Fastenwähe

The Fastenwähe is a pastry we get to enjoy only around this
time of year.
To translate this word, it should mean fasting pastry, but it has ab-
solutely nothing to do with religion.
The Fastenwähe made it's very first appearance way back in the year
1554, not in Basel, but in the Aargauischen Rheinfelden (German border)
It was known as a luxury pastry and eaten only by the rich.
This pastry is also similar to the Früchte und Käsewähe (fruit & cheese)
which originates from Elsass, France, dating back to the 18th Century.

Today, it is an inexpensive pastry that can be bought and enjoyed by
everyone, and not only by the rich.

As soon as I spot this pastry - sprinkled with just a teensy bit
of aniseed - either in the Baker's window or in the local Super-
market, I'll be first in line to buy the pastry with the strange form .
Simply because it tastes soo good!