Portuguese Fried Pumpkin Dreams

1. De-skin and de-seed the pumpkin (or squash).
2. In a saucepan cook the pumpkin with the water and salt.
3. Once the pumpkin is soft and tender, remove the pumpkin and let it strain most of its liquid. If you have a cheese cloth it is best for straining the liquid. If not use a regular strainer. This should take 3-4 hours.
4. In a blender, add the pumpkin, rum, and sugar and blend it until it is a smooth and even consistency.
5. Once done, pour it into a bowl and add the flour and mix it in well.
6. Use a tablespoon and begin to knead the dough into balls for frying. If the dough does not have a strong enough consistency, add some more flour and knead it in accordingly.
7. Pour a one inch layer of oil into a frying pan and begin frying the balls. Usually it takes about 1-2 minutes on both sides until they are golden brown.
8. Fry them individually until they are golden brown, then set aside on paper towels to dry.
9. Once they are all done and fried, sprinkle the fried cakes with sugar and cinnamon.

Recipe & Photo Credit: easyportugueserecipes.com