Bubenschenkel

(St. Blaise Fry Bread)

February 3: Feast Day of St. Blaise

Catholics seem to have strange customs, such as the Blessing of the Throats on the Feast Day of St. Blaise. But this tradition of praying for one’s health during wintry weather has only good intentions. The food associated with St. Blaise, bubenschenkel (German for “boy’s thighs”), however, is even stranger. The fried, puffy bread looks like shorts, a summer clothing.  Whatever the season or ritual reason, it is still a fun experience to get your throat blessed and eat bubenschenkel in honor of St. Blaise.

Recipe

(Adapted from Cooking with the Saints by Ernst Schuegraf)

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon active dry yeast
• ¼ cup warm water
• 1 cup milk, scalded and cooled
• 2 tablespoons butter, melted
• pinch of sugar
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 3 eggs
• 6 cups flour
• oil for frying

Directions

Dissolve the yeast in water. Set aside. In a mixer with the dough hook attached, place the milk, melted butter, sugar, salt, eggs and flour. Pour in the dissolved  yeast. Mix until a dough is formed. Transfer to a bowl, cover and place in a warm oven and let the dough double in size for about an hour.

Roll out the dough on a clean and slightly floured surface to ½-inch thick. Cut into 2- by 4-inch rectangles. Make a slit in the middle to resemble “shorts.”

Let the bubenschenkel rise for another 15 minutes in the oven. Deep fry in hot oil until golden brown. Drain on paper towels. Yield: Approximately 18 pieces.

Notes

• In the iconography of St. Blaise, he is often associated with a pair of candles, traditionally those made of beeswax and crossed. There are fancier versions of St. Blaise candles available for the Blessing of the Throats ceremony. Candles are popular around this time of the year, especially during the week of Candlemas.
• Bubenschenkel is a bland bread. Serve with honey or as a side dish.