For the second day in a row, I got a reprieve from that back-breaking shoveling – yeah for that, BUT my sidewalks and driveway are now icy and treacherous. Note to self: do not shovel when it is “snaining” (a snow and freezing rain combo) because the snow on the cement ends up with a glaze that resembles the shiny icing on a paczek.
So, what the heck is a paczek you might ask (unless of course you live here in Michigan, or, are a long-time follower of this blog); and, you might also be wondering, how does one pronounce this word anyway?
First things first.
If you have never had one of these Polish treats, a paczek is not just your regular jelly donut. It’s more like a jelly donut on steroids, because it is a heavier dough with a more ooey and gooey filling. Each one can be between 500 and 1,000 calories and 80 fat grams. Yes, that is true – yikes!
Paczeks (or paczki which is plural) are typically topped with a glaze or powdered sugar. Since Detroiters love their coney dogs, last year someone at American Coney Island came up with the idea to split a jelly-filled paczki down the middle, stuff it with a wiener, and top it off with the traditional coney dog fixin’s like chili, mustard and onions. That hybrid treat is back this year and people were scooping these 1,000-calorie wonders up at $5.00 apiece.
Here’s a primer on how to pronounce paczek and paczki, and, just so you know, most people refer to them as paczki (plural) as they don’t just stop at one! Paczek is pronounced “Poancheck” and paczki is pronounced “Poanchkee”. Now that you’ve got that pronunciation down pat, you’ll want to use your computer’s spellcheck feature if you’re ever writing about them.
We’re a lot tamer than New Orleans on Fat Tuesday, but we do have fun with our paczki parades, fun runs, and even paczki bakery crawls leading up to and including Fat Tuesday. As part of paczki pandemonium, just picture crowds lining up around the block at the crack of dawn today at New Palace Bakery in Hamtramck to pick up some paczki while they’re still warm.
In most workplaces, there’s always some kind soul who deems it is his or her responsibility to gift the entire office with these delectable donuts.
I didn’t have a paczki today, but instead indulged in my own sinful ooey-gooey, sugar-rush treat. If you grew up in the 60s, not only were you part of the culture of tie dye and big bellbottoms, hippies, flower power and VW buses, but you ate Fluffernutters. It was like a peanut-butter-and-jelly sandwich, only you swapped the jelly for marshmallow cream, and, it was a treat that was the best of both worlds, a mixture of salty and sweet. This sandwich even had its own jingle, a/k/a “The Fluffernutter Song” … http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O6gljDcLrvQ&feature=related
Nowadays, I find it almost sickening sweet, but it is my annual Fat Tuesday indulgence anyway.
The big dilemma now is those folks who plan to give up sweets for Lent, but won’t be able to enjoy their Valentine’s Day goodies. Instead of nibbling on nougats or truffles, they’ll be staring longingly at that festive, heart-shaped box for the next forty days, and, please don’t leave it unattended, since chocolate is not good for our furry friends.
On Valentine’s Day eve, I’m sharing this fun factoid with you: “in 2018, people will spend 44% more on their pets than their humans, but you should not be surprised, since 66% of pets have their own Facebook page” … now that made me smile.
I hope you enjoyed your indulgences today.
[Images from Twitter and American Coney Island]
Linda Schaub
WALKIN', WRITIN', WIT & WHIMSY 
I have never tried paczek, honestly i might not be able to finish the whole thing on my own, the calories are too many to count 😁 But it does look delicious.
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They are delicious and they are huge. I’ve not had one in several years. I gave up sweets for Lent in 2011 and only have one sweet item per year – for Fat Tuesday. I used to love sweets, and I now don’t miss them at all!
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I wish I was in Michigan today so I could eat a poonchkey! I can never remember how to spell it…😂😂. Very interesting, Linda!
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Jill – I heard so much about them on the radio today and saw it on social media, so I decided it would be fun to write about them today , since I often try to do a funny post for Tuesdays called “Tuesday Musings” … I had to look up how to spell the singular and plural to be sure I got it right. In Googling, I got an audio pronunciation off YouTube by a Polish man who insisted it was “poan” … my Polish friend pronounced it like you – hard to spell, fun to eat. 🙂
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Miss “Snaining”……………..thank you for all of the definitions of my favorite: PACZKI………………..I started buying them a few weeks ago when Meijer put them out …………………..now my husband and myself have O.D. on them
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Ann Marie – I remember you said you loved them when I wrote a post about paczki a year or so ago. That sugar high will take you through to all the Easter goodies. P.S. – I think that is pretty smart of Meijer to do that don’t you?
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I think I gained a few pounds just from looking!
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I know – they are much heavier than regular donuts … not for the feint of heart! It is only big for Fat Tuesday, though the stores carry them about a week in advance, but the best ones are found in the Polish bakeries. We only had pancakes growing up and called it “Pancake Tuesday” … maybe that is a thing of the past?
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whoah! I vowed to never visit the USA while Donald was in charge and now he has gone this now gives me a double reason to visit! Those are incredible! I wonder if the calories are worth it. hmmm.
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I have not heard anything on the radio about American Coney Island having them so I Googled … looks like they still have them and they are $6.00 and they don’t mention the fat grams/calories like they used to. Everything is scaled down this year, but people line up at 3:00 a.m. to get their “paczki fix” … in this story, you see another shot up close. They look delicious!
https://www.freep.com/story/entertainment/dining/2021/02/12/paczki-unusual-flavor-twists-fat-tuesday/6744726002/
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They remind me Of something we had in south africa called vetkoek….worth every single delicious calorie im.thinking
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Hopefully you can concoct something equally indulgent for Fat Tuesday Michael. We had 7 inches (almost 18 cms) of snow last night and it’s still snowing and -10F (-23C) right now and people are still lined up at Polish bakeries to pick up their dozens or bags of donuts. Some traditions never die.
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-23? Bloody hell that is insanely cold. They really are worth dying for then!
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Yes – it was brutal and the snowfall was insane. It had drifted and that was at least a foot, if not more. I had to force the screen door to get out to shovel it. Colder tonight! I just sent you a funny video (to your address that shows up in my comments) about a fun restaurant that a client sent me. You’ll get a kick out of it for sure.
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Ooh thanks I’ve received it ill go take a look
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Kind of crazy way to do business, but fun and if you do it in moderation, I don’t see a problem (especially paired with 10,000 steps a day!)
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Ha that was amazing..like a strip joint serving burgers! 8000 calories… that is insane… thatS 4 days worth!
Tbh id go for the quadruple!
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I thought it was amazing too Michael. I have to say it was clever marketing and I’d try one of those massive burgers and some lard-laden fries too. Like you said, eat one day and consume four days’ worth of calories. You’d have to fast the rest of the week!
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Ive thought about those burger a lot since watching…
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I think you need to make 3 over the weekend for you and the boys … I believe you said Mrs. Afterwards is a vegetarian. Just up the steps!
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Then only eat again middle of next week 🙂
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Yes – you’ll save yourself time and money for a few days. 🙂 You can call it “Michael’s Meat Treat” … pretty sure you won’t get anything like this in your food delivery box.
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