Cheese Latkes

Probably not a recipe I'll make very often (cheese deep-fried in oil for one thing!). They're a unique treat -- and would be good with something sightly tart (sour cherry preserves was suggested, or even a little lemon...) They're good, but not...amazingly delicious.

3 cups cottage cheese
6 eggs
3 Tbls sugar
1½ Tbls vanilla
¾ tsp salt
1½ C flour
vegetable oil for frying

Combine all ingredients (except oil) in a large bowl. (I added a little extra flour because the mixture was really quite runny. I used large eggs, so maybe that was part of it.)

Pour ½" oil into a 10-12" fry pan over medium heat. When oil reaches about 275°, scoop ¼ C cheese mixture and gently drop into hot oil; press lightly with a spatula to flatten into a disc -- if you don't, the middles don't get cooked. Cook 3 to 5 'pancakes' at a time - do not crowd in pan - loosening from the bottom as needed, until undersides are golden brown (about 2 minutes). Gently turn and cook another 1-2 minutes until golden brown on other side. Transfer to paper towels to drain, then keep warm in 200° oven while cooking remaining latkes.

Serve hot with maple syrup, preserves, and/or cinnamon-sugar.