EarthKosher kosher certification agency is the leading kosher certification agency in the world, specializing in kosher certification for natural and organic companies.  EarthKosher prides itself on connecting with small natural food companies, helping to make the kosher certification process both affordable and friendly.  What is less well known, is the fact that EarthKosher provides kosher certification to many companies who produce natural home and body products- doTERRA is one of those companies.

The doTERRA Story

Founded in 2008, doTERRA was built on the mission of sharing therapeutic-grade essential oils with the world. Having seen for themselves the incredible benefits that can be had from using these precious resources, a group of health-care and business professionals set out to make this mission a reality. They formed a company and named it doTERRA, a Latin derivative meaning “Gift of the Earth.”

The first hurdle to overcome, however, was to establish a standard of quality in an industry that had never had one. It wasn’t enough to simply provide essential oils to homes around the world; the doTERRA founders were committed to providing only the highest quality and purest essential oils so that families could know with surety that they were using only the best to promote health and wellness for their loved ones. This commitment lead to the creation of a new standard of therapeutic quality: CPTG Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade®.

To achieve such a grand vision as bringing essential oils to the world required a team of dedicated people. This team would need to be made up of people dedicated to hard work, commitment, passion, and vision. That team has grown since its initial inception, but the mission remains the same—to provide essential oils that appeal to everyone from the novice to the expert, and that can be used safely on your loved ones.

Sharing essential oils is a unique experience, and the founders of doTERRA recognized that a sales model just as unique would be needed. In order to best facilitate personal essential oil experiences, doTERRA utilizes a direct selling model that allows distributors to work with customers as opposed to mass marketing. This more individual approach allows individuals to experience for themselves the incredible power of essential oils while also developing relationships of trust. This model also created the opportunity for individuals and families to achieve their dreams of financial independence. Over 2 million Wellness Advocates, now use and sell doTERRA products around the world.

The first offering of doTERRA essential oils included 25 single oils and 10 blends and was introduced for sale on April 25, 2008. Since that time, the doTERRA product offering has added many more single oils and oil blends as well as nutritional, spa, and healthy living products based on essential oil technologies and a comprehensive wellness philosophy. Of course, that offering couldn’t be possible without a Global Botanical Network of artisans and distillers. As doTERRA has become a trusted partner in the essential oils industry, it has also been able to help communities improve their own economic futures through its Co-Impact Sourcing® model and the doTERRA Healing Hands Foundation™.

Based in a state of the art facility in Pleasant Grove, Utah, doTERRA continues to work toward achieving its vision of providing all families everywhere with the health-promoting benefits of essential oils.

 

Why dōTERRA?

When you choose doTERRA, you are choosing essential oils gently and carefully distilled from plants that have been patiently harvested at the perfect moment by experienced growers from around the world for ideal extract composition and efficacy.

Each doTERRA essential oil is also carefully and thoroughly tested using the strict CPTG Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade® quality protocol. Experienced essential oil users will immediately recognize the superior quality standard for naturally safe, purely effective therapeutic-grade doTERRA essential oils.

While there is a science to the distillation of essential oils, it is also an art. Distillers not only rely on years of experience, they also employ modern technologies and techniques.

The most common method of extracting essential oils is a low-heat steam distillation process. In this process, pressurized steam is circulated through plant material. The essential oils are liberated from the plant and carried away by the steam. When the steam cools, the water and oils naturally separate and the oil is collected. To ensure the highest quality oil extract with the correct chemical composition, the temperature and pressure must be closely monitored. Too little heat or pressure and the oil will not release; too much, and the oil’s composition and potency will be affected.

Steam Distillation

Steam distillation is the most common way to extract aromatic compounds (essential oil) from a plant. During the steam distillation process, steam passes through the plant material. The combination of heated steam and gentle pressure causes the essential oil to be released from microscopic protective sacs. As the vapor mixture flows through a condenser and cools, it yields a layer of oil and a layer of water. The essential oil rises to the top and is separated from the hydrosol (floral water) and collected.

Some have asked about the difference between first distillations in comparison to complete distillations. The temperature for steam distilling is usually between 140–212 degrees Fahrenheit. Since different plants require different pressures, times, and temperatures, using this particular distillation method makes it possible to adjust the temperature based on the plant type, making it a very effective and precise way to obtain the purest compounds.

Expression

Unlike steam distillation, expression, sometimes referred to as “cold pressed,” does not involve heat. In this process, oil is extracted from the product under mechanical pressure. doTERRA uses expression to extract all of its citrus oils, such as Wild Orange, Lemon, Lime, Bergamot, and Grapefruit, from the rind.

Proper distillation requires a consideration for the uniqueness of pressure, temperature, time, and harvesting practices, each of which may be as diverse as the plants themselves. A poor distillation process can alter or destroy the necessary aromatic compounds that comprise the essential oil, leaving a substance far different from the intended goal and something that would not be used to support health and wellness. For this reason, the best distillation artisans dedicate their efforts and work to only a few select plants. This focused effort develops proper knowledge and experience, helping ensure congruency between the oil chemistry of the plant and its distilled form.

Corporate Social Responsibility

doTERRA Co-Impact Sourcing®
doTERRA works to improve lives and communities throughout the world. Many of the essential oils offered by doTERRA are sourced in developing countries, where the growers and distillers are often at the mercy of third parties. doTERRA Co-Impact Sourcing helps create coalitions of growers and distillers that ensure local communities receive fair and timely payments to support their families and communities. doTERRA works with these coalitions to provide the resources, tools, and training necessary to ensure a long-lasting partnership.

doTERRA Healing Hands Foundation™
doTERRA focuses philanthropic efforts through the doTERRA Healing Hands Foundation. Its mission is to bring healing and hope to the world, for lives free of disease and poverty, and ultimately to teach impoverished cultures to be self-reliant.

The foundation is supported by contributions from doTERRA independent distributors known as Wellness Advocates, retail and preferred customers, company employees and executives, and others who share our vision. Donations are collected through monthly contributions, one-time contributions, and select product sales. For more information visit Healing Hands.

The Healing Hands Foundation has been involved in many projects, including the following:
Micro-credit loans providing renewable funding for entrepreneurs in developing communities.
Clean water wells and programs.
Building and revitalizing schools and clinics.
Medical equipment and resources for hospitals and clinics.
Education on hygiene and health.

EarthKosher provides kosher certification to over fifty doTERRA Essential Oils, as well as the following Essential Oil Blends- DigestZen, On Guard, Slim & Sassy, Zendocrine

Together, we put the Earth back into Kosher.

EarthKosher Kosher Certification Agency is the leading kosher certification agency specializing in natural and organic food products. We certify over 350 unique companies. Each time we meet a new company, we are not only impressed with the quality, and health value of the product, but also greatly inspired by the dedication and effort of the people behind the products. This dedication begins from the ground up, through watering the seeds of inspiration and ideas thus creating healthy natural products that benefit the environment, the people who enjoy them, local communities- and the earth entire.

EarthKosher wants to extend a warm welcome to one of these amazing companies: The Healthy Crunch Company.   Healthy Crunch Artisanal Kale Chips now have kosher certification from EarthKosher, are EarthKosher Vegan Verified and are proudly Canadian- grown and produced in hand -made batches in Toronto, Ontario!

 

About Healthy Crunch

Eating whole, real food makes you feel good inside and out.

In our humble opinion, The Healthy Crunch Company makes the best artisanal kale snacks on the planet. Our big kale chips are big in flavour, big on crunch and big on love, but the way we make them is small.

Small batches of raw organic local kale are washed and gently massaged by hand in the finest of ingredients, so that they are bursting with tastiness. The kale then goes into the dehydrator to air-dry slowly, so no nutrients are lost. No frying, oven-baking or cooking here, my friend, just super-crunchy deliciousness.

Our mission is to provide satisfying, healthy snacks that fuel the body, mind and soul.

Certified organic, non-GMO, gluten-free, dairy-free, tree-nut-free, peanut-free, vegan, raw and paleo-friendly.

 

Healthy Crunch Kale Chips come in six scrumptious flavours :  Say Cheeze!® Kale Chips, Bollywood Blast® Kale Chips, The Cool Cucumber+ Dill™ Kale Chips, Hello Jalapeño™ Kale Chips, The Big Chipotle™ Kale Chips, Monkey Business™ Kale Chips.  Healthy Crunch also created Kale Krumbs, a brilliant way to sprinkle your favourite flavour on just about anything! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Local Love

We strive to support local farmers and to source as many local ingredients as possible. Everything we use is organic and non-GMO. And we search for the highest-quality products to ensure that we are able to make the best kale chips ever!

Our commitment to supporting local farmers and using local ingredients ensures we leave a small environmental footprint. We love our planet as much as we love our kale chips!

 

 

 

 

Founder & Chief Crunching Officer

Julie’s love of snacking is unlike any we’ve seen in others. A spirited entrepreneur and total go-getter, she’s always on the move.

To keep up her energy, she fuels herself with high-vibe snacks, chaga tea and, of course, kale chips. It’s the Registered Dietitian in her as well as the fact that she’s a trained chef that makes her love kale. But it was her dismal discovery, several years ago, that there wasn’t a single tasty kale chip on the market that led her to this endeavour of developing her own line of chips. And boy, we’re glad she did!

When Julie is not running the show at The Healthy Crunch Company, she’s cooking up a storm, collecting cookbooks, travelling the world, keeping active or hanging out with the Crunch Pups. Julie has a warmth, kindness and generosity that make her a great colleague to have. She’s fun, open and genuinely strives to create a happy, healthy work environment.

Julie doesn’t have a favourite kale chip flavour. She says it’s like choosing between her babies. But if we peeked into her fridge at any given time, we’d find avocados, lemons/limes, cilantro, cholula hot sauce original and spinach. In Julie’s words, “Popeye was right! Spinach keeps my body strong and happy.”

Healthy Crunch products are available online at www.healthycrunch.com, or at select stores.

Together we are putting the Earth back into Kosher.  EarthKosher.

EarthKosher is committed to the natural food industry, in providing down to earth, reliable, affordable and accepted kosher certification.  EarthKosher is the leading kosher certification agency specializing in natural, organic, vegetarian and vegan foods.  We work with companies who grow from the roots up – with inspiring experiences and seeds of motivation, that weave innovative ideas into healthy products.

Veggie- Go’s is one of these amazing products, by Naked Edge Snacks LLC.

Veggie-Go’s began in January 2011 after returning home to Boulder, Colorado after a year of living, working, and most importantly eating on organic farms in Greece, Italy, Spain, Switzerland and France.  We became addicted to the way we were eating on the farms where our diets were made up almost entirely of the fresh, organic produce we were growing.

Upon returning home we were shocked by the American way of eating and what was being called “food”.  We decided to take matters into our own hands and create a snack the embodied the fresh, organic produce we were growing; but that also fit into the American on-the-go lifestyle.  And thus Veggie-Go’s were born!

Our initial goal was simply to sell Veggie-Go’s at our local farmers market.  The response was overwhelmingly positive and our customers encouraged us to try to get Veggie-Go’s into some of the local health food stores.  As soon as we did, we quickly realized that we were the only ones putting veggies in a fruit leather.  That just added fuel to our fire and ever since we have been working tirelessly to bring Veggie-Go’s to a store near you!

Veggie-Go’s are a healthy snack for everyone!

Here at Veggie-Go’s we believe in healthy snacking! Rather than cutting out your snacking, we feel it is more constructive to use your snacking as a means of improving your health. By choosing Veggie-Go’s for your snack you are adding important vitamins and minerals into your day, all in less than 30 calories and no added sugar!

No Added Sugar! – We don’t add any sweeteners at all! We feel that whole fruits and veggies have the perfect amount of natural sugar. Each strip only has 2-4 grams of sugar, all naturally occurring in the fruits and veggies. Unlike most conventional fruit strips, we do not use any fruit concentrates for added sweetness (these pack in a lot of sugar!).

Organic – Veggie-Go’s are made from only organic fruits and veggies. By only using organic fruits and vegetables we insure that no unwanted pesticides or toxic chemicals are sneaking into your body. When things are dried (like Veggie-Go’s and all fruit strips are), everything in them is concentrated. This includes any pesticides or chemicals. This means that choosing organic is even more important with dried snacks. Another benefit is that organic produce has to use and continually develop its own natural disease defenders (antioxidants) rather than suppressing them when they are protected by pesticides in conventional practices.
Veggie-Go’s are 100% natural. Nothing funny here. We are not “tricking” your body! If it smells like cinnamon, its cinnamon. If it tastes like berries, its berries. Imagine that!
Whole Foods – Veggie-Go’s are made from whole fruits and whole veggies. We puree the whole fruit or veggie so that you are getting all of the goodness nature has to offer.
A truly healthy snack for kids! – Kid’s snacks tend to be loaded with sugar, artificial flavorings and colors. Not Veggie-Go’s! Veggie-Go’s have less than 4g of sugar, all from the fruits and veggies themselves, and never artificial colors or flavors. We think organic fruits and veggies are plenty colorful and flavorful!
Made by picky eaters for picky eaters! – We are such picky eaters that our friends hate eating out with us. They call it picky, we call it passion. Either way we embrace our pickyness and passion for clean eating when selecting ingredients for Veggie-Go’s. That’s why you will find nothing but organic fruits and veggies inside! We challenge anyone to dissect our ingredients becasue we know they will please even the most stringent critic.
Clean Ingredients – Organic veggies. Organic fruits. Period. It doesn’t get much cleaner than that!

 

Lisa – Founder and President

Lisa is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist and a Certified Personal Trainer with a B.A. in Integrative Physiology from the University of Colorado.  Lisa owns the personal training practice Body Intelligence Fitness in Boulder, CO.  As well as having a passion for fitness and nutrition, Lisa loves hiking and rock climbing. 

John – Founder and CEO

John developed a passion for sustainable food while earning a B.S. in mechanical engineering at The University of Colorado. John loves cooking, rock climbing, and traveling.

EarthKosher was founded with the intention of supporting smaller natural food companies to obtain kosher certification in an affordable, and down to earth manner.  EarthKosher is committed to being the leading kosher certification agency in North America, for natural and organic food companies.  We are constantly inspired by the values these companies hold, and the energy and commitment that is placed in these values.  Earth Circle Organics is one of these remarkable companies.

Our Company

We are an importer and international distributor of raw and organic superfoods. At Earth Circle Organics we believe that the food we put into our bodies is one of the most important aspects of our lives. Our mission at Earth Circle Organics is to educate, expand, and supply the market for sustainably-sourced raw and organic products, and to operate with the highest integrity in all of our activities. That is why we source organic and minimally processed products with the highest standards of quality and integrity. We partner with farmers and producers who have a strong commitment to improving livelihoods of local communities.

History of Earth Circle Organics

Earth Circle Organics was founded in 2006 in Northern California. Our humble beginnings started with a bucket of organic olives, a few jars of raw nut butters, and a circle of friends. Overtime we began gathering and sharing more raw and organic superfoods, branching out to include cacao, goji berries, maca powder, and coconut palm sweeteners.  Earth Circle Organics developed lasting relationships with growers around the world and excited consumers in our surrounding community. Starting with our local co-op, we began distributing our exceptional products to start-ups, processors, restaurants, and retail outlets.  Earth Circle Organics has continued to grow and develop, always with a constant focus on excellent customer service and exceptional product quality.  We are proud to be a leader in the organic and raw food movement as we continue to source and supply superfood products from around the world.

Sustainability & Stewardship

 

 

At Earth Circle Organics we are continually striving to reduce our carbon footprint and act as a steward for the earth wherever possible. We currently utilize an eco-friendly Green website hosting service, GreenGeeks, which is powered with 100% wind-energy and has a negative carbon footprint, and developed our website with a certified Bay Area Green Business, Earthsite. As Earth Circle Organics continues to grow and evolve we are always looking for more ways to improve our systems and practices to better support environmental awareness.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Earth Circle Organics’ commitment is to share globally sourced organic and wild Superfoods of the finest quality. We partner with producers who are dedicated to their local communities and sustainability. Your purchase of ECO products supports thousands of organic family farms around the world.

Earth Circle Organics provides large-scale purchasing options for all of our raw and organic superfoods. From cases to containers, our knowledgeable Industrial Ingredients team works with customers across the spectrum of applications, from start-ups to well-established national and international processors, co-packers, and retail food service outlets.  We fulfill pallet, LTL, and container quantities to customers around the world. We are also able to customize our products with your company’s packaging or private labels. Contact us today for more information.

 

Earth Circle Organics brand products are available for wholesale distribution through major national distribution and e-commerce partners.  We package our top products into a variety of retail and bulk-display sizes. Our retail distributors and in-house sales team members are dedicated to providing exceptional customer service to all of our partners.

Consumers can also find our retail products through our store locator and e-commerce websites.

Giving Back

Earth Circle Organics is enthusiastic about giving back to our community and the communities of the world. We love to sponsor and support events and groups which align with our mission and vision. We’ve donated resources and products to causes such as cleaning up our local river beds or labeling GMO foods, and we support organizations such as the Special Olympics, Breast Cancer Fund, Awaken Visions, and Katharsis, Inc.

---

EarthKosher provides kosher certification to consciences companies importing some of the finest organic, and fairly traded super foods, dried fruits and herbs from all around the world.  Mother Jungle Herbs is one of these amazing companies.

 

ABOUT US

All our business relations with the farms in South America are strictly under fair trade regulations. Always thriving to improve through business and product development, farms, communities, & operational improvements. Certified Kosher, GMP, Organic, & HACCP.

 

 

WHAT WE’RE ABOUT

The Leading Supplier of South American Raw Organic Superfoods and Botanicals Extracts High quality control, best value and Premium service!

Mother Jungle Herbs Inc. is a well established industry leader in raw material, botanical extracts and nutritional supplements. All processing plants that our extracts come from are GMP certified and most of our products are certified Kosher –  with kosher certification from EarthKosher.

Mother Jungle Herbs firmly believes that quality is a fundamental requirement for all of its activities. Our quality control system is based on rigorous analysis of all batches of herbs and raw materials used in our production processes.

Mother Jungle Herbs products meet all of our specifications based on analysis methods in line with legal requirements and our own, even stricter quality controls. Our suppliers staff are highly-qualified with a high level of experience in the botanical sector.

Mother Jungle Herbs has been importing and supplying botanical extracts and herbs exclusively from South America since 2000.

DANTE MAZZI

OPERATIONS / EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

I was born in Lima Peru, attended Ricardo Paloma University to Major in Economics. I developed my interest in the industry working on a government project growing Maca in the mountains of Junin. In 1995 I moved to the United States and resided in California. Co-Founded Mother Jungle Herbs in 2000. The Company continues to grow as the leading source from South American Products. Believing in the potential of raw organic products and their benefits.

 

JOSE BARRAGAN

SALES / EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

I was born in Lima Peru, Majored in Philosophy. I have been in touch with herbs in Native Peru. Seeing all the benefits of raw natural products used by native Peruvians. Co-founded Mother Jungle Herbs in 2000. Bringing Raw Organic Products from South America in order to improve health in USA.

 

Let’s put the Earth back into Kosher, EarthKosher.                             

It’s that time of year!  Sometimes there is a moment in your life when you have to just let it go. Chanukah is that time, and this is your moment.  EarthKosher is proud to provide Kosher certification and Vegan Verified certification to JJ’S SWEETS Cocomels, THE ORIGINAL COCONUT MILK CARAMELS.  Let’s be honest, these are the most amazing caramels you will ever have in your life, and they are not just Kosher certified!  Cocomels are organic, dairy free, gluten free, non-GMO and Vegan.

About JJ’S SWEETS

We are a candy company dedicated to new ideas in the world of treats. We draw from the past but are influenced by our desire to see candy evolve into tasty indulgences that inspire the spirit, support our bodies, and are sustainable for the environment. The idea for this company came to me in a dream I had one night. In the dream I saw new candies being created by a kooky Willy Wonka-ish candy man. He was making Ginseng hard candies and other treats that not only delivered in the realm of immediate gratification, but also were healthier for our bodies and contained some functional benefits. They were also unique in their flavors, drawing on old recipes but infused with a modern adventurousness. After months of sitting on this idea I decided to begin experimenting in October 2009. From my first batch (an early version of the Lemon Study Buddy with Ginkgo and Rosemary), I had very positive reviews; and when I created the first Cocomel, it was all over. JJ’s Sweets was born! We would make delicious candies out of natural ingredients that were friendly to people with allergies. Today, one year later, JJ’s Sweets are sold in over 100 retail establishments across Colorado, California, other select national locations, and on our website. We are a small team of dedicated employees: JJ, Chief Candyman and founder, leads the team while Marjorie and Gloria help crank out the goodness. Every Cocomel or piece of Unique Hard Candy is a mix of divine inspiration, creativity, love, attention to detail and hard work. We feel lucky to find ourselves in the admirable position of offering to the world little bits of edible joy. We take pride in our products and stand behind what we do. Please contact us with any feedback you might have. We’d love to hear what you think and look forward to building our relationships into the future. Please enjoy, and remember, “Life is Sweet!”

Now, let’s talk about Sufganiyot. We can call them filled doughnuts, jelly doughnuts, or as some crazy Canadians like to call them, jam busters.  No matter what we call them, they are one of the delicious parts of Chanukah, and it is  highly recommend that you switch it up, skip the jam and add some of that Cocomels sweet goodness into your holiday!  Here are some suggestions from the JJ’S SWEETS Cocomel website on how you can use the caramels to make a sauce for the sufganiya filling, or any other delicious holiday treat you can think of:

Cooking your Cocomels in a liquid (like canned coconut milk, water or something fun like chai tea, coffee, etc…). To do this, use about 1/4 of liquid per 1/2 pound of Cocomels, dissolve the Cocomels into it, stirring the whole time, and cook the resulting sauce to a temperature (as shown by a candy thermometer) that matches the consistency you want. (see this post for some more insight into melting Cocomels into a liquid – How to make Cocomel apples) 220-230 F for a sauce 230-240 F for a loose and saucy caramel (could be good for baking) 240-250 F a chewy caramel 250 F and up, a more brittle caramel One note: be careful of Cocomel that sits on the bottom of a dish as that can burn during baking. Let us know how it goes, we’d love to hear how your creations turn out. our Facebook page is: https://www.facebook.com/pages/JJs-Sweets-Cocomels/113670015319870

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Big Bang Theory‘s Mayim Bialik is spreading vegan cheer this holiday season with a traditional Hanukkah delicacy: vegan sufganiyot, or vegan jelly doughnuts. Wow your friends and family with this cruelty-free dessert at your Hanukkah celebration or at any holiday get-together that you’re planning! Check out Mayim’s personal recipe to make this year’s Festival of Lights even brighter. Mayim explains, “Sufganiyot, or jelly doughnuts, are a traditional food eaten for Hanukkah. The holiday falls in the winter and commemorates the miracle of oil that lights the menorah in the Great Temple in Jerusalem lasting for eight days rather than one. Foods fried in oil are thus traditional for this festive winter holiday. This is a recipe I veganized, and although it is labor-intensive, the results are unbelievably delicious.” Hanukkah is a Jewish winter holiday celebrating a military battle and a miracle of oil over 2,000 years ago. Jews eat foods fried in oil during this holiday, and sufganiyot (doughnuts) are enjoyed for the entire eight-day holiday. This veganized recipe makes outrageously light and delicious doughnuts, which can be filled with jam but are also delectable when simply sprinkled with confectioners’ sugar. These doughnuts are best enjoyed the day you make them.

 

Mayim Bialik’s  Vegan Sufganiyot 

1/2 cup sugar

1 0.25-oz. envelope active dry yeast

1/2 cup sugar

1 cup plus 2 Tbsp. warm (about 110°F) soy, rice, or almond milk

3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting 1 1/4 tsp.

coarse salt

Egg replacer equivalent of 2 eggs 3 Tbsp.

unsalted vegan margarine, melted and cooled

Nonstick cooking spray

About 6 cups vegetable oil, for frying

Confectioners’ sugar, for sprinkling

About 2 cups raspberry jam (optional)

Combine the yeast, sugar, and 1 cup of the warm nondairy milk in a small bowl and let stand until foamy, about 8 minutes. Whisk together the flour and salt in a bowl. Add the yeast mixture, egg replacer, and margarine, and beat until the dough is soft but not sticky, about 3 minutes. On a lightly floured surface, knead the dough until smooth and elastic, 3 to 4 minutes. Transfer the dough to a medium bowl coated with nonstick cooking spray, and cover loosely with plastic wrap. Let rise in a warm, draft-free place until doubled in size, about 1 1/2 hours. Punch down the dough. On a lightly floured surface, knead the dough a few times, and roll out to 1/4-inch thick. Cover with a clean dish towel, and let rest for 5 minutes. Using a 2-inch-diameter cookie cutter, cut out rounds and transfer to a lightly floured baking sheet. Reroll the scraps, and cut out the remaining dough. Cover the rounds with a clean dish towel and let rise in a warm, draft-free place for 20 minutes. Meanwhile, heat the oil in a large, heavy-bottomed pot until it reaches 375°F. Place a wire rack on top of parchment paper or on a baking sheet, and line with paper towels or brown paper bags. Working in batches of four or five, add the doughnuts to the hot oil and fry, turning once, until golden and puffed, about 1 minute per side. Using a slotted spoon, place the doughnuts on the paper towels to cool. Sprinkle with confectioners’ sugar. Variation: For jam-filled doughnuts, spoon jam into a pastry bag fitted with a plain 3/8-inch tip. Pierce a hole in the side of a doughnut with the tip, and squeeze in jam to fill (the filled doughnut will feel heavy). Note: Be sure to drain well before serving. These doughnuts are best when served immediately, but they can be stored in airtight containers overnight.

Makes 2 dozen doughnuts From Mayim’s Vegan Table: More Than 100 Great-Tasting and Healthy Recipes From My Family to Yours by Mayim Bialik with Dr. Jay Gordon. Reprinted courtesy of Da Capo Lifelong Books.