Fausnaughts...

Or as I like to call them, lard donuts fried in fat. Did I mention they are then doused with an insane amount of sugar? Welcome to our yearly lent kickoff.

A few years ago I took the opportunity to stand by the side of my grandmother and learn how to make her coveted sugar donuts. I took careful note of every step and ingredient, then lodged all that information into my brain and swore never to share this recipe with anyone. But these donuts are too good not to share. So instead of sharing the recipe, I share the donuts...once a year, somewhere near the beginning of lent. Although traditionally this event would take place on Fat Tuesday, we do it on a Sunday since it takes me roughly 6 hours to get these babies ready.

This year I started around 6:30 am and by 1:00pm had 58 precious fausnaughts, countless holes, and at least 3 pots of coffee ready for eager eaters.

Every year I get very nervous for two reasons. First, I panic that the yeast won't rise and I'll have to serve Dunkin' Donuts instead. Secondly, I worry about the number of people that cram into our very tiny house. Even though guests are literally standing in corners for hours, no one really seems to care. I guess I wouldn't either as long as I was shoving donuts in my face all day.

Every year our friend Schaeffer seems to out eat everyone. So this year we hung up a tally sheet so everyone could boast about their gluttony. Despite valiant efforts, Schaeffer still won with a whopping four fausnaughts and three holes. However maybe even more impressive was Zac's four cups of coffee. Do we all see what is happening here? We have roughly 20 adults and children in our household getting freakishly jacked up on sugar and caffeine. Schaeffer wanted to know what his prize would be and I suggested perhaps a bottle of wine to take home to help him fall asleep. He kindly requested a take home diabetes testing kit.

I'm not sure if we've truly captured the spirit of lent here or merely created an excuse to get together with friends and "out do" things that really shouldn't be out done. Regardless, one of two things has happened. We've celebrated Fat Tuesday exactly as it was intended. Or my fausnaught-making ancestors are turning in their graves.