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....
