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Mia, you expressed beautifully the heartbreak of Ukraine and sensitivity in this time of global crisis. Thank you for your words.

Paczki Day here in Chicago is a big deal, I’ve got my ‘haul’ :) I’m planning to mention it after-the-fact on Friday and I will link to your newsletter. 💙💛

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Thanks, Jolene. Ukrainians are proving their resilience to the world, but at a great cost.

I first learned about Pazcki Day while working outside Detroit, but after marrying a Chicagoan of 100% Polish decent we would get our annual fill of rosehip and plum Pazcki from Gene’s when we lived in Chicago.

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Ahh, I didn’t realized you’d lived here! (Or about your husband’s roots) and, yes: the resilience, but at such cost.

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Yep, 10 years in Chicago between Lakeview, Logan Square and Lincoln Square before heading to Ukraine in 2016. One more reason I love your newsletters, a little connection to Chicago!

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Oh, that makes me happy to hear! Sending warm thoughts from Chicago to you and your husband :)

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Hey Mia, my inbox was very happy to see you today! I was talking about Paczki with a foodie friend from Florida just the other day, and were wondering how deep is the connection wit regular American doughnuts? Also, we have bomboloni in Italy that look very similar!

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That's a good question! Paczki and their savory cousin pirozhki (arguably even more delicious), have a murky written history similar to many foods in Eastern Europe. The crepe is another good example. Did they arrive as part of the far reaching influence of the French Revolution? Or was it part of a Jewish tradition that adopted some European elements and gained a wider audience? Hard to say.

Paczki are generally more eggy and milky, closer to deep-fried brioche than the standard yeast glaze you find mass produced here. If you're seeking them out, plum is my favorite!

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