FASTNACHT SOCIAL

As is tradition here at the Casa du Borghese.....

 While this day is not really a holiday, it always gives me fond memories of both grandmothers. Today is Fat Tuesday or as we call it here in Pennsylvania Dutch country, Fastnacht Day!!! A Fastnacht is a fluffy pastry similar in texture to a donut but does not have a hole and is not filled with any fillings. Most Fastnacht's are plain, sugar or powdered and are of a rectangular shape. So, if you imbibe today and it has a hole, it's not a true Fastnacht. Although a true Pennsylvania Dutch person will tell you they are served best warm and plain. The exact history of the Fastnacht seem to be a great debate, but Fat Tuesday is one day before the beginning of the forty days of the Lenten season that will lead up to Easter in the Christian tradition. There are many ingredients in them, including flour, fat, eggs, and lots of butter. Most of these items are given up for lent, and during this time, aren't consumed. The problem came about what to do with all these contents in the meantime before they spoil. So, the good people in Central and Eastern PA, where this day seems to be the most popular in the country, make tons of Fastnacht's to gorge the family on before fasting.

Every year since I was in my 20's, I can't help but think of the Mistress's maternal grandmother who was always in the kitchen this day making and frying hundreds of these things for the ladies' church function that they would have that day. Plus, she made extra generally for the whole neighborhood and our family. I can still smell them. In the later years, they took the Fastnacht making to the church kitchen and would sell them four to a bag. So even though she is gone, I always have to partake in at least one... or four Fastnacht's for the day. I headed over to Oak Grove Farms after work yesterday to pick up 8 boxes, 7 for work and a box for myself. The best part? I feared with egg prices being up, they might be more, but Oak Grove didn't up the price at all. I admit, I enjoyed one already...OMG...so light and airy.

Happy Fastnacht Day!

FASTNACHT DAY!!!

 
I will brave wearing tight pants today, and brave eating three fastnacht's!!!!

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 is in their larders they have on hand before the season of fasting starts. Not that I fast mind you, like I have the will power. 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 to eat before the Lenten fast. Fastnacht's are essentially doughnuts, without the hole, and squarish, and are generally just plain or lightly powdered, also made with yeast, not baking powder. All are crispy on the outside and fluffy air inside and also not as sweet as regular doughnuts. Having grown up in an area of Pennsylvania Dutch and later in Bucks County, it's popular business and one that celebrates Fastnacht Day, I have witnessed the throng of people that come out early Tuesday morning to ensure they're able to get their mitts on a box of them or just a few. I can recall my late grandmother and her church lady friends making them by the thousands back in the day...and they'd be sold out by noon. I got two dozen lightly powdered to take into work today, from Oak Grove Farm which make them pretty close to how they are supposed to be made and look.

of course, we were also treated to another powdered morning...taken at 6:05am from my boudoir windows.

Now getting to work may be another story. No denying it is soooo beautiful! I'll take some snaps and share later today. Now go get a Fastnacht!!!

FASTNACHTS

 

While this day is not really a holiday, it always gives me fond memories of both grandmothers. Today is Fat Tuesday or as we call it Fastnacht Day!!! A Fastnacht is a fluffy pastry similar in texture to a donut but does not have a hole and is not filled with any fillings. Most Fastnacht's are plain, sugar or powdered and are of a rectangular shape. So if you imbibe today and it has a hole, it's not a true Fastnacht. Although a true Pennsylvania Dutch person will tell you they are served best warm and plain. The exact history of the Fastnacht seem to be a great debate, but Fat Tuesday is one day before the beginning of the forty days of the Lenten season that will lead up to Easter in the Christian tradition. There are many ingredients in them, including flour, fat, eggs, and lots of butter. Most of these items are given up for lent, and during this time, aren't consumed. The problem came about what to do with all these contents in the meantime before they spoil? So, the good people in Central and Eastern PA, where this day seems to be the most popular in the country, make tons of Fastnacht's to gorge the family on before fasting.

Every year since I was in my 20's, I can't help but think of the Mistress's maternal grandmother who was always in the kitchen this day making and frying tons of these things for the ladies' church function that they would have that day. Plus, she made extra generally for the whole neighborhood and our family. I can still smell them. In the later years, they took the Fastnacht making to the church kitchen, and would sell them four to a bag. So even though she is gone, I always have to partake in at least one... or four Fastnacht's for the day.

I also get excited because right around this time, you know that spring and Easter will herald weather and earthly changes taking us from winter into spring. Once I got back up to Harrisburg yesterday, I was right off to Oak Grove Farms for our box of Fastnacht's and a couple boxes for the shop for customers!!!! 

Come Wednesday, I may need larger jeans. 

Can my ass get bigger?

FASTNACHTS!

That's Fastnachts Day not fast nuts!  

It's yet another day I can get behind! It's also big business in Pennsylvania. The Pennsylvania Dutch celebrate Shrove Tuesday, today,  by eating  potato doughnuts which are lovingly called fastnachts...and shouldn't be confused with store bought doughnuts or those of Dunkin. A true traditional fastnacht has no hole in the center, is potato based, and is a very light, pillowy, fluffy, often rectangular shaped, dough ball. The name fastnacht is German for "fast night". It is a day to forget about dieting and a slim waistline and feast on these things. The day began as a German tradition. Traditionally, the fastnachts are made to use up the lard, sugar, butter, eggs, and other rich foods in the house pantry before the austere diet of Lenten. It was thought if one filled up on these treats, you'd wouldn't be hungry as much while fasting.

Since Pennsylvania Dutch families were quite large, when the haus frau began to fry the raised fastnachts to use up the rich ingredients before Lent in her warm kitchen, the tantalizing smell of these raised cakes lingered in the farmhouse. As you'd suspect, the wiser members of the family were awoken by the smell, and realized that if they got up early, they could share in mothers treats. But the lazier ones may have continued sleeping, while the other siblings enjoyed the treat with a beverage. The last person up on Shrove Tuesday was called the "fastnacht"  and was often kidded all day along for being late for this wonderful breakfast.

Its one day that still and always will have, I suspect, fond memories for me of my grandmother. When I was a wee one and she baby sat me, I can remember her getting me up at the crack of dawn, where I went off with her to her ever faith church with about 20 other church ladies. They'd be there in house dresses, hats and aprons. They would makes hundreds of fastnachts and sell them in bags of four, plain and some powdered. The line would often be out the door from the congregation hall. Of course, every little old lady took pity, and when the others weren't looking, they would give me one. Needless to say after 8 I would feel sick. But I can still see and hear the church on those days. And the smell. But my grandmother I think knew I was snuck some, because once back at her house, I never ate any. To this day it's a wonder I'm not a porker.

This year with COVID I don't think any churches are having Shrove Tuesday sales...but traditional neighborhood bakeries should, if they have any sense.  I called C'est la Vie, the French bakery in New Hope last week, and put an order in. Yesterday, and Shrove Tuesday is the only time they make these. I picked them up yesterday, after walking dogs, they were piping hot too. The owner also put that sign out up at the top of the post so people know some background on fastnacht day. I got a dozen, and will give 6 to my lumbersexual neighbor. These are mine....

Check me out later this week on TLC for my episode on My 600lb Life.

FAT TUESDAY

Fasnacht Day: who wouldn't appreciate a holiday revolving around frying and eating doughnuts?I warn you to grab your napkin and let the drooling begin.

Otherwise known as “Fat Tuesday”, for a Pennsylvania resident, today is fastnacht day. We here in Pennsylvania  drinking land, like doughnuts, as much as we like our hootch.

The religious call it Shrove’s Tuesday...it’s the day Lutheran’s clean their larder of all fats, and live a clean un-fatted life until Easter. I see the Fat Tuesday similarities. Don’t you?

These Shrove Tuesday treats, known as fasnachts, or faschnacht-kichli in Pennsylvania Dutch, are deep-fried cakes originally made of risen dough from flour and finely mashed potatoes. Fasnachts are fried every year in communities across Pennsylvania, the United States and Europe as a final hurrah to usher in the somber season of Lent. There are many recipes and ways to enjoy fasnachts. These are the ones I got to take into work today. IF they make it there at all!!!

 

I get mine from a local farm, and they are like eating air!!!! This year I got three dozen. Two for work and one for myself. What a pig right? Soooooo good. Some families, churches, and ladies auxiliary clubs make them according to regionally specific recipes, while some commercial establishments make them without potatoes. I can remember when I was very young, and staying with my grandmother. She in her apron, and her church lady friends would make thousands of these down at the church and would later have at the ladies function that afternoon,  and would also sell them in brown bags. There were many advantages then to hanging around her dress skirts!!!! Some years she made them in her own kitchen, to give to our family and the whole neighborhood. Some use baking powder rather than yeast to make a regional variety called "kickers," after the western Lehigh and eastern Berks Pennsylvania Dutch word "kichliche" (little cakes). Some enjoy them dipped in molasses or syrup, dusted in powdered sugar, or "just so." 

Traditionally, fastnachts are made to use up the lard, sugar, butter, eggs and other rich foods in a house before the austere diet of Lent begins. In Catholic and Protestant countries, Fastnacht Day is also called "Fat Tuesday," or "Mardi Gras," a name which predates the Reformation and referred to the Christian tradition of eating rich foods before the Lenten fast began. The word "fastnacht" means "the night before the fast," since the doughnuts are eaten the night before Lent, when fasting is usually observed by many Christians until Easter Sunday. 

So get out there and eat a doughnut, and repent you sinners.

FASTNACHT DAY!

Fasnacht Day: who wouldn't appreciate a holiday revolving around frying and eating doughnuts? And if our Eros is reading....I warn you to grab your napkin and let the drooling begin.

Otherwise known as “Fat Tuesday”, for a Pennsylvania resident, today is fastnacht day. We here in Pennsylvania  drinking cocktails. We like drinking as much as we like doughnuts.

The religious call it Shrove’s Tuesday...it’s the day Lutheran’s clean their larder of all fats, and live a clean un-fatted life until Easter. I see the Fat Tuesday similarities. Don’t you?

These Shrove Tuesday treats, known as fasnachts, or faschnacht-kichli in Pennsylvania Dutch, are deep-fried cakes originally made of risen dough from flour and finely mashed potatoes. Fasnachts are fried every year in communities across Pennsylvania, the United States and Europe as a final hurrah to usher in the somber season of Lent. There are many recipes and ways to enjoy fasnachts. These are the ones I got to take into work today.

I get from a local farm, and they are like eating air!!!! This year I got three dozen. Two for work and one for myself. What a pig right? Soooooo good. Some families, churches, and ladies auxiliary clubs make them according to regionally specific recipes, while some commercial establishments make them without potatoes. I can remember when I was very young, and staying with my grandmother. She and her church lady friends would make hundreds of these down at the church and would have at the ladies function that afternoon and would also sell in brown bags. There were many advantages then to hanging around her dress skirts!!!! Some years she made them in her own kitchen, to give to our family and the whole neighborhood. Some use baking powder rather than yeast to make a regional variety called "kickers," after the western Lehigh and eastern Berks Pennsylvania Dutch word "kichliche" (little cakes). Some enjoy them dipped in molasses or syrup, dusted in powdered sugar, or "just so." For many, fasnachts are fried in oil or vegetable shortening, while some prefer the traditional flavor of home-rendered lard.

Traditionally, fastnachts are made to use up the lard, sugar, butter, eggs and other rich foods in a house before the austere diet of Lent begins. In Catholic and Protestant countries, Fastnacht Day is also called "Fat Tuesday," or "Mardi Gras," a name which predates the Reformation and referred to the Christian tradition of eating rich foods before the Lenten fast began. The word "fastnacht" means "the night before the fast," since the doughnuts are eaten the night before Lent, when fasting is usually observed by many Christians until Easter Sunday. Making and eating fastnachts was a way to consume all the fats, such as butter and lard and sugars, kept in the house pantry, as these rich ingredients were seen as lavish and were not supposed to be eaten during the Lenten season.

So get out there and eat a doughnut, and repent.

FASNACHTS DAY!

Today is Shrove Tuesday which originated during the Middle Ages as a day when food items like milk, lard, sugar, butter and eggs were to be consumed so they wouldn't spoil during the following forty days of Lent when Christians were expected to fast and pray.  In France, the consumption of all fats and fatty foods on this day coined the name "Fat Tuesday."  If your in England,  the tradition of serving pancakes to use the fatty goods gave way to Pancake Day.  In some South American countries, the day is associated with "Carnaval", a festival of dancing, drinking and debauchery, right up your Mistress's alley, but alas, I'm not there yet. Carnival, the English spelling of the word "carne lever" or "meat takeaway" has become another Lenten tradition.  For me, the day is known as Fasnacht Day.  The word "Fasnacht" is German, meaning "fast night," or the night before Ash Wednesday.  Every year, in my youth in Harrisburg, which is known as being in the Pennsylvania Dutch Country,  and which was settled primarily by German Americans, the Fasnacht is the king.

Fasnachts are made to use up lard, sugar, butter, eggs and other rich foods in the house before the austere diet of Lent begins.  The Fasnacht came from southern Germany, Switzerland, and Austria. A true Fasnacht is square without a hole in the center. I have to tell the Lad this every year as he confuses where is the hole? It's all about the hole to him I tell ya!!! I can still remember my grandmother at her church making tons of these with the other ladies and then opening the doors.  Today they tend to make them with the hole, since they fry more evenly, but if it has a hole, that's a donut to me, not a fasnacht!!!! It has no filling in it, but may come uncoated, dusted in powdered sugar or cinnamon sugar.  Are they tasty?  Will I eat one of the Fasnachts that I just bought....

 Well, I have too!!  I picked those up last night at the church up the road. After all, I was born in Harrisburg, the epicenter of the Fasnacht and today is Fasnacht Day.  Every store as well as farmer's markets will have them for sale today.  And, tradition says it will bring me good luck. And Yes, I will eat one. Or 4.....dunked in milk!  For, if I'm going to have to fast and pray for the next 40 days, God help us all!!!!And I love my traditions.

You may now start salivating........  

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.

Will You Have a Fastnacht?

Today is Fat Tuesday. It is also Fastnacht Day. A fastnacht ia a fluffy pastry similar in texture to a donut. It is usually a non-filled pastry and can be coated in sugar or powdered sugar and most of the time served warm. Although a true Pennsylvania Dutch person will tell you they are served plain. The exact history of the fastnacht seems to be a great debate. But Fat Tuesday is one day before the beginning of the forty days of lent that will lead up to Easter in the Christian tradition. There are many ingredients ,including flour, fat, eggs, and lots of butter. Most of these items are given up for the lent, and during this period aren't consumed. The problem is what to do with all these contents in the meantime, before they spoil. So the people in Central and Eastern Pennsylvania, where this day seems to be the most popular for fastnacht day, make tons of fastnachts and pastries to gorge the family on. And every year I can't help but think of the Mistress's Grandma who was always so special to me. She is ten years gone, but I can remember her in the kitchen, deep frying and making tons of fastnachts for the ladies church function that they would have that day. Plus, she also made enough for the whole neighborhood and the family. So even though she is gone I always keep the tradition alive. Tonight on my way home I picked up my order of fastnachts at the market where the lady makes them pretty close tasting to my Grandma's. Although, I have to admit, I did get a little sugar on mine. This one's for for Grandma!