Ingredients:

  Amount  Measure       Ingredient -- Preparation Method
--------  ------------  --------------------------------
  2            Squares  unsweetened chocolate
  2        Tablespoons  vegetable shortening
  3 3/4           Cups  sifted all-purpose flour
  4          Teaspoons  baking powder
     1/2      Teaspoon  salt
  2                     eggs
  1                Cup  sugar
     3/4           Cup  milk
  1           Teaspoon  vanilla
                        Vegetable oil for frying
  1                Tub  chocolate ready-to-spread frosting
     1/2           Cup  chopped pistachio nuts

Preparation:

Melt chocolate and shortening in top of a double boiler over simmering water; cool. Reserve. Sift flour, baking powder and salt onto wax paper. Beat eggs and sugar in large bowl of electric mixer at medium speed until fluffy. Beat in milk, vanilla and cooled chocolate mixture. Remove bowl from mixer. Stir in flour mixture until well-blended. Wrap in plastic wrap; chill at least 2 hours. Roll out dough to 1/2-inch thickness on a lightly floured surface. Cut with floured doughnut cutter; re-roll and cut scraps. Fill a large heavy saucepan or electric skillet 2/3 full with vegetable oil. Heat to 370° on a deep-fat frying thermometer. Drop doughnuts, about 3 at a time, into oil; fry, turning once, 3 to 5 minutes, or until firm. Drain on paper toweling; cool. Frost tops of doughnuts with frosting; sprinkle with nuts. Chocolate all the way, fudgy and dark, and topped with chocolate and pistachios. Makes 16 doughnuts

Nutritional Information:

3136 Calories (kcal); 76g Total Fat; (21% calories from fat); 67g Protein; 560g Carbohydrate; 399mg Cholesterol; 3235mg Sodium