
Letter
Dear son, I’m sure you will
Be glad to know
We have hung holly wreaths
And trimmed a tree, as though
This Christmas were no different
From all others.
Mary has baked a raisin
Cake, and brother’s Small stocking hangs before
The fireplace, wide.
The snow lies deep and white outside.
Dad’s roasting nuts and polishing Red apples. War or no war,
Until that joyous day when I look out
And see you coming up the hill,
We’ll still have Christmas
As you’d want it were you here;
For, while you are away, ours is the task
To keep alive all things that you hold dear!
by Myrtle Vorst Sheppard (from Farm Journal & Farmer’s Wife, Dec 1942)
These Christmas Donuts came from The Sealtest Food Adviser Holiday 1942 edition. You can see the frosted, festive donuts on left in the cover image! Mine don’t look nearly as polished, but I think they tasted fabulous. The added mashed potato to the dough made them really soft with such a great texture.
To decorate the donuts I used green and red maraschino cherries. I think they tasted great on the donuts! When frying the donuts I felt the magic temperature for the oil was 360°F. I also used cinnamon in the dough to add some extra cozy spiciness.
These donuts were so yummy. I would definitely make them again!
Thank you so much for joining me on this 13 Day Victory Kitchen Christmas! I had so much fun trying new wartime holiday recipes, and I hope you found a few that you’ll try! Wishing you the very best Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Oh gosh that poem made me teary! I hope you had a wonderful Christmas and here's to a fantastic New Year!