Ingredients:

• 4 cups of flour
• 1 teaspoon of baking soda
• 1/4  teaspoon of nutmeg
• 1/2 teaspoon of salt
• 4 tablespoons of shortening
• 1 cup of sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 teaspoon of vanilla
• 1 cup of buttermilk

Preparation:

• Sift all the dry ingredients.  
• Cream the shortening and sugar by blending together.
• Add the eggs and beat well.
• Add the vanilla.
• Add the sifted dry ingredients with the buttermilk.  Mix only until blended.  Do not over-mix.
• Divide dough in half and roll out each half onto a floured board or cleaned counter-top until the dough is about 1/2″ thick.
• Cut with a 2 1/2″ round cookie cutter.  Use a miniature round cookie cutter to make the whole in the middle.  You may leave them whole if you choose.  
• Let them stand for at least 10 minutes before frying them.
• Place about 4 donuts at a time in a deep fryer at about 365 degrees.  Fry until golden brown, turning them only once.
• Drain the excess grease from the donuts using a paper towel.  
• Sprinkle with powder sugar or cinnamon/sugar mix if desired.
• This recipe will make about 3 to 4 dozen donuts.  
• If you don’t want to make as many, just cut the recipe ingredients in half.