Tyrone's Corn Fritters

In The Backyardigans "News Flash", Tyrone and Pablo are corn farmers. They are so in love with corn that they impersonate aliens in their own field to try to get their corn on the news. And as usual, the music is rockin'. We sing it all the time. At the end of the episode, Uniqua's tummy growls and Tyrone invites everyone back to his house for a snack of corn fritters."Mom, what are corn fritters?" Ginger asked last time we watched it.
"They're kind of like doughnuts made with corn."
"Can we make them sometime?"
"Uh-huh, I'll have to look up a recipe."
"Can we make them today?"

Now how can I turn down a picky-eater 3-year-old's request to explore culinary frontiers? Especially when they are doughy and deep-fried.

So I found a highly rated recipe on Allrecipes.com, and read a bunch of the comments for pointers on adjusting it. Grabbed a can of corn from the basement, and voila! Pretty much that easy. And really, really, totally good. Light and crispy on the outside, sweet and a little savory on the inside. Dip them in chipotle ranch, maple syrup, honey, salsa, tartar sauce, seriously whatever you like! One reviewer suggested subbing scallions and crab meat into the batter instead of corn to make crab fritters. Just might have to try that.

And just to follow up, Ginger liked them. In her typically dichotomous style, she said, "It's a little bit yucky but it's the MOST good."

Tyrone's Corn Fritters
3 cups oil for frying
1 cup sifted all-purpose flour
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
2 to 4 T granulated sugar (I used 4, which is 1/4 cup)
1 egg, lightly beaten
1/2 cup milk
1 T shortening, melted
1 (12 to 15 oz.) can whole kernel corn, drained

1. Heat oil in heavy pot or deep fryer to 365F.

2. Combine flour, baking powder, salt and sugar in a medium mixing bowl. In a large measuring cup whisk egg and milk; whisk in melted shortening. Stir into flour mixture. Mix in the corn kernels.

3. Drop fritter batter by spoonfuls (I used my 1 1/2 inch cookie scoop) into the hot oil, and fry until golden. Drain on paper towels. (I sprinkled them lightly with seasoned salt as soon as they came out.) Makes about 20Recipe adapted from Allrecipes.com