Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Fastnacht Day......

Fastnacht is German for "Fast Night". It is a yeast raised potato doughnut that the Pennsylvania Dutch eat to celerbrate Shrove Tuesday. I never heard of these until I moved to Berks County 17 years ago and I only grew up 30 minutes away!
The weekend before Ash Wednesday, churches and groups in the area spend 24-48 hours making thousands of these doughnuts!
To eat a Fastnacht the proper Pennsylvania Dutch way, slice it as you would slice a bagel. Spread with butter (optional), plus table syrup such as "Mrs. Schlorer's Turkey Syrup®" or "Golden Barrel Table Syrup®".
Although doughnuts with holes are frequently sold as "Fastnachts" in supermarkets this time of year, those who know their doughnuts will tell you that a real Fastnacht should never have a hole in the center. All the syrup leaks out of a Fastnacht with a hole in it!

I just thought I would share a regional tradition that I find unique. I found a recipe if anyone wants to try them out.

2 cups milk
1 cup mashed potatoes (no salt, milk, or butter added)
1/2 cup sugar + 1/2 tsp. sugar
1 stick margarine
1 packet rapid rise yeast
1/4 cup lukewarm water
6-1/2 cups flour (divided, 2 cups + 4 1/2 cups)
1 egg
1-1/2 tsp. salt
1 can (3 pounds) Crisco® or similar vegetable shortening for frying
Preparation - Scald the milk. In a large mixing bowl, combine the scalded milk with the mashed potatoes. Add 1/2 cup sugar plus the margarine. Mix with an electric mixer. If the mixture is still warm, cool to about room temperature before proceeding with next step. - Dissolve the yeast and 1/2 teaspoon sugar in barely warm water. Add to the potato mixture and mix well. Add 2 cups flour and mix again. Cover with a towel and let rise for 25 minutes.
Add the salt and beaten egg to the mixture. Add 4-1/2 cups flour, stirring it into the mixture with a large spoon. Turn onto a well floured board and knead for about 3 to 5 minutes. Add a small amount of extra flour if necessary so the dough can be handled without sticking to your fingers. Grease a large bowl. Place the dough in the greased bowl. Cover with a thin towel, and let rise in a warm, draft free place for about 2 hours or until it is at least double in size.
On a lightly floured surface, roll the dough 3/4" thick. You can use a doughnut cutter to cut the dough or cut as typical Fastnachts - Cut the dough into 3" to 4" wide strips, then cut the strips into 3" to 4" pieces. To allow the center of Fastnacht to fry completely, cut a small slit in the center of each piece, using a sharp paring knife. Arrange the pieces of dough, about 1-1/2" to 2" apart, on large wax paper lined trays. Cover each tray with a thin towel. Place the trays in a warm place for 45 minutes to an hour, or until the dough pieces have raised to about double in size. (In the picture on the right, the dough has raised sufficiently and the doughnuts are ready to fry.)
Heat the shortening to 365ยบ. Deep fry until both sides are golden brown, turning one time. Drain on white paper towels. Cool completely before serving. Store in a covered, airtight container.
Makes about 20 to 24 Fastnachts, depending on size. This recipe can be doubled with no change in preparation directions.
To use this raised doughnut recipe, for glazed doughnuts:Beat together: 2-1/2 cups confectioners' sugar, 4 tablespoons margarine and 1 teaspoon vanilla. Add enough milk to make a thin glaze. Drizzle the glaze over the slightly warm doughnuts or dip the doughnuts in the glaze.
For powdered doughnuts:Shake slightly warm doughnuts in a bag with confectioners' sugar, or a combination of confectioners' sugar and cinnamon.

*recipe courtesy of Sandy Moyer


2 comments:

Unknown said...

looks great, it seems every country and culture celebrates Mardi Gras. Love that!

Heather said...

Now that is a real fastnacht!!! You should see what these Lancaster Countians try to pass off as fastnachts. My grandmother would turn over in her grave!!! Yours look delicious. I made them one year (my parents used to make them a lot when we were kids), and holy crap are they a lot of work. Well worth the end result, but you really need several days to get it right. Kudos, Bridge!!!