Congrats to Team Darkseid
for the FTF
One day a year, people swarm bakeries looking for
pączki. What are pączki you ask?
A pączek is a deep-fried piece of dough shaped into a
flattened sphere and filled with confiture or other sweet filling.
Pączki are usually covered with powdered sugar, icing or bits
of dried orange zest. A small amount of grain alcohol
(traditionally, Spiritus) is added to the dough before cooking; as
it evaporates, it prevents the absorption of oil deep into the
dough.
Although they look like bismarcks or jelly doughnuts, pączki
are made from especially rich dough containing eggs, fats, sugar
and sometimes milk. They feature a variety of fruit and creme
fillings and can be glazed, or covered with granulated or powdered
sugar. Powidła (stewed plum jam) and wild rose hip jam are
traditional fillings, but many others are used as well, including
strawberry, Bavarian cream, blueberry, custard, raspberry and
apple.
Pączki Day
In Poland, pączki are eaten especially on Fat Thursday (the
last Thursday before Lent). Many Polish Americans celebrate
Pączki Day on Fat Tuesday (the day before Ash Wednesday).
Traditionally, the reason for making pączki was to use up all
the lard, sugar, eggs and fruit in the house, because they were
forbidden to be consumed due to Catholic fasting practices during
Lent.
My favorites are (I have many)
Custard with Chocolate Top, Strawberry Jelly, Cheese, and
Apple-Cinnamon.
When you log your find, if you partake in this special day, tell
us about your favorite pączki from your favorite bakery.
P.S. If you go looking for
pączki on any other day, you'll probably be out of
luck!
