Tuesday, February 17, 2015

YOU NEVER HEARD OF A FASTNACHT???

Down south, New Orleanians and other sinful revelers are celebrating Mardi Gras, the last day you have to get all of the sins out of your system before you have to repent from all of them on Ash Wednesday. I can't participate in that , as I'd need a week to repent.
King Cake, a flaky, cinnamon roll-like dessert is served along with the booze and the beads through the Mardi Gras season up until Fat Tuesday. Again, I already have enough booze in take. So for me it's all about Fastnacht Day!!!!!!


Not just any doughnut,mind — today is Fastnacht Day, also known as Shrove Tuesday or Fat Tuesday, the day before Lent when people traditionally eat up whatever sugar, eggs, butter, flour and lard they have on hand before the season of fasting begins. Fastnacht Day is an annual Pennsylvania Dutch celebration and the word fastnacht translates to "Fast Night" in English. The tradition is to eat the very best foods, which are part of the German tradition, and lots of it, before the Lenten fast. Fastnachts are essentially  doughnuts. There are three types of Fastnachts, one made with yeast, one made with baking powder, and one made with potatoes and yeast. All are slightly crispy on the outside and not as sweet as standard doughnuts.
Having grown up in an area of Pennsylvania that celebrates Fastnacht Day, I have witnessed the throngs of people that come out early Tuesday morning to ensure they’re able to get their hands on a box of the tasty treats. For most bakeries and grocery stores, the production of fastnachts begins Sunday night and runs round-the-clock until the last box has been sold on Tuesday. I can still see my grandmother when I was young. She would take me to the church she went to where her and a tons of church ladies would make lots of fasnachts, and they would be completely gone by mid day.

Yesterday when I was off, I ran out to grab my own supply, and a box to take to my co-workers, who will no doubt look at me like I'm nuts, as they will have never heard of Fastnachts before. I headed over to Oak Grove Farms here in Buckingham, where I put in a order last week. They were going fast. If your in Center City Philadelphia head over to Keith Beiler's, who makes fasnachts at his family’s bakery stand in the Reading Terminal Market. They are delish.They are light and fluffy and not heavy light doughnuts. Here are the gems I got.......


Drooling is permitted.

31 comments:

  1. Replies
    1. As long as that's all your licking..........

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  2. What a great tradition! There's nothing in this world that Canadians love more than donuts. Screw pancakes! I think I'll switch my Mardi Gras indulgence to Fastnachts!

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    1. Oh Debs, you would love them, and you can't have just one.

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  3. Happy Fastnacht Day! My grandmother was from Central PA, and she used to say the old joke was that these yummy treats were eaten the day before lent because they take 40 days to digest. Thanks for the wonderful memory.

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    1. And unfortunately the Lad is now longer here to help work these off!!!!

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  4. Thanks for the suggestion of Beilers in Reading Terminal. I'm heading over to indulge in this tradition on my coffee break!!!!

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    1. Good luck, I'm sure he will be packed!

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  5. Parents lived in Baton Rouge for three years. We would spend a lot of time in New Orleans when we visited. Best food ever!!!

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    1. Yes , and Mame, David can attest. With the beans and spices o think a train blew off the tracks once.

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  6. I love me fastnachts on this day. The lady I work with will be bringing a ton in! I'll eat about 4 or 5, and then hit the gym!!!!!

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  7. So glad to see you keep the tradition alive. When I was young, everybody was excited about them, and they were made with mashed potato, then you tossed them in a brown bag full of powdered sugar and shook it till covered.DELICIOUS!

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    1. That sounds great!!!! You really did the whole thing right!

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  8. What a wonderful post. A tradition I have no problem getting behind!!!! I always enjoy your blog because there is always something interesting or visually enjoyable to see.

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  9. Only problem is with no hole in them it will be hard to do a doughnut toss using the houseboys.

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    1. And should you get one on, watch where you bite to get it off.

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  10. You so need to install a scratch and sniff feature on here. I can almost smell them.

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    1. You may be surprised what other scents you may get!

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  11. I had no idea, but I like the King Cake myself. Some boozy cake with some side cordials would be nice

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  12. Oh, yes I've heard of them. They are quite deelish, and next year I'm allowing myself to have one of those if I get this new job. With the change in hours, I'd have no excuse not to celebrate Fat Tuesday downtown.

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    1. One? That's like eating one potato chip.

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  13. This was always one of my favorite traditions when going up, being from Harrisburg. Thanks for posting about them. There are like eating air!

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  14. I was just wondering how your fastnauhts were coming.

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    1. Well, the glaze slipped right threw my fingers.

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  15. And if you can get them fresh hot, there even better . This morning it was definitely hard to find them .......everybody was out. Can I have one of yours?

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    1. I had my fastnauhts warmed once and they were delish!!!!!

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  16. Oh my gosh, these sound divine!!! Perfect on a cold day with coffee. Enjoyed the part of your grandmother and you around her apron on doubt.

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  17. Well goodness, I've just taken a break from day-drinking down here in Old New Orleans, and now you have me hankering for a doughnut!
    Happy Mardi Gras!

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  18. Mmmmm ....those look yummy! I'd have 3 or 4! I'm with you...repenting for what!? Life is meant to enjoyed thoroughly.

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  19. Oh my .... I have drooled all over my keyboard. I've never been able to speak German or Dutch but I absolutely adore a Fast Fuck. Sorry?! Oops... I mean a FastNacht... doughnuts, that is. I usually suck all the jam out of them first. Your write-up was very authoritative. Here in little ole England, we have pancake races on Shrove Tuesday!

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Go ahead darling, tell me something fabulous!