Lent 2014-observing an observance.

mmm-yoso!!! is a food blog and usually Kirk, Ed(from Yuma) or Cathy write posts about food.  Today, Kirk has been busy, Ed (from Yuma) has also been busy, so Cathy is writing a post to keep you interested in stopping by to read the blog.

This is an untimely post, since Lent (a solemn religious observance) is over and we are officially in the 'Easter Season', observed by Christians. However, I'd like to share my 2014 Lent observance, either as a prep for next year, or possibly inspiration for a snack you may choose sometime this year, since a part of the religious observance has to do with fasting/self denial/giving up certain luxuries. It's not like a New Year Resolution where you change habits forever, but merely have some discipline for 4o days, from Ash Wednesday until Easter Sunday.

Lent officially begins the day after Fat Tuesday, which, you may recall is a day of overindulgence.  When I grew up (in Detroit), the local bakeries used this day to overstock (and use up) sugar, fat and jelly...it's called Pączki Day...

 

Paczki are basically jelly donuts.  You can find them everywhere on Fat Tuesday.  

Above is a photo taken on Fat Tuesday in the break room at the office where my brother works (in a suburb of Detroit).  Every  one of those boxes contains paczki.

To assist you in avoiding some of your indulgences, when Lent begins, most bakeries begin selling Hot Cross Buns, which are sweet, but not covered in glaze and instead topped with a bit of icing in a cross shape,

and filled with bits of dried fruit. The buns are baked, not fried. 

Anyhow, as part of my bit of self denial, I gave up my newest craving, Butterfinger Peanut Butter Cups, (which are incredibly wonderful, and the first new candy by Nestle in four years).

In addition, another way that Catholics in particular observe Lent is "no meat on Friday", which does NOT mean eating vegetarian...it means you can eat seafood but not beef, pork or chicken.  {You may have noticed, during your entire lifetime, that everywhere the soup of the day on Friday seems to be clam chowder. That's part of most restaurateurs acknowledgement of observant Catholics}.  

You may have noticed many fast food restaurants offering fish sandwiches as an option beginning in March this year.  

The Jack in the Box fish filet sandwiches (which were sold for $1.50 on Fridays only and regularly $3.20 the rest of the week) are quite large, trapezoidal in shape, served on a toasted bun with lettuce and tartar sauce. It's a great, moist fish piece with a crispy exterior. 

Arby's (the Roast beef place) offered their Big Reel fish sandwich at two for $5 every day and it was served on a toasted sesame seeded bun. The shape-an elongated trapezoid (quite large as you can see) and the fish is particularly flaky and moist. This was  also topped with lettuce and tartar sauce.

Beef n Bun always has fried fish on their menu (a 'tub of fish' (12 pieces)is $22). The sandwich ($3.59), served on that wonderful soft toasted bun with lettuce and tartar sauce. The fish here has a light and very crispy beer batter, similar to the batter used on the zucchini.

Of course, there are other 'no meat' meals I enjoyed. The fried tofu from Tapioca Express ($3.25), comes with a choice of dipping sauce as well as heat level of spicy powder. It's an easy and satisfying snack.

At many Vietnamese restaurants, you can order Bun Dau Hu Chien with Cha Gio Chay-cold noodles on top of salad topped with fried tofu and tofu egg rolls. Above is one of my favorite versions, from Pho Ca Do 

Another favorite Vietnamese Bun item (also from Pho Ca Do) is Bun Tau Hu Ky- cold noodle salad topped with crispy fried tofu sheets stuffed with shrimp paste. It's a favorite all year, not just during Lent.  

One day during Lent, my brother was here on a business trip and we met at Sam Woo, choosing the salt and pepper fried squid (in the back) and the shrimp with glazed walnuts in the center (the wontons-front right- had pork and shrimp as the filling). 

I would be remiss to not include my favorite fast food fish filet sandwich, the decades old offering from McDonalds:Filet-O-Fish, which were offered for $1.50 on Fridays throughout Lent (and are about $4 every other day of the week all year) and still offered at that price on Fridays all year at some locations(look for signage). A soft steamed bun topped with a crispy fried square shaped fish patty, slice of cheese and tartar sauce.  

A few other fast food restaurants also offered fish sandwiches which I enjoyed, notably Wendys and Carl's Jr. (not breaded/fried, both offer grilled fish sandwiches).  I'll find those photos someday.

I hope everyone is having a good week; it's half over!

 

Comments

[Faye]

OMG what a great round up! Thank you! I'm a HUGE fan of the McD fish o filet but cannot believe it's normal $4 sticker price. I keep forgetting about their Fri deal on this thing so thank you for reminding me. I've never had a
Paczki - can you recommend a place here in SD that sells a nice version of one?

[caninecologne]

This is a great post Cathy! Thanks for putting in the history behind this tradition as well. I've not tried hot cross buns yet.

As for paczkis, i think jelly donuts are pretty common and easy to find, so Faye, take your pick of donut shops all over SD. if you want a gourmet one, just go to those hipster donut joints.

[Food detective]

I read about paczkis. Always wanted to try them. Never had filet of fish but that catchy commercial song will bring me to Mickey d's this Friday.

[Cathy]

Thanks so much, Faye. It's not Lent now, so you may have to ask if they have the special Friday price ( I know the McDonalds inside the Santee Walmart does). The donuts in the photo are from Mary's in Santee; wherever you go, just ask for a raspberry jelly donut that is glazed, not covered in powdered sugar- it will be close in flavor- even those from Krispy Kreme.
Thanks, cc. Sprouts, Ralphs and Vons were selling Hot Cross Buns this year. I look forward to Lent, because the HCBs are sort of like Panettone and remind me of Christmas. I wanted to write more about it during Lent, but was kind of busy.
Oh, you'll like the soft white bread/cheese/hot filet crunch, TFD. Ask first (or look overhead for a hanging sign bubble) if the McD's you are at has the special Friday price; it's good, but small. Mary's in Santee would be a good place for you to stop for a jelly donut (as well as a cruller and maybe some tiny filled donut holes) when you are visiting.

[nhbilly]

Arby's and Wendys fish sandwiches are my favorite so far. Now if Arby's can just do fish and chips right. Butter finger FTW!

[J.S. @ Sun Diego Eats]

Interesting to know about the paczkis, its always cool to learn how in random parts of the US there is still a heavy influence in food and sometimes in traditions too of European ancestry like Norwegian food in Texas and I guess Polish in Detroit!

[Soo]

Great Lent documentary! It would be tempting just to eat jelly donuts that day. :-)

[Cathy]

Both of those places offer very large fish pieces, Bill. I miss being able to get fish and chips everywhere. You have to find those Butterfinger Peanut Butter cups- try one 'straight', but then put the others in the fridge before eating...salty sweet crispy goodness!
Detroit had more Polish than Chicago for decades, J.S.. The generations and traditions have remained, but spread out. The streets are a grid system and 3 of the 4 corners were almost always businesses: barbers, shoe repair, small grocers, candy stores, bars, meat markets (with a smokehouse in the back, for kielbasa) and bakeries. There were three bakeries within five blocks of our home.
Thanks, Soo. It's our own version of debauchery...not at all on the New Orleans level, but with the same general idea.