Variants of the poppy seed cake served as a Christmas dessert in different countries
Poppy seed roll is a cake which is famous in Central and Eastern Europe, where it is commonly eaten during Christmas and Easter time. It is considered traditional in several…
Blini as the symbol of the sun for early East Slavic people | Recipe for Eastern European pancakes
What are blini? Blini (you may also encounter the spelling bliny, as in Polish) (Russian: блины) or blin (the singular form) are Eastern European, or arguably Russian pancakes. They are traditionally made from wheat or buckwheat flour and…
The must-eat Christmas dish in Poland: barszcz z uszkami aka beetroot broth with “small ears”
What is barszcz z uszkami? Barszcz z uszkami, aka Christmas beetroot broth, is a savory, lightly sour soup that was usually prepared once a year in every Polish house. Traditionally,…
The drug seed that won’t drug you: Poppy Seed Roll aka Makowiec
What and where? The poppy seed roll is a pastry which consists of a roll of sweet yeast bread with rich, dense, and bittersweet filling of poppy seeds. It is…
The backbone of the Polish Christmas Cuisine | Origin and recipe for Ryba po grecku
What is ryba po grecku? Ryba po grecku is a dish known in Poland possibly based on Greek Psari Plaki. It is typically served cold and is prepared from fried…
When consuming mushrooms is not dangerous: recipes for Fried Parasol Mushroom and Tripe with Cauliflower Mushroom
Parasol mushroom (Polish: kania czubajka) The parasol mushroom (or if you want a more scientific name – Macrolepiota procera) is a fungus with a prominent and large “hat”. It grows…
Autumn cuisine | The history of Thanksgiving Pumpkin Pie and a recipe for Spicy Pumpkin Soup
This week, the aroma of baking pumpkins for pies and soups is drifting out from ovens all across the United States. Pumpkin pies are eagerly anticipated at the end of…
Although Lithuanian, still Polish | History and recipe for the chłodnik litewski aka cold beet soup
Chłodnik litewski is the traditional and refreshing Polish cold soup, which is a delicious promise of relief during the warm days of late spring and summer. This cold beet soup…
The Polish tradition of mushroom picking | A recipe for the Christmas Mushroom Soup
From gentry custom to modern relaxation technique When summer comes to its inevitable end, the Polish start foraging for mushrooms. September, October and November in Poland are filled with various…
Highland robber potato pancake aka placek po zbójnicku | Controversial origin and recipe
Highlander’s style – simple but tasty Life in the mountains is a tough nut to crack, thus to obtain ingredients or spices was not a simple task. Therefore, highlander’s cuisine…