Grand View Farm Continues Fastnacht Tradition Kendra Delgato is eager to taste one of the 60 dozen fast nachts that she helped her grandmother and great aunts make. Pasty Kauffman, Arlene Zimmerman, and Helen Schaeffer show off a tray of their scrumptious fastnachts. The trio made 60 dozen to share with friends, neighbors, and family members. Dinner LOU ANN GOOD Lancaster Fanning Staff LANCASTER (Lancaster Co.) It was a dinner fit for the gover nor. Although Gov. Thomas Ridge did not attend the meal given in his honor, he sent his appreciation. About 125 guests also appre ciated the dinner, held last Saturday. The dinner, provided by the Lancaster County Poultry Associ ation, was held at the Water Street Rescue Mission, Lancaster. John Mattilio, president of the association, said that the dinner was given in lieu of presenting gifts to the governor during the State Farm Show. Traditionally all agricultural commodity groups Fit For The present gifts to the governor. But, three years ago, the Poultry Asso ciation decided that sharing food with the needy would be more beneficial than giving poultry pro ducts to an office that is showered with gifts, which are nice but not needed. Providing a meal for the home less and needy through the mis sion, allows the Poultry Associa tion to share its product with a segment of the population who really needs it This year the menu included baked chicken, tossed salad, cooked carrots, macaroni and potato salad, mashed potatoes, fruit salad, ice cream, and beverages. Pennfield Farms donated the LOU ANN GOOD Lancaster Farming Staff WERNERSVELLE (Berks Co.) Tuesday was Fastnacht Day. Some people spell it “fasnachL** Some call it Fat Tuesday or Shrove Tuesday. It’s a traditional annual day set aside by thrifty cooks to use up all their fat and sugar in preparation for the Lenten fast, the 40-day per iod between Ash Wednesday and Easter Sunday. Regardless of what people call the day, most people know it as the day to indulge in eating doughy treats, which are similar to doughnuts. Making fastnachts is an old fam ily tradition for Helen Schaeffer of Wcmersville, her sister Arlene Zimmerman of Fivepointville, and sister-in-law Patsy Kauffman of Rcinholds. Fastnachts vary in taste, but most claim that the original fast nacht was made from mashed potato dough, formed into a holess square, and fried in lard. Because of the work involved, many families have stopped mak ing fastnachts. But every one who has ever tasted a fastnacht wants to continue the tradition of eating them on the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday. For this reason, many commercial bakeries are GUing the slot. Commercially-made fast nachts generally don’t have the same taste and texture of the home made varieties. Although the trio do not share the secret family recipe passed down from an aunt, Helen did say that she thinks theirs taste the best Governor chicken, Turkey Hill Dairy donated the ice cream and bever ages, with the remainder of the items financed by the Poultiy Association. Board members served the din ner. Mattilio said that he is pleased that so many board members come in on a Saturday to serve the meal. Serving the meal this year were Nelson Groff, Roni Clark, Jay Shannon, Carl Rohrer, Dan Heller, Rich Roenigh,' and Dr. John Schwartz. Serving a dinner to the needy doesn’t produce the political clout attached to mingling with those surrounding the governor, but the gesture has its own rewards. “We enjoy helping the com munity,” Mattilio said. Fastnachts vary in taste and appearance, but these are made with mashed potatoes and fried in lard, which is believed to be typical of most old-time festnacht recipes passed down through families. Helen’s day began at 3:50 a.m. After she milked the cows and made a hot breakfast for the family, she tooktime for the traditional fastnacht baking day held in her home. because they arc made with letting the dough rise again before mashed potatoes unlike many deep frying is no easy task, reproductions. She also fries them Helen arose at 3:50 a.m. on in lard, just as generations of cooks Tuesday to milk cows and cook a before her have done. And dips hot breakfast for her family before them in glaze unless requested s h e started working on the fast otherwise. The trio’s fastnachts nacht project. The trio with the also have a hole to make it easier to help of Arlene’s 3-ycar-old grand fry, drain, and dip. daughter Kendra ended up with Mixing up a batch of yeast about 60 dozen fastnachts to pro dough, letting it rise, rolling it out, v ide friends, neighbors, family cutting out the round forms, and to Page B 3) Members of the Lancaster County Poultry Association serve the Governor’s Dinner to patrons at the Water Street Rescue Mission, Lancaster.
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