Johnny Cakes!!!

Try the warm, chewy, flaky goodness of what St. Maarteners have come to know as the Johnny Cake. Used as reliable sustenance throughout the history of the island, the Johnny Cake is what now makes every traditional St. Maarten meal complete. Try them with guava and cheese for breakfast or fill them with grandmother's salt fish recipe for a hearty lunch. Bring the taste of the Caribbean right into your home with these doughy snacks.

Ingredients

• 3 cups all-purpose flour

• 1 tablespoon baking powder

• 2-4 tablespoons sugar

• 1 teaspoon salt

• 2 1/2 tablespoons room temperature butter

• 1 cup water

• 1 1/2 cups vegetable oil for frying

Directions

1. Mix dry ingredients in a large mixing bowl and work in the butter with your fingers.

2. Add 1 cup of water to the dry ingredients and mix until smooth.

3. Sprinkle some extra flour onto a flat surface and knead the dough until smooth and elastic. Feel free to sprinkle additional flour on the surface as needed.

4. Allow the dough to sit in a clean bowl covered with a towel for at least 30 minutes.

5. After dough has rested, heat the oil in frying pan over medium heat.

6. Create small balls of dough and roll out the dough into circles on a lightly-floured surface with a rolling pin or the palm of your hand. Be sure to not make them too thin.

7. Pierce each piece with a fork or sharp knife several times and then drop in hot oil.

8. Fry on each side until golden brown.

9. Allow to cool and drain on paper towel or brown paper bag.