Portzelky (New Year's Cookies)

Ingredients:

1 teaspoon sugar
1/2 cup lukewarm water
2 teaspoons active dry yeast
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup water
1/2 tablespoon salt
1 tablespoon sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
2 cups raisins (or as many as you would like)
3 egg yolks
3 egg whites, beaten
3 cups flour
oil (for deep frying)

Directions:

1. Dissolve sugar in lukewarm water in a small bowl. Sprinkle with yeast and let stand.

2. Combine milk, water, salt, sugar, baking powder, and raisins in a large bowl or in the bowl of a stand mixer.

3. Beat in egg yolks and yeast.

4. Stir in flour to make a heavy (rather stiff) batter.

5. Fold in egg whites.

6. Cover and set in a warm place until well risen (at least double in bulk). This should take about 2 hours. The end result is a fairly sticky dough.

7. Drop by tablespoonfuls into hot oil (375F) and fry until golden brown.