Volunteers from St. Nicholas Roman Catholic Church in Walnutport won’t be cutting any corners when they whip up potato pancakes for the upcoming Palmerton Community Festival.

“We’ll be making them from scratch,” according to Marion Nihen. “They are going to be homemade.”

Church members will wash, peel and grate the potatoes. They’ll add other ingredients to make a batter, which will be fried in hot oil.

“We are following an old family, Polish recipe,” Nihen said.

Based on experience, she believes they will be a popular item.

“I’ve been to churches where they line up for blocks” for potato pancakes, Nihen said.

And given their popularity, she said, the church will purchase “pounds and pounds and pounds” of spuds.

The church recently had a trial run, during which volunteers prepared the batter and fried the pancakes to crispy perfection. They even brought a tent to mimic the layout they will have at the weekend festival, Nihen noted.

The potato pancakes — or bleenies, as some call them — will be served plain, or with the option of sour cream or applesauce.

“We are very excited,” Nihen said. “This is a wonderful community event.”

Proceeds will help with church repairs.