Chestnut trees are a common sight in our woods and parks, but very few produce fruits fit to human consumption. Most of the chestnuts in Slovakia are only good for playing with and creating works of arts. When they ripen and fall off in late September, children from schools and kindergartens are the first to … Continue reading Chestnut Parcels
The Slovak word for a bilberry is one of those funny words we like to teach foreigners when they're curious about our language. Why? Because Slovak is ranked among the most difficult languages in the world, and if we wanted to assess your linguistic calibre, then čučoriedka would be one of the testing words. Čučoriedky (tchou-tcho-ryiedki) … Continue reading Quick-and-easy Bilberry Cake
This recipe was inspired by an overload of zucchini a few weeks ago, and a newsletter from Once upon a chef that landed in my inbox at about the same time. The zucchini came together with hand-picked black and red currants from my friend parents' garden, so I picked this recipe from Jenn's zucchini menu to put … Continue reading Fluted Zucchini Cake
This year's strawberry season has been so good and so long. Ample sunshine and an uncharacteristically warm spring made the berries ripen earlier than usual and brought about very good crops, even in areas that aren't normally considered 'strawberry-friendly'. To get hands-on experience of the harvest, we went to a self-pick farm about an hour … Continue reading Delicate Strawberry Pie
My earliest memories of Steamed Buns with Cocoa and Jam come from the time when I first became aware of what was put on the table. Buchty na pare, as these delicious buns are called in Slovak, is a classic dish that will probably never lose its appeal for children and sweet-toothed adults. At least here … Continue reading Steamed Buns with Cocoa and Jam
I came across the recipe for Sour Cherry Cakes (Višňové koláče) when I was researching beer as an ingredient in Slovak cooking. You might not know, as I hadn't before, that beer can also be used in baking. And you may be surprised, as I was two years ago, just by how tasty these little cherry-filled … Continue reading Sour Cherry Cakes
It's sometimes very difficult to translate the names of our most traditional cakes into English, and the one below is no different. I've spent more time trying to find the best possible name for this recipe than actually writing it. Gingerbread didn't sound right because it's closer in taste and texture to what we call perník in Slovakia … Continue reading Crispy Ginger Cakes or Zázvorníky
I'm not a big fan of raw cakes. Not only are they more laborious and much more expensive than the regular ones, but I doubt their healthy side as well. I love fresh fruit (or vegetables), and I often indulge in all kinds of seeds and whole nuts, but why mash, squeeze and grind these … Continue reading Raw Poppyseed Avocado Cake
With the arrival of summer, life seems to slow down in Slovakia. It's not only because our summers can be very hot, which naturally hinders more strenuous activities. It's also that the two-month's school holidays put all parents into a relaxed mode, which often makes us think about occupations unlikely to come in mind at … Continue reading Home-made Chocolate Ice Lollies
It's time to cook something eggy, because it's Easter and we want to put all those yolks and whites left after decorating our Easter eggs to good use. So why not prepare Bird's Milk - a simple yet nutritious dish which is said to have originated in France, but my mind will always associate it with … Continue reading Bird’s Milk
