1- First off, they're delicious. Mostly because their deep fried dough balls filled with some arrangement of sugar. Filling flavors vary from fruit to custard. Unless you're a hipster, their rose hip infused Packzi are the just the tip of the new age iceberg. They're also traditionally topped with powdered sugar or icing. But the secret ingredient however is spiritus. That's right, your paczki are drunk on whiskey to keep them light and fluffy!
2 - Paczki is actually the plural form. Paczek is the singular form for the "doughnut" or "little package". (How cute is that?!) Furthermore, the word "paczkis" should never exist!
3 - Paczki have been around since the Middle Ages. At that point they were savory and filled with animal lard. The French advanced the recipe. But it was the Polish that made them what we love today. Funny thing about that is, they made them light, sweet and decadent as a prevention for waste during the lent season.
4 - Lovers have made a sport of it. Like many other beloved foods, there have been paczki eating contests. The record is currently held by a Hamtramack man, Don Gentile, who ate 22 paczki in 10 mins. If that doesn't turn your stomach, think about the 11,000 calorie count!!!
5 - Packzi Day is more popular than you'd think. From the outside, where maybe you haven't heard of this holiday, it seems rare. However, Detroit, Boston, Buffalo, Cleveland, Milwaukee and Windsor are just some of the mid west cities that celebrate by the thousands. Chicago loves paczki so much they celebrate Fat Tuesday and the more traditional Polish Fat Thursday with festivals!
If you are unfortunate enough to not live in a paczki populated area here's But Bobby Flay's recipe for you: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/bobby-flay/polish-pre-lenten-jelly-doughnuts-paczki-recipe.html#!
But, if you can, find a bakery because the professionals are simply magic!
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