What do Michiganders, Poles, Palestinians, Israelis, Ukrainians, Russians, Iranians, and Hungarians all have in common besides their. shared humanity?

You got it! Deep-fried balls of dough, filled with jam and topped with sugar which they gobble down at special holiday times of the year. They are called, among other names: Pączki, Awwami Sufganiya, Pampushky, Pishki, Pirashki, Farsang Fánk and Gefullte Krapfen. My favorite, of course, is Gefullte Krapfen (the great, great, great grandmother of Pączki).

Gefulltal Krapfen have a long, long history.“Gil Marks, in his “Encyclopedia of Jewish Food,” dates the first modern sufganiya [filled deep-fried dough balls] to 1485, when a recipe for gefullte krapfen [filled deep-fried dough balls] appeared in “Kuckenmeisterei (Mastery in the Kitchen),” possibly the first published cookbook, printed on Gutenberg’s original printing press.” Brackets and bold Italics are mine. https://www.atlantajewishtimes.com/the-not-so-secret-jewish-history-of-the-jelly-doughnut/# It was not only likely the first published cookbook, it was in print from 1485 to at least 1674 in 20 editions!! and translated into Polish in 1532 . Top that Bonnie Jo Campbell.

But who needs a cook book. This amazing Iranian woman makes them sitting on a beautiful carpet without spilling a drop of milk, or splashing any hot oil, or even losing any dusting flour. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l240HXq3WMQ

Back to business. Pączki Practice Day is Saturday, February 3rd. Yes, this coming Saturday. Because we only make them once a year and in huge batches, we need to practice the logistics for the big day. And it doesn’t work just to make a little batch so we will be making lots of them. Because we will be practicing, it is only fair that you get a bargain, ergo they will cost $1.50 ea, 25% off the regular price of $2.00 ea.! Please place orders asap!

Next comes Secret Surprise Sunday. Now it wouldn’t be a surprise if I told you what the surprise is would it?

And next of course there is Pączki Day, Tuesday, February 13th! The day of light, yeasted, deep-fried dough balls flavored with butter, eggs and rum, and filled with fruit and custard fillings. We will have the following fillings available.

Apricot
Blueberry
Cherry
Chocolate
Lemon Custard
Prune
Raspberry
Rum Custard
Unfilled

The most important thing is that you place your order ahead. It really helps us plan. In the past we have run out of over-the-counter Pączki by 10 am. If you place an order you don’t have to worry about getting here early. We will hold your order. We will not take phone orders on Pączki Day,

And don't forget, on Sundays we have all of our regular food plus brunch specials. This Sunday we will be featuring Biscuits and Gravy (a mushroom version and a meat version) as well as Sarkozy Egg Nests. For egg nests we put an egg on top of one of what we call an Everything Bagel Croissant. To make that, we top our cream cheese nest made out of croissant dough with “everything”e.g. Poppy, Sesame, and Black Sesame seeds plus dried garlic and onion, plus salt, just like a bagel. The we serve it warm with an egg on top (runny or firm).

As we do every year, we celebrate our anniversary month by bringing back BUTTER CREAM DOUGHNUTS. Get your fix now, you won’t see them again until February 2025!

Lastly, but very importantly, we have some wonderful music lined up for the next few of months. These all take place between 11 am and 1 pm on Sundays.

Feb 28th, Mar 24th, Apr 28th

Living Room Musicians: Ginny Barnaby, Hammered Dulcimer, Jenifer Miller, Recorder and guitar,, and Steve and Mo (I am terribly embarrassed that I don’t have their last name) on various Percussive Things. Always fun, creative and interesting!!Don’t miss them! They have played at the bakery for many years and we always enjoy them!

Feb 4th, Feb 11th

David Carambula: Acoustic guitar, folk/jazz/noodling. He’s a really good guitar player who is too modest. He calls it noodling, I call it some fine guitar playing.

Feb 18th, Mar 10th, Apr 21st, May 19th

High Blue Sky: which is comprised of James Burkett (guitar, mandolin, harmonica) and Karen McKenzie Vosburg (baritone ukulele and percussion).They have played all over Southwest Michigan. We are delighted that they play at the bakery every month.

Pączki and Gutenberg