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
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
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
A couple of weeks ago I got an e-mail from a lady who is married to an American with Slovak roots. She asked about a 'kiflick' cake her husband's aunt used to make when she was still alive. I had never heard the word before, so I turned to Google for help and it suggested … Continue reading Butter Rolls with Poppy Seeds
Wheat kasha is deeply rooted in my childhood memories as a simple yet nourishing breakfast, or a light evening dish. I know children are fed with all sorts of ready-made cereal mixtures these days, but perhaps we shouldn't quite abandon traditional recipes that use fresh, good-quality ingredients and take very little time to prepare. Wheat … Continue reading Wheat Kasha
Before we start gorging on more festive desserts, let's have this simple yet satisfying apple cake, which makes for a delicious Sunday breakfast, an afternoon snack or a light dessert anytime around. It's an old Slovak recipe that has been in my personal cookbook since I started learning to bake years ago. I got it … Continue reading Light Apple Cake
This year has been a very good one for plums and my friend, whose parents have a huge orchard in a remote village up in the mountains, kept sending me their home grown produce for over a month. I was busy bottling, drying and cooking this versatile fruit, which came in various shapes, sizes and … Continue reading Quick-and-easy Plum Pie
Did you forget to finish your glass of wine yesterday and it has lost its sparkle overnight? Before washing it down the sink, consider using it in cooking, or even baking. You'll be surprised how much goodness it can still create. I remembered this old recipe a couple of days ago when I found an … Continue reading Wine Cookies
As a schoolgirl I was taught by my mum and other elders about the value of our bread. They constantly reminded me how much time and hard work goes into growing grains, making them into flour, and then baking bread out of it. I, like other children at that time, grew up with an old … Continue reading Egg Coated Bread
cookslovak 