St. Peter’s Bake Sale just in time for Easter

MANSFIELD, Ohio–The oldest and largest Easter Bake Sale in the Mansfield area is scheduled to again this year at St. Peter’s Parish. The sale began on Tuesday and continues Wednesday, April 1, 7 a.m.-1 p.m. in the basement of the church.

Under the guidance of Ann Brown, her mother Jenny Wala and good friend Molly Orsini, this annual event just keeps growing. Preparations begin weeks in advance. An “army” of hardworking, generous people from all faiths helps with the endeavor. The traditions continue to provide goodies for Easter baskets and feasts.

In addition to manpower, what does it take to make this happen? Over 700 pounds of organic flour, 200 pounds of walnuts, sugars from Amish country, and multiple other ingredients go into making about 500 poticas (a Slovak nut-filled pastry that is very popular and sells out at both Christmas and Easter Bake sales), 220 braided breads, and 220 butter rings—all of these traditional favorites.

Over 275 pounds of chocolate goes into making delectable candy confections. Chocolate covered pretzels, nut clusters, peanut butter crackers, and over 1,100 chocolate-covered cream eggs in maple, peanut butter, and coconut flavors, along with turtle candies, and decorative molded candies all make delicious additions to those Easter baskets for young and old.

Do you like cabbage rolls? Over 3,000 cabbage rolls made the traditional Slovak way with cabbage-sauerkraut-tomato sauce and the perennial favorite—cabbage and noodles—will probably sell out again. Many stock their freezers for many meals of these delicious cabbage rolls which keep getting better as they age.

More than 250 pounds of potatoes go into the potato salad with its distinctive dressing. The 400 dozen eggs will either be colored for Easter baskets, made into beet and eggs, or made into egg salad made with the special dressing that parishioner Joannie Malaska has made for years.

And if anyone gets hungry while shopping for all these goodies, lunch is served (11 a.m.-1:30 p.m.) and features cabbage rolls with bread, the famous broccoli soup, cabbage and noodles, sloppy joes, shredded chicken sandwiches, egg and potato salads, hot dogs, drinks, and free coffee. If the volunteer workers are still standing after this exhausting work, they might even whip up some of their famous cherry cheesecake.

In addition to the goodies the committee makes, the Bake Sale features hundreds of cookies, cakes, pies, pizzelles, baklava, breads, noodles, and other wonderful home baked goods made by a myriad of great bakers from St. Peter’s Parish and community.

This special event financially supports a great cause—all those things used in the church’s worship celebrations (hosts, wine, candles, etc.).