Tempura Batter

Ingredients

1 pound flour (3 cups)
1/2 pound cornstarch (1 1/2 cups)
2 tablespoons baking powder
1 tablespoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
2 eggs, beaten
1 cup ice cubes
Up to 1 1/2 cups club soda
1/4 cup flour for dredging

Instructions

Combine all the dry ingredients in a bowl. With a whisk, work in the eggs, ice cubes and 1 cup of the club soda until you reach a thick, bubbly, pancake batter- like consistency. Heat the oil for deep frying. Carefully dredge the stuffed blossoms in 1/4 cup flour, shaking off the excess. Dip them individually into the batter, and into the fryer. Turn them gently as they fry. Fry until golden and hot in the middle, about 5 minutes. Place atop the red pepper coulis and serve.

Yield: 2 entree portions or 4 appetizer portions