more lenten thoughts...

I discussed the concept of Lent in an earlier post. I wrote of fasting and contemplation.  This post is a little different.  The lighter (and tastier) side of Lent - In fact, my two favorite results of Lent...

1) Waffles!  Did you know waffles are a product of the Lenten fast?  The root of the word "waffle" is the same as the word "wafer". 

Several hundred years ago in Europe, good, God-fearing Christians would fast food during Lent. No food at all... with one exception.  When they partook in The Lord's Supper or communion, they were allowed to eat the "host" or the wafer that the priest gave them.  Soon, people realized that it was okay to eat wafers everyday - in communion with Christ of course!  As this trend progressed through the years, wafer makers and bakers started producing bigger and bigger wafers to help curb the parishioners hunger as the days drew on until Easter.

Soon, wafers evolved into "eggy", leavened treats (as opposed to the dry, tasteless, unleavened wafers you got at the church). They were tasty, malty and covered with powdered sugar.  The ultimate Lenten loophole!

2) Bock/Dark Beer.  Monks in Germany, Austria and Czechoslovakia had an epiphany of their own.  This was not necessarily a "holy epiphany", but it was most definitely inspired (and involved spirits)!  During Lent, hard-working Christians began losing energy.  No protein, no carbs, no "nothing"!   And while they were forbidden to eat during the ritual fast (except the wafer on Sundays), they could still drink an assortment of beverages. These groups of monks started brewing heartier beers. They brewed with more malt and darker roasted barley.  This produced a drink that was darker in color and deeper in taste. The primary result, though, was that these beers, though low in alcohol (about 3-3.5%) they were fortified with almost double the carbohydrates.  It was tasty, it was refreshing and it was good for you! 

It became common for people to imbibe regularly during the day. The masses became more productive and Brothers of those orders became what we would call today micro-brew artisans.

Bock Beer and Waffles... Happy Lenten fasting to us all!