Fat Tuesday

FAT TUESDAY! This year Fat Tuesday is February 24, 2009. This particular day is indeed a day of feeling fat due to the many, many Paczki (Punchki) people eat.

For years my family has carried on the tradition of making homemade Polish Punchki the Monday before Ash Wednesday. This tradition began with my grandmother over 60 years ago.

After my grandmother passed away in the late 1980's, my mother, sister, and I took over the Punchki duty. We fry, fill and sugar our hearts out sporting quite the fashion change compared to when Grandma did the baking. I remember grandma being 'dressed up' to bake wearing a skirt, stockings, cardigan sweater, and an apron. Today, anyone lucky enough to be invited into the tradition will find us dressed in comfortable clothing that will smell deep fried by night's end.

I was 17 years old when we took over the tradition. That was 23 years ago. Eeeshk, that would make me... no need to go there. In the beginning we made approximately 50 donuts for our own delicious enjoyment as well as sharing some of the mouth watering delicacy with extended family members. That number has grown to almost 200 donuts. Families have grown and friends have gotten word of our delicious tradition and place orders with us.

My sister and I have children of our own who partake in the tradition and love it. They anxiously talk about the day weeks ahead of time. Included in the fun last year was a close friend of the family, and while sharing in the tradition she became more like a family member. She enjoyed hearing our stories and memories of past years and laughed along with us. My sister, mom, and I are hopeful our friend will join us again this year, however, she is sworn to secrecy on our family Pazcki recipe.

As evening turned into night and the last of the Punchki were rolled through sugar, we began to label containers with the names of lucky recipients. Who gets prune filled? Who gets jelly filled? Who prefers plain? Phone calls were made letting family and friends know the Polish Pazcki Bus was leaving home-base to make deliveries. It is important we wrap up the process by 9:30 PM and start deliveries before our customers are going to bed. The weather is never a factor; wind, sleet, snow, rain, or cold never stops the delivery. To be honest, delivery is half the fun... often greeted by family and friends in pajamas, robes, and a HUGE smile of appreciation. It is an important tradition for the Marek/Benka family and now extended friends, on Fat Tuesday morning a homemade Punchki accompanies a cup of coffee and sweet memory of Grandma and a long-lived tradition.

My mom, sister, and I would never give this up and perhaps with each passing year the number of Punchki made will rise. We are hopeful in another fifty years our children will be carrying on this tradition as well. Grandma would be so proud.

[The true Polish tradition is the Thursday before Ash Wednesday is known as Fat Thursday and Paczkis are in abundance. The Tuesday before Ash Wednesday is known a Herring Day. On this day you celebrate, celebrate, celebrate and eat a lot of herring. Personally, I am happy to solely celebrate with the sweet, greasy, cholesterol-filled donuts on Fat Tuesday.]