I first heard about spravovník two years ago, when I was shooting Christmas wafers for the Winter Book at a country house in Mačov. It was one of the few abandoned houses in the village that had been turned into a museum of traditional folk culture. While I was documenting the wafer baking, we chatted … Continue reading Cheese and Potato Bread Cake from Mačov
'Would you like a few zucchinis from our garden?' a friend asked me a few days ago. Of course I would. I know how versatile this vegetable is, and a home-grown organic zucchini is not what I get every day. So there came two large zucchinis, looking so pretty and tempting that I immediately started … Continue reading Fried Zucchini Rings
Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, more people have turned to home cooking instead of dining at restaurants or buying fast food meals. Thanks to the virus we have become more aware of what we put on our plates, and some of you may have discovered that cooking and baking also have therapeutic qualities. … Continue reading Cheesy Potato Bread Cake
I have always associated lavender with the Provence region in France. The iconic photos showing drifts of purple flowers were something I could only see in display windows of chic perfumeries or on labels of expensive cosmetic creams. When I got a sheaf of dried lavender from my friend recently, I was quite surprised to … Continue reading Lavender Cookies
It is called rice pudding or rice cake in English-speaking countries, although it would most likely be plain, with no fruit included. In Slovakia, it goes under the name of Ryžový nákyp, which translates as Rice Soufflé, and it always has some fruit inside. The most popular fruits are apricots, cherries, peaches, apples or plums. … Continue reading Rice Soufflé with Blue Plums
I have been planning to make zemiakový posúch for quite a while. The idea came from Kathy - an American lady whose Slovak grandma used to make it with extra bread dough. Kathy gave a more detailed description of the cake, and it immediately reminded me of the potato posúch my mother-in-law had sent me … Continue reading Potato Bread Cakes
The season of fresh, locally grown vegetables is here again, and with it a penchant for a good summer salad. Although you can make one all through the year these days, I'm sure you know the difference between vegetables imported from far-away countries or grown in artificial conditions of big indoor farms, and those that … Continue reading Slovak-Style Salad with Parenitza Cheese
What comes to your mind when you think of your kindergarten or school breakfasts? My daughter and I reminisced on these and other childhood related things during the lockdown imposed by our goverment after the first coronavirus cases had been reported in Slovakia. Despite the relatively mild course of the disease in my country, we … Continue reading My childhood breakfasts
Another year is coming to a close and with it the day of Silvester. It is a male name that falls on 31st December in the Slovak calendar. Although not Slovak in origin, and certainly not used as a given name by the Slovaks, Silvester has probably been kept in our calendar in the memory … Continue reading New Year’s Eve canapés
When I was experimenting with various apple cake recipes for the autumnal book of A Taste of Slovakia series, I made this simple pie filled with apples from my friend's garden. They didn't look as impeccable and glossy as those polished apples you buy in supermarkets, but their scent and taste was so pleasant that the … Continue reading Criss-crossed Apple Pie
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