I spoke in French to my two cats this morning but I don't think that counts as a Mardi Gras celebration.

Posted by: Krys O. | Feb 28, 2006 1:59:26 PM

Here's my Fat Tuesday question - is there a bakery anywhere in Baristaville or Outer Baristaville where I can get Paczki today?

I'm prepared to hoof it up to Mazur's in Lyndhurst, but if there's a closer bakery, it would make my evening easier. Thanks!

-Mujer en Fuego

(For those who don't know, Paczki [pronouced PONCH-KEE] are Polish doughnuts filled with jelly, eaten traditionally as part of the Fat Tuesday celebration before the ol' Lenten fast.)

Posted by: Mujer en Fuego | Feb 28, 2006 2:27:35 PM

Believe it or not, I think that the Bloomfield Shop Rite sells them.

Posted by: Anne Prince | Feb 28, 2006 2:30:58 PM

Happy Mardi Gras! If you go the NY Tiems web site, there's a great video of the parade with a reporter who bas born and raised in NOLA giving you the history. Kewl!

On a totally unrelated topic, I signed up for the Marketwatch.com newsletter and they insist on emailing it to me in Chinese! I wrote to them complaining about it but to no avail.

Posted by: Miss Martta | Feb 28, 2006 2:34:44 PM

My wife and I just finished making lasagna using a recipe that's been in our family for generations. We invited our son, Chris, just diagnosed with a serious illness, and his family (wife and three kids)for a Fat Tuesday celebration. Since we walk the contemporary tightrope of deprivation/non-deprivation --which can be most unhealthy and demoralizing if deprivation predominates -- we've decided to dedicate this evening to "Bontemps Roulez!"
Tony Raiola

Posted by: Tony Raiola | Feb 28, 2006 2:57:20 PM

Tony - I'll raise a toast to Chris tonight.

So...who is having pancakes for dinner tonight? Although I must say, lasagna does sound much better? I remember as a child always having pancakes on the night before Ash Wednesday.

Posted by: Anne Prince | Feb 28, 2006 2:59:50 PM

Thanks for posting, Anne. Are they fresh in the bakery or are they the pre-packaged ones? The ones in the packages aren't worth it, ya gotta get 'em fresh-made.

Posted by: Mujer en Fuego | Feb 28, 2006 3:04:37 PM

Hi Firey Woman:

You can also get Paczki from the Bloomfield Stop-and-Shop. They are in a plastic container, but it's not a national brand or anything. I can't remember what the label indicated.

They have cream filling or raspberry jam filling and look heavenly!!

Posted by: skipwith | Feb 28, 2006 3:17:05 PM

"On a totally unrelated topic, I signed up for the Marketwatch.com newsletter and they insist on emailing it to me in Chinese! I wrote to them complaining about it but to no avail."

Did you write them back in Chinese?

Posted by: Conan the Grammarian | Feb 28, 2006 3:44:22 PM

LOL...no, maybe that's the problem. Actually, maybe I inadvertently signed up for a Chinese takeout service!

Posted by: Miss Martta | Feb 28, 2006 3:54:18 PM

Ms M:

Send them this:

不再寄給我在中國人中的市場觀看。我需要英語的它 -- 謝謝， Martta 小姐

Posted by: Aussiebookguy | Feb 28, 2006 3:55:50 PM

lol, I just had a mental image of a dozen Chinese orphans showing up at Miss M's door.

If that does happen I know people who would lovingly take them.

Posted by: hrhppg | Feb 28, 2006 3:56:06 PM

I'll have two orders of steamed dumplings, one order of dan dan mein, and a hundred shares of Amalgamated MSG.

Posted by: Conan the Grammarian | Feb 28, 2006 3:56:44 PM

Translation: Stop sending me Market Watch in Chinese. I need it in English -- Thank you, Ms. Martta

Posted by: Aussiebookguy | Feb 28, 2006 3:57:14 PM

I am very impressed Aussie...thanks.

Posted by: Miss Martta | Feb 28, 2006 4:06:06 PM

Miss M,
不再寄給我在中國人中的市場觀看。我需要英語的它.
Thank you...I'll be here all week.

Posted by: Troll Diddy | Feb 28, 2006 4:13:17 PM

"Does not resend for me watches in Chinese's market. I need English it -- thanks"

What does that mean?

Posted by: lasermike026 | Feb 28, 2006 4:25:26 PM

I'm under the weather with a full blown cold..any mardi gras cures?

Posted by: The Iceman(*8T*) | Feb 28, 2006 6:27:52 PM

Want to know which of the Seven Deadly Sins is gonna do you in? Click here.

As for me, I can't say it any better than the Temptin' Temptations did:

Now I heard a cryin' man,
Is half a man with no sense of pride
But if I have to cry to keep you,
I don't mind weepin' if it'll keep you by my side

Ain't to proud to beg, sweet darlin
Please don't leave me girl, don't you go
Ain't to proud to plead, baby, baby
Please don't leave me girl, don't you go

Posted by: crank | Feb 28, 2006 6:53:12 PM

Iceman,

How about a cup of hot tea that has lemon, honey and a shot of whiskey in it? And if it doesn't cure you, well, you won't really care.

Posted by: Skipwith | Feb 28, 2006 7:35:33 PM

Iceman, I'd suggest a nice, filling bowl of gumbo. Heavy on the chicken. And a few Abita wheat beers from LA. Then go fall asleep for a nice long nap to Aaron Neville.

Posted by: cathar (8T) | Feb 28, 2006 7:40:23 PM

Interesting items regarding Shrove Tuesday:

Shrove Tuesday
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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A pancakeIn the Christian calendar, Shrove Tuesday is the English name for the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday, which in turn marks the beginning of Lent. In many solidly Roman Catholic countries in Europe and the Americas, this is the last day of Carnival. In some historically Francophone places it is Mardi Gras, French for Fat Tuesday; the most famous Shrove Tuesday celebration is the Brazilian Carnival.

It is also known as Pancake Day or Pancake Tuesday in Britain, Ireland, Australia, and Canada.

The origin of the name Shrove lies in the archaic English verb "to shrive" which means to absolve people of their sins. It was common in the Middle Ages for "shriveners" (priests) to hear people's confessions at this time, to prepare them for Lent.

Contents [hide]
1 Pancake Day
2 Paczki Day
3 The pancake bell
4 Shrove Tuesday in England
5 Dates
6 See also
7 External links

[edit]
Pancake Day

Pancakes with melting butter.In Ireland, Australia, and Canada, Shrove Tuesday is known as Pancake Tuesday, while in Britain it is popularly known as Pancake Day. In both regions the traditional pancake is a very thin one (like a French crêpe) which is served immediately sprinkled with caster sugar (superfine or powdered sugar in the United States) and a dash of fresh lemon juice, a section of an orange, or alternatively drizzled with Golden syrup.

Pancakes are eaten to use up milk and eggs, which are not eaten during Lent and would otherwise spoil during this period. Pancakes first appeared in English cookbooks in the 15th century. In Britain and Ireland in particular, a number of traditions have grown up around the eating of pancakes. Some people in Britain know the day only by the name "Pancake Day" and some are even unaware of the day's connection to Lent.

In recent years, the North American restaurant chain International House of Pancakes has run a "National Pancake Day" promotion; in 2006 patrons were entitled to a free "short stack" of IHOP pancakes.

In the Canadian province of Newfoundland, household objects are baked into the pancakes and served to family members. Rings, thimbles, thread, coins, and other objects all have meanings associated with them. The lucky one to find coins in their pancake will be rich, the finder of the ring will be the first married, and the finder of the thimble will be a seamstress or tailor. Children have great fun with the tradition, and often eat more than their fill of pancakes in search of a desired object.

In Sweden Shrove Tuesday is known, just as in France, as "Fat Tuesday", or Fettisdagen in Swedish. The day is marked by eating traditional Swedish pastry, called Semla. Supposedly, the pastry is only to be eaten on this day but it is seasonally available from New Year until the beginning of Lent.

In Italy, lasagne is a traditional dish for this time of year.

In Iceland the day is known as "Sprengidagur" (Bursting day) and is marked with the eating of salt meat and peas.

In Lithuania it is called Užgavėnės, and many pancakes (blynai), Lithuanian style doughnuts (spurgos) are eaten.

In Estonia (Vastlapäev) and Finland (Laskiainen) , this day has to do with hopes for the coming year. On this day, families go sledding and eat split pea and ham soup. A toy is made from the ham bone by tying the bone to a string and spinning it around to make a whistling noise. In Finland, sweet buns filled with cream or almond paste (similar to the Swedish Semla) are popular on this day. There is a tale told that if you cut your hair on this day, it will grow fast and thick for the next year!

In Pennsylvania it is a Pennsylvania Dutch tradition to eat a type of doughnut called a Fastnacht. The Fastnacht would be made of all the sweets and other forbidden items in the household and then consumed on Fat Tuesday so that one would not be tempted during the Lenten Fast.

[edit]
Paczki Day
In Poland, Pączki are traditionally eaten on Fat Thursday or Tłusty czwartek. However, in areas of Michigan with large Polish communities, they are eaten on "Fat Tuesday" due to French influence.

[edit]
The pancake bell
Pancakes were traditionally allowed to be made between the ringing of a curfew bell in the morning of Shrove Tuesday and its ringing again that evening. Housewives had that time in which to use up all the eggs and fat they had left over. Until the early 1900s, Shrove Tuesday was a half-day holiday, and the "Shriving Bell" was rung at eleven o'clock in the morning to remind people that the holiday had begun. It became known in some parts as the "Pancake Bell", and it is still rung today even though the day is no longer a holiday.

[edit]
Shrove Tuesday in England
A famous pancake race at Olney in Buckinghamshire has been held since 1445. The contestants, traditionally women, carry a frying pan (skillet) and race to the finishing line tossing the pancakes as they go. As the pancakes are thin, some skill is required to toss them successfully while running. The winner is the first to cross the line having tossed the pancake a certain number of times.

In 1634 William Fennor wrote in his Palinodia "And every man and maide doe take their turne, And tosse their Pancakes up for feare they burne." But the tradition of pancake racing had started long before that. The tradition is said to have originated in the town of Olney, England. It is said that in 1445 a housewife from Olney was so busy making pancakes that the curfew bell took her completely by surprise. She ran out of the house to church still carrying the frying pan in her hand.

The Olney race is still held today; in fact, it has now gone international. Since 1950 the people of Liberal, Kansas, USA and Olney have held the "International Pancake Day" race between the two towns. The winner is the first woman to reach the church; she gets a "Kiss of Peace" from the verger there.

Many towns throughout England held traditional Shrove Tuesday football ('Mob Football') games dating as far back as the 12th century. The practice mostly died out with the passing of the 1835 Highways Act, which banned the playing of football on public highways, but a number of towns have managed to maintain the tradition to the present day including Alnwick in Northumberland, Ashbourne in Derbyshire (called the Royal Shrovetide Football Match), Atherstone in Warwickshire,Sedgefield (called the Ball Game) in County Durham, and St Columb Major (called Hurling the Silver Ball) in Cornwall.

Another local tradition, the Pancake Greaze, takes place every year at Westminster School in London. A pancake, reinforced with horsehair, is prepared in advance and on Shrove Tuesday tossed into the air "up School". The boys at the school then attempt to get as much of it as they can.

Posted by: Anne Prince | Feb 28, 2006 7:45:58 PM

I had Star Tavern Pizza for dinner...does that count?

Ice: Feel better m'man!

Posted by: Miss Martta (8T) | Feb 28, 2006 8:45:03 PM

I ate three Entenmann's chocolate frosted donuts and washed them down with a large glass of milk.

Posted by: caris | Feb 28, 2006 8:47:19 PM

Yum - Star Tavern pizza - my fave! Works for me! What is your favorite? I like a well done plain and/or an eggplant.

Posted by: Anne Prince | Feb 28, 2006 8:52:21 PM