Ingredients

• 1 c Boiling water
• 1 ts Baking powder
• 4 tb Butter or margarine
• 4 Eggs
• 1/4 ts Salt
• Olive or other vegetable oil
• 1 tb Granulated sugar
• Honey; warmed
• 1/2 ts Grated orange rind
• Ground cinnamon
• 1 c All-purpose flour

Instructions

• In a medium-sized saucepan, combine the boiling water, butter, salt, sugar, and orange rind.
• Bring to a boil. Meanwhile, sift together the flour and baking powder.
• Add the dry ingredients all at once to the hot mixture, beating hard with a wooden spoon over medium heat until the mixture forms a compact mass and leaves the sides of the pan.
• Remove from the heat and let cool for 1 minute.
• Add the eggs, one at a time, beating hard after each addition; the mixture should be smooth, glossy, and thick.
• Heat the oil (which should be 2-1/2 to 3 inches deep) almost to the smoking point, then drop the batter by tablespoons into the oil, without crowding, to form puffs.
• When the puffs surface, turn them to fry on all sides, using tongs, then lift them out, drain off excess oil on absorbent paper.
• Place on warm platter and keep warm.
• If using the syrup, boil the syrup ingredients for 5 minutes; spoon the syrup, or warm honey, over the puffs, sprinkle with cinnamon, and serve hot.