Fat Tuesday

Time is speeding by this year and I find it hard to believe that Lent is already upon us!

We celebrated Fat Tuesday this year in due fashion with fried food, sugar, and cheese. The old custom was to rid the pantry or kitchen of all the food which was to be given up for Lent, and we made a valiant effort. Originally this meant all meat, butter, and eggs had to go. For us, it meant making banana bread with the last of the chocolate chips from the freezer, baking the last box of brownies from the cupboard and smearing it with the leftover birthday frosting from the fridge, and making FRITTERS.

I can't think of fritters without a stir of excitement. I have fond childhood memories of my Grandma Mahoney standing over a pan of sizzling oil turning littles balls of homemade bread dough. My poor Mom was probably harrassed by me more than I can recall to make fritters every time she made bread. She made them just often enough that they remained a special treat. The smell of fried dough, the crunch of the golden crust, and grinning sugar-caked lips evoke nostalgia for my own childhood.

I cheated this year and used frozen bread dough that I had thawed. I formed the dough into 1 inch balls and plopped them into hot oil. The balls expand as they cook, making them about the size of donut holes. From the pan they were placed in a bowl of sugar and tossed. After the feasting I spent the next hour scrubbing sugar off of the table, chairs, and floor! It was a sugarpocalypse.

Eli was off work, and came home from running errands with a Hodge Podge box and a bag of burgers from The Hideaway--more fried food! For those who haven't been introduced to the wonder that is a Hodge Podge, it's a pile of deep fat fried potato wedges, fries, breaded cheese balls, onion rings, breaded mushrooms and cheese cauliflower. It's the sampler platter of Midwest bar food. We indulge about once a year and get a box to go. 

I'm not sure anyone noticed when we skipped supper. As it was, there was a sense of relief in the anticipation of Ash Wednesday the next day and opportunity for our guts to heal. We spent the afternoon fine-tuning Lenten lists and wrapping up homework.