Old-Fashioned Yeast Doughnuts

Directions

1. 1
   Place the water in a large bowl or in the bowl of an electric mixer.
2. 2
   Sprinkle the yeast over it and stir it in.
3. 3
   Add the milk, quarter-cup sugar, salt, egg and three tablespoons vegetable oil and mix.
4. 4
   Beat in one cup of the flour until the mixture is smooth.
5. 5
   Sift another cup of flour with the nutmeg or mace and stir it into the batter mixture with a wooden spoon.
6. 6
   Add enough of the remaining flour to make a soft but manageable dough.
7. 7
   Cover and set aside to rise until doubled, about one hour.
8. 8
   Punch the dough down and turn it out onto a well-floured surface.
9. 9
   Dust it liberally with flour and knead 8 or 10 times, until elastic and smooth.
10. 10
    Cover dough with large inverted bowl and rest for 15 minutes.
11. 11
    Use a floured rolling pin to roll the dough to one-half-inch thickness.
12. 12
    Cut with a floured three-inch doughnut cutter and, using a spatula, carefully place the cut doughnuts on a floured cloth or surface.
13. 13
    Reroll the scraps and cut more doughnuts.
14. 14
    Cover the cut doughnuts with a cloth and allow to rise until doubled, about 45 minutes.
15. 15
    Meanwhile, pour at least two inches of oil into a deep pan and bring it to 375 degrees over moderate heat.
16. 16
    When the doughnuts have risen, slide them into the oil with a spatula and fry them, two or three at a time a minute or so on each side, until golden brown.
17. 17
    Lift them out of the oil with a slotted spoon and place them on several thicknesses of paper towel to drain.
18. 18
    Dust them with sugar while they are still warm.