It was a clear and surprisingly warm weekend in mid-November with perfectly blue skies. My family and I had booked self-catering accommodation in a small village under the High Tatras - Slovak most visited mountains. It doesn't happen very often that the Tatras unveil their majestic peaks for longer than a few minutes, because the … Continue reading There are gems under the High Tatras you may have not heard about
Soups are rarely missing from a Slovak table, no matter what time of year it is. Sometimes they are clear meat or vegetable stocks with pasta added towards the end of cooking. These are usually served as starters or appetizers. At other times, they can be filling enough to stand as the main course, like … Continue reading Creamy Kohlrabi Soup
It's been a while since I last posted here, but the reasons were sound and many. First, I've been working on the third book of A Taste of Slovakia series and wanted to get the first chapter ready for Jana - the graphic designer. I'm planning to publish the Winter Book towards the end of … Continue reading Natasha’s Borscht
I'm sure you've noticed it. As you approach someone's home, whether it's a house or a flat, you feel a smell, or more precisely a mix of smells that only belong to that particular place. Plants have their specific aromas and so do animals. We, humans, are not different. Our home is a melange of … Continue reading Smells of our homes
The last weekend in October is all about remembering the dead. Before the Covid-19 pandemic, All Saints' Day or All Souls Day (Dušičky in Slovak) was the busiest time for travel in Slovakia, with people crossing the country to visit cemeteries, bring flowers and light candles on the graves of their deceased relatives. Back from … Continue reading Comforting Carrot and Yellow Pea Soup
Summer is coming to a close, and with the temperatures dropping down we are more likely to think of a bowl of warm soup than a salad. Our gardens still provide enough fresh ingredients for that nourishing bowl, and there are many more to be found in our forests. With its damp, foggy mornings and … Continue reading Autumn Soup with Wild Chanterelles
I would have never thought as a teenager that I'd want to have my own garden one day. Having had to help my parents on an allotment with plenty of fruit and vegetables wasn't exactly my idea of spending summer holidays at that age. And it wasn't just about digging, weeding the beds and harvesting … Continue reading White Currant Jelly
This is another old recipe from my mum. She makes Medové rezy for Christmas, Easter and whenever she wants to please my family, especially my two daughters. They love these mellow honey dough slices filled with buttercream and covered in chocolate icing. I made them on a couple of occasions when Mum couldn't visit, as … Continue reading Honey Dough Slices
There's a lot we can do to help our bodies fight bacteria and viruses. With the temperatures dropping below zero and the COVID pandemic raging around the world, it is more important than ever to protect ourselves and our dearest from the harm. Vitamins, minerals and other food supplements certainly play a role in our … Continue reading Winter recipes to boost your immunity – and spirit
Who wouldn't appreciate a bowl of hearty, comforting soup in the middle of another lockdown? As the Covid-19 pandemic continues to rage around the world, and we are more or less forced to stay at home, the warmth and energy in any form is indispensable. Instead of consuming the bleak news, let's get creative in … Continue reading Broccoli Soup with Bacon Breadballs
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