Biloxi Slavic Women's Pusharatas

The Slavic Women's Pusharata's are famous here on the Gulf Coast every Christmas time. Here's their recipe if you aren't lucky enough to live here! 

Here's a little history : 

http://www.deepsouthdish.com/2008/12/pusharatas-prsurate-purshunate-aka.html?m=1

Miss Deenie's Pusharatas

• 5 pounds self-rising flour 
• 2-1/2 cups sugar (1/2 cup for the fruit, below; 2 cups for the flour mixture) 
• 2 cups raisins 
• 3 tablespoons nutmeg 
• 3 tablespoons cinnamon 
• 3 tablespoons baking powder 
• 2 tablespoons whiskey 
• 2 tablespoons vanilla 
• 4 large apples 
• 4 large oranges 
• 1 lemon 
• 6 cups chopped pecans 
• 1/2 gallon milk 
• Sugar glaze 

Combine the dry ingredients: flour, 2 cups sugar, nutmeg, cinnamon and baking powder. Peel and core the apples. Peel and pit the oranges and lemon. Mince the fruit or run it through a blender or a food processor, but don't liquefy; combine with 1/2 cup sugar. Combine wet ingredients: whiskey, vanilla and milk. Stir wet ingredients into dry. Then mix in fruit, raisins and pecans. 

Heat 1/2 to 1 gallon cooking oil in a deep fryer. Drop balls of dough (the ladies use a special scoop or just a standard coffee teaspoon) into hot fat being careful not to crowd the pieces. Fry until golden brown, then drain on paper towels. Coat with sugar glaze. 

Sugar glaze: Combine 2 or 3 cans of evaporated milk with 6 pounds confectioner's sugar and almond extract to taste. Start with the sifted sugar and add the milk gradually, stirring all the while, till you reach a glaze consistency. Add the extract a small amount at a time, to taste, and remember that the extract adds moisture, too.