Paczki Day; Pancake Tuesday; Fat Tuesday & Mardi Gras

It was drizzling out when I left home this morning at 9:30 a.m. for my annual mammogram, but I told my hubby I'd stop at the bakery on my way home to get each of us a paczki - a yummy polish donut with a choice of several fillings.  The bakery I go to is Italian so they make a paczki with a cannoli cream filling.  They're not cheap - $4.40 each, but Paczki day only comes once a year so the splurge is justifiable, and I don't even think about counting the calories!

The parking lot was full, so I parked in the florist's parking lot next door [along with many other people].

The line was out the door when I arrived, but patrons got to stand under a canopy and the line moved fast.

What a mouth-watering sight when I advanced to the pastry/baked goods counter!  They were well supplied with hundreds of paczki donuts to choose from.

Enjoying our cannoli cream filled paczki at home with a cup of tea.  

In New Orleans, they're celebrating Mardi Gras - Mardi is the French word for Tuesday, and Gras means fat, hence the name Fat Tuesday.  It occurs the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday which is the beginning of the Lenten Season when self-denial begins. New Orleans is known for its King Cakes, which I've only made one once.  Hoffman Media advertised a cookbook on their Facebook feed today, Ralph the Baker, New Orleans Recipes. It's $39.95 and shipping is free today.  I'm really being tempted!  Look at the King Cake burger below.  Doesn't it look fun for a Mardi Gras celebration at home? 

Equally as fun and yummy are pancakes with praline sauce [also in the book].  

I don't have the book with the praline sauce recipe, but I do have a great recipe for fluffy buttermilk pancakes that I've decided will be our dinner tonight along with a new bottle of Maple Syrup from Costco to pour over them.  We'll celebrate both Paczki Day and Pancake Tuesday at our house.

I saw a great post on Facebook that said instead of giving up food for Lent, strive to spend more time in prayer, Scripture reading, doing acts of kindness and expressing gratitude, even though fasting has its place too.  

In closing, I want to share a tea-themed bangle bracelet by Alex & Ani that has a 'Spill the Tea' cup and teabag charm in gold finish.  It sells for $34.00.  I've never purchased any Alex & Ani bangle bracelets for myself, but I've bought a couple for my daughter.

When it came through my Facebook feed yesterday, I put it in my cart to purchase, but by the time they added $8 shipping and tax I decided maybe I didn't need it after all and removed it from my cart.  This morning I received an email from them saying they'd give me free shipping if I purchased the bracelet, so I bought it!   Don't you love surprises like that.