When we couldn't get a booking at Sydney's latest Greek trending restaurant, Alpha, my daughter was most disappointed because she would have to miss out on loukamades, those decadent honey-drenched Greek doughnuts. 

'No problem,' I said, 'I used to demonstrate them in my breadmaking classes years ago.' I finally found my old folder of notes (and had a tasty trip down memory lane in the meantime - so many breads we did together, my students and I!) and there it was. It was even easier to make than I'd remembered, and my daughter was thrilled. She was at my side as I cooked them and it is her photograph above.

Dough:

3 cups plain white bread flour

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 tablespoon dried yeast

1 tablespoon sugar

6 tablespoons warm milk

60g melted butter

1 cup lukewarm water

1 egg, beaten

oil to fry

chopped walnuts to serve

Place flour and salt in a large mixing bowl. Add yeast, sugar, milk, melted butter, water and beaten egg. Beat vigorously until batter is smooth and just holds its shape. Cover* and let rise for 45 minutes or until doubled. Stir the dough to bring it down again.

Heat oil in a deep pan to 180C (375F). Dip a large teaspoon into cold water and scoop out level spoonsful of batter. Drop each into the hot oil and cook 3-4 minutes. Drain on paper towels and keep warm until all are cooked. Makes around 24.

To serve: pour syrup over the balls and top with chopped walnuts and serve if liked with a scoop of heavy cream or thick Greek yoghurt.

Syrup:

1/2 cup castor sugar

3/4 cup clear honey

4 tablespoons lemon juice

thinly pared rind (or grated zest) of 1 lemon

6 tablespoons water

Make the syrup by putting all ingredients in a saucepan. Heat gently and stir until sugar dissolves. Increase heat and boil until syrupy, watching carefully that it doesn't begin to brown. Take off the heat and leave until needed. Can be refrigerated.

* Great tip: To cover rising dough I always use a (clean) plastic showercap, like the ones you find in hotel rooms. It adds humidity, you can see through it, and it doesn't risk your teatowels getting grease marks on them.