Navajo Fry Bread

2 cups sifted flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon shortening
1 cup water
oil for frying


Sift together flour, baking powder, and salt.
Cut in shortening with 2 knives or a pastry
blender until the mixture resembles coarse meal.
Add enough water to make a soft dough. Knead on a
lightly floured board until smooth and elastic.
Pinch off dough, enough to make 11/2 inch balls.
Roll or slap back and forth from hand to hand
until each ball is a flat 4-inch round.
Fry each round in a skillet, in 1/4-inch
deep hot fat at 400 degrees until lightly
browned on both sides, turning once.
Bread becomes puffy as it fries.
Drain on paper towels.

Serve hot, plain, or with jam, honey,
or your favorite tortilla topping.