In Detroit and surrounding suburbs [where I live], there's a large population of people who are of Polish descent. Just as the French celebrate Mardi Gras before the Lenten season begins [when rich, fatty foods will be abstained from during the 40-days of fasting], the Polish celebrate Paczki Day on Fat Tuesday [or Shrove Tuesday].
The saying is "Everyone's Polish on Paczki Day" [thank goodness, because I don't have any Polish in my ancestry]. I got in line at a bakery yesterday to buy Paczki for my hubby and me. Below is the bakery sign near the street.
I was hoping to beat the crowds by going yesterday instead of today, but I still stood in a long line.
It was worth it though. My hubby and I thoroughly enjoyed our cannoli cream filled doughnut this morning. I don't even want to know how many calories were in it. While I was there I bought my hubby an apple filled doughnut for tomorrow and a lemon filled one for myself. $14 for four doughnuts, but Paczki Day only comes once a year!
Paczki Day is always a good time to bring out my Polish Pottery, which I did this morning.
I have several first cousins who live in Baton Rouge, Louisiana where Mardi Gras is celebrated. Mardi Gras is French for "Fat Tuesday" and King Cakes replace Pazcki. I've only made a King Cake once - a rich, brioche dough with a wide variety of fillings [mine was cinnamon]. They're frosted with a powdered sugar glaze and sugar sprinkles in the royal Mardi Gras colors of gold, purple and green. They're beautiful and festive-looking. One year during Mardi Gras, my aunt sent me a King Cake from Gambino's Bakery in New Orleans.
One of my cousins posted some Mardi Gras pictures on Facebook yesterday taken in New Orleans [French Quarter]. The crowds are so large she said they weren't going this year.
[David Nola Photography]
Do you celebrate Paczki Day or Mardi Gras?
My husband is Polish but we were going to skip the pazcki's today. Then my daughter dropped off a box when she dropped off my grandson. A local bakery has started offering King Cakes. Maybe next year.
ReplyDeleteWe usually celebrate with pancakes at church on Shrove Tuesday but since our Fellowship Hall is still out of commission (burst pipes on Christmas Eve) I celebrated at home with waffles instead.
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