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People may not agree on how to pronounce them, but all are gathering up to g obble up Paczki on Fat Tuesday, the day before Ash Wednesday. Emigrants of Poland pronounce them “Pooch-key”, or “Punch-key” or even “Poonch-key”, all are correct.
These round, sugar coated, fruit filled Polish pastries were served up annually on the day before lent, a period of abstinence observed by Roman Catholics. Originally, Paczki were made for practical reasons, to use up the lard and eggs which were prohibited during Lent. Now, they’re more of a last-minute binge of sweets before the sacrifice. What ever the past, all enjoy the tasty treat of Paczki.
The new world version, like the old is an extra large doughball, rich in egg yokes and deep fried, just like a donut. It’s overfilled with raspberry, strawberry, custard, apple, blueberry, lemon or even the traditional filling of prune. Then it’s topped with smooth sugar glaze or rolled in fine granulated sugar. It’s 100% quality or they’re not a Paczkil and don’t ask about the calories, you just don ’t want to know.
Paczki on Paczki Day are becoming what chocolate is to St. Valentine’s Day and what pumpkin pie is to Thanksgiving as many people share them with friends, families and co-workers. In previous years, bakeries claimed Halloween as the traditional season that sold the most donut treats, now areas of the country show that “Paczki” sales surpass even their #1 holiday of CHRISTMAS.
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