Putting together a cookbook during a global pandemic wasn’t as easy as you might think. True, I had enough time for writing and testing recipes. I spent hours in the kitchen, and I didn’t complain. Quite the oppostite, it was relaxing, sort of therapeautic. Doing online research was less fun, because we were all overloaded with Zooming, Team meetings or Skypeing.

Yes, we all missed face-to-face interactions. With lockdowns, travel restrictions and all social events cancelled, it was also hard to arrange for photo shoots, some of which were essential for the book. Those that I didn’t manage to do before the start of the pandemic have finally been accomplished in the last few months.

My graphic designer Jana delivered the last chapter and the closing pages of the book practically overnight so that Printio could produce a complimentary copy of the Winter Book for the Director of the NCSML while she was visiting Slovakia last week.

Now the rest of the printing job is in process and here is a glimpse of what it looks like.

What can you expect to find in the third book of A Taste of Slovakia series?

In five chapters you will be taken from the beginning of Advent season and preparations for Christmas to the festive days of 24th – 26th December to Silvester & Nový rok (New Year’s Eve & New Year’s Day) to the carnival and party season following after the holidays, which is filled with balls and weddings.

There are several recipes for the traditional Christmas Sauerkraut Soup (Vianočná kapustnica), Christmas wafers (Vianočné oblátky), ancient and more modern festive cakes, as well as some of the most popular pork specialities. Iconic Slovak medovníky (honey cookies) are in there, too.

As soon as the books arrive from the printers, a few batches will be shipped to the NCSML store in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, where they will be available for sale together with the Autumn (Fall) Book.

I’m planning a few book-signing events around Slovakia starting at the end of October. If you want to be part of them, either in person or online, please follow Cookslovak news on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest or Twitter.