Bridget Tuzik carefully balances trays of custard with chocolate frosting paczkis replacing an empty with a fresh one at Tuzik's Bakery in Oak Lawn, Illinois, Tuesday, February, 21, 2012. | Joseph P. Meier~Sun-Times Media

Strawberry paczkis are seen at Tuzik's Bakery in Oak Lawn, Illinois, Tuesday, February, 21, 2012. | Joseph P. Meier~Sun-Times Media

Mary Tuzik (left) and Renee Anderson work the cash register as Phil Dote, of Chicago, picks up his order of paczkis at Tuzik's Bakery in Oak Lawn, Illinois, Tuesday, February, 21, 2012. | Joseph P. Meier~Sun-Times Media

Mary Raczka, of Burbank, reads off her list for her paczki order at Tuzik's Bakery in Oak Lawn, Illinois, Tuesday, February, 21, 2012. | Joseph P. Meier~Sun-Times Media

Mary Raczka, of Burbank, reads off her list for her paczki order at Tuzik's Bakery in Oak Lawn, Illinois, Tuesday, February, 21, 2012. | Joseph P. Meier~Sun-Times Media

Paulina Pancerovaite looks for a customer's paczki order in a stack of them in the front window at Tuzik's Bakery in Oak Lawn, Illinois, Tuesday, February, 21, 2012. | Joseph P. Meier~Sun-Times Media

Renee Anderson carries a fresh tray of paczkis out to the display cases at Tuzik's Bakery in Oak Lawn, Illinois, Tuesday, February, 21, 2012. | Joseph P. Meier~Sun-Times Media

Mary Tuzik waits at the counter during a surprising lull in customer traffic at 7 a.m. at Tuzik's Bakery in Oak Lawn, Illinois, Tuesday, February, 21, 2012. | Joseph P. Meier~Sun-Times Media

Zofia Bonder deep fries the paczkis at Witek Bakery in Palos Hills. | Joseph P. Meier~Sun-Times Media

A tray of paczkis wait to be dipped in the frier while Zofia Bonder deep fries another batch of paczkis at Witek Bakery in Palos Hills. | Joseph P. Meier~Sun-Times Media

Zofia Bonder turns the paczkis in the deep fryer at Witek Bakery in Palos Hills. | Joseph P. Meier~Sun-Times Media

Zofia Bonder turns the paczkis in the deep frier at Witek Bakery in Palos Hills. | Joseph P. Meier~Sun-Times Media

Zofia Bonder dips the paczkis in icing at Witek Bakery in Palos Hills. | Joseph P. Meier~Sun-Times Media

Bridget Tuzik carefully balances trays of paczkis as she swaps out an empty tray for a full one Tuesday, February 21, 2012 at Tuzik’s Bakery in Oak Lawn. | Joseph P. Meier~Sun-Times Media

Employee Tammi Buttrum carries a tray of paczkis (pronouced punchkis) to a bakery display case Tuesday morning at Herb's Bakery in Elgin. The traditional Polish doughtnut is sold on Tuesday before Lent. | Michael Smart~Sun-Times Media

Herb's Bakery in Elgin offered a number of paczkis, with flavors for everyone. | Michael Smart~Sun-Times Media

Jeff Turner of Elgin can't wait to sink his teeth into a prune paczki while picking up an order of the Polish delights Tuesday morning at Herb's Bakery in Elgin. | Michael Smart~Sun-Times Media

"I got to have my paczkis," said Susan Michalec of St. Charles said as she picks up a box of the pastries at Herb's Bakery in Elgin Tuesday. Michalec has come to the local bakery for 10 years for the traditional treat. | Michael Smart~Sun-Times Media

A blueberry paczki is selected from the bakery display case Tuesday at Herb's Bakery in Elgin. | Michael Smart~Sun-Times Media

Beth Farkas (left) of Elgin selects a few of the paczkis from a bakery case as Wendy Wessel grabs them for her Tuesday at Herb's Bakery in Elgin. | Michael Smart~Sun-Times Media

Herb's Bakery on Larkin Avenue in Elgin is one of the few bakeries in the area that sells paczkis. | Michael Smart~Sun-Times Media

Some of the paczkis remaining after a busy Tuesday morning at Herb's Bakery in Elgin. | Michael Smart~Sun-Times Media

John Early of Elgin walks out with box and a bag of paczkis Tuesday morning at Herb's Bakery in Elgin. | Michael Smart~Sun-Times Media

Arelene Wilus helps to fill an order of Paczkis at Pticek & Son Bakery 5523 s Narragansett. Tuesday, February 21, 2012 | Brian Jackson~Sun-Times

A rack of Strawberry, Apple and Cherry Paczkis being sold at Pticek & Son Bakery 5523 s Narragansett, February 21, 2012 | Brian Jackson~Sun-Times

Strawberry & Whipped Cream Paczkis being sold at Pticek & Son Bakery 5523 s Narragansett. Tuesday, February 21, 2012 | Brian Jackson~Sun-Times

Vanessa and Cindy Radek help to fill an orders of Paczkis at Pticek & Son Bakery 5523 s Narragansett. Tuesday, February 21, 2012 | Brian Jackson~Sun-Times

Customers waiting to buy Paczkis at Pticek & Son Bakery 5523 s Narragansett. Tuesday, February 21, 2012 | Brian Jackson~Sun-Times

Customers waiting to buy Paczkis at Pticek & Son Bakery 5523 s Narragansett. Tuesday, February 21, 2012 | Brian Jackson~Sun-Times

Nadia Sarmienco helps to fill an order of Paczkis at Pticek & Son Bakery 5523 s Narragansett. Tuesday, February 21, 2012 | Brian Jackson~Sun-Times

Paczkis being sold at Pticek & Son Bakery 5523 s Narragansett. Tuesday, February 21, 2012 | Brian Jackson~Sun-Times

After buying some Paczkis, Jane Schafer leaves Pticek & Son Bakery 5523 s Narragansett. Tuesday, February 21, 2012 | Brian Jackson~Sun-Times

Apple Paczkis being sold at Pticek & Son Bakery 5523 s Narragansett, February 21, 2012 | Brian Jackson~Sun-Times

Customers waiting to buy Paczkis at Pticek & Son Bakery 5523 s Narragansett, February 21, 2012 | Brian Jackson~Sun-Times

Chocolate Custard Paczkis being sold at Pticek & Son Bakery 5523 s Narragansett, February 21, 2012 | Brian Jackson~Sun-Times

Almond, Strawberry and Blueberry Paczkis being sold at Pticek & Son Bakery 5523 s Narragansett. Tuesday, February 21, 2012 | Brian Jackson~Sun-Times

Cindy Radek helps to fill an orders of Paczkis at Pticek & Son Bakery 5523 s Narragansett. Tuesday, February 21, 2012 | Brian Jackson~Sun-Times

Antionette DeWitt replaces a tray of Chocolate Paczkis at Pticek & Son Bakery 5523 s Narragansett. Tuesday, February 21, 2012 | Brian Jackson~Sun-Times

Pre-paid ordres of Paczkis waiting to be picked up at Pticek & Son Bakery 5523 s Narragansett. Tuesday, February 21, 2012 | Brian Jackson~Sun-Times

Chocolate Custard Paczkis being sold at Pticek & Son Bakery 5523 s Narragansett. Tuesday, February 21, 2012 | Brian Jackson~Sun-Times