What could be more romantic than sipping coffee and eating beignets in the evening in New Orleans?

Well okay I admit that that there might be a few things, but beignets are an awesome way to celebrate Valentine's Day. In fact, I think the word beignet' 'means a doughnut for lovers!

A beignet is a pastry made from deep-fried dough and sprinkled with confectioner's sugar.

There are a number of recipes for beignets. In France beignet's are filled with fruit or vegetables. But to keep this simple, I used a box of Beignet Mix from Cafe Du Monde.

By the way, beignets are the official state doughnut of Louisiana!

Step 1: Make the Beignets

Like I said, there are number of recipes available. I made my valentine's beignets using a box of Beignet Mix from Cafe Du Monde. These mixes are widely available from stores or the internet. Cafe Du Monde has their own website.

Essentially, you need to:

1) Combine 2 cups of mix with 7 fl oz of water and blend.

2) Roll the dough on a floured surface, using lots and lots of flour. Roll the dough until it is about 1/8' thick. Cut the dough into 2 1/4 " squares.

3) Fry the squares in a pan with olive oil.

Step 2: Shape the Beignets

I let the beignets cool slightly. Then I used a sharp knife and shaped them into hearts and "Xs" and "Os.

Step 3: Add Sugar and Mustard

Arrange the beignets on a plate, Coat them liberally with powered sugar and mustard.

(ahhh love...it is all about the sugar and mustard).

Bon Appetit!