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
My mum used to simply call them Košíčky (Baskets) and that's how these dainty cakes are recorded in my old hand-written recipe book. Mum always made them for Christmas, because she knew they would be winners and none of us would make excuses to avoid helping. It was quite a lot of work, granted, but … Continue reading Christmas Baskets
Summer is undeniably over and so is the plum season. We still get quite a lot of sunshine here in Slovakia, but the temperatures have dropped and there's this autumnal nip in the air that makes my gait brisker and my mind more agile. The trim jars of plum jam from last summer's harvest still … Continue reading Sunday Plum Sponge Delight
My daughter and I have tried another old recipe from my hand-written cookbook recently - it's one of those I got from my Mum years ago. I remember I quite liked 'Dobošové kolieska' (Dobosh cookies) as a child, not to mention the fact they always looked immaculate when Mum laid her hands on them. She's always … Continue reading Dobosh cookies
