I'm from Western European backgrounds, but my husband's ethnic background is Czech and Slovak. His family has very traditional meals for both Christmas Eve and Easter, and I'm continuing those traditions by using my mother-in-law's recipes. I've enjoyed doing so!
Sounds like we have a lot in common, Aimee! It's really been a joy to uncover my husband's family recipes, and it sounds like it's brought you a similar connection to his family.
I'm Lithuanian, first generation born in the US. I have fond memories of eating my mother's borscht every summer made with the beets from our garden. One memory that really stands out was the time my mother didn't lock the lid correctly on the pressure cooker and the lid flew off and beets exploded everywhere, including the ceiling. Luckily no one was hurt but the kitchen needed to be repainted! 😄
Looks like a lovely book to explore! I don't have much experience with cooking recipes from this region, but my mom used to make a Ukranian Cabbage Soup that had tomatoes and a little bit of honey and was really delicious.... reminds me that I need to ask her for the recipe :)
My Grandmother from Poland made sharv, not sure of the spelling, which I think was sour grass soup which we ate with sour cream and hard boiled eggs. It was eaten cold on hot nights like we have now. Tried some commercially made, but they were terrible. Guess I will have to live with the memories.
Hello Steve! Maybe you could recreate her soup! Sorrel is surprisingly easy to grow in a garden or a pot. I've had mine for years, have moved it, starved it of water and it's been enjoyed by many a bunny but it still wont quit!
My family is from Ukraine. All five grandparents (including my step grandmother) emigrated from regions near Kyiv. I grew up on the traditional foods - especially borscht, both cold and hot. My favorite spring cold soup is schav made with sorrel and spinach. Family lore has it that I downed a full quart all by myself when I was four years old. For summer, I’ll transition to cucumber soup made with buttermilk or yogurt and dill or mint.
I love a chilled cucumber and buttermilk soup!! And schav sounds amazing. I have loads of sorrel in my garden, and always forget about the joys of a cool sorrel soup!
Thank you for this note, Madeline--I love hearing about how many central Eastern European reading I have here. 🤍
I love cooking with tomatoes, green beans, potatoes and zucchini! Well, basically any vegetables I can get from my local farm co-op. I am always interested in finding new recipes.
Beautiful photos and so jealous for your upcoming trip to Magyarorszag! 🇭🇺 I’m so impressed that she got to study Soviet cinema. My college minor is in film so I’ve watched my share of Sergei Eisenstein films 🎥
Magyarorszag! 🇭🇺 Here we come. This year has felt like such a long time we were away, even though it was just last August. I suppose it will change more and more as the kids age and so much happens in one year!
I love learning this detail about you, Betty, and now I'm inspired to watch more Soviet cinema. I'm sure you're aware that there is a deep Hungarian thread in Hollywood, with several major studios founded by Hungarians. And now dozens of top films are being made in Hungary (Budawood)!
Yes! One of my all time favorite films, Casablanca, was directed by Michael Curtiz! 🇭🇺 The first Hungarian language film I saw was “A Hungarian Fairy Tale.” That’s been awhile ago, lol.
How lucky to have kind and welcoming senior neighbors to build this memory into your childhood. I always think about this when I guide my kids' little friends around our yard, picking black raspberries and cherry tomatoes. For some of them, it's their only relationship to a garden, but it makes me so proud to see them light up in the magic of picking and eating food straight from the vine. Of course, in Central and Eastern Europe, every family has a small kitchen garden, even those who don't consider themselves serious gardeners. It's just a necessary way of life. I think we're getting back closer to that here in the U.S., too. It's thrilling to see.
I studied abroad as a teen in Spain and I LOVED gazpacho! It was so refreshing and it provided a way to eat my much beloved soup in summer. I certainly have tried my own versions, but nothing is like eating it in Spain at an outdoor table.
Oh wow that is so interesting that in my mind I didn't make the leap from chilled beet and fruit soups of Central and Eastern Europe to gazpacho (which I also LOVE!) until you just mentioned that. Yes, same idea, that cold, bracing, and refreshing, and often deeply savory finish with undertones of shallot and red onion. There is nothing quite like it!
What a lucky experience to have lived in Spain as a teen! Did you go through a program or your school?
I ordered the Kaputska cookbook !
I'm from Western European backgrounds, but my husband's ethnic background is Czech and Slovak. His family has very traditional meals for both Christmas Eve and Easter, and I'm continuing those traditions by using my mother-in-law's recipes. I've enjoyed doing so!
Sounds like we have a lot in common, Aimee! It's really been a joy to uncover my husband's family recipes, and it sounds like it's brought you a similar connection to his family.
I am new to Eastern European cooking but am very interested in learning to cook this.
I have seen people at work eating Cabbage Soup and Borscht.. they both looked and smelt amazing!!
Thank you so much for these beautiful words about my book! I’m so thrilled it resonated with you! 💗🥬
I'm Lithuanian, first generation born in the US. I have fond memories of eating my mother's borscht every summer made with the beets from our garden. One memory that really stands out was the time my mother didn't lock the lid correctly on the pressure cooker and the lid flew off and beets exploded everywhere, including the ceiling. Luckily no one was hurt but the kitchen needed to be repainted! 😄
Looks like a lovely book to explore! I don't have much experience with cooking recipes from this region, but my mom used to make a Ukranian Cabbage Soup that had tomatoes and a little bit of honey and was really delicious.... reminds me that I need to ask her for the recipe :)
I had a subscription box to food around the world, and a few months' recipes were Eastern European.
I love cooking with fresh tomatoes or squash and zucchinis in the summer.
I first had a cold soup after college.
No need to count me for the giveaway.
Steve Solomon
My Grandmother from Poland made sharv, not sure of the spelling, which I think was sour grass soup which we ate with sour cream and hard boiled eggs. It was eaten cold on hot nights like we have now. Tried some commercially made, but they were terrible. Guess I will have to live with the memories.
Hello Steve! Maybe you could recreate her soup! Sorrel is surprisingly easy to grow in a garden or a pot. I've had mine for years, have moved it, starved it of water and it's been enjoyed by many a bunny but it still wont quit!
My family is from Ukraine. All five grandparents (including my step grandmother) emigrated from regions near Kyiv. I grew up on the traditional foods - especially borscht, both cold and hot. My favorite spring cold soup is schav made with sorrel and spinach. Family lore has it that I downed a full quart all by myself when I was four years old. For summer, I’ll transition to cucumber soup made with buttermilk or yogurt and dill or mint.
I love a chilled cucumber and buttermilk soup!! And schav sounds amazing. I have loads of sorrel in my garden, and always forget about the joys of a cool sorrel soup!
Thank you for this note, Madeline--I love hearing about how many central Eastern European reading I have here. 🤍
Perfect for this sweltering week!
so hot! so muggy!!!!
I love cooking with tomatoes, green beans, potatoes and zucchini! Well, basically any vegetables I can get from my local farm co-op. I am always interested in finding new recipes.
Beautiful photos and so jealous for your upcoming trip to Magyarorszag! 🇭🇺 I’m so impressed that she got to study Soviet cinema. My college minor is in film so I’ve watched my share of Sergei Eisenstein films 🎥
Magyarorszag! 🇭🇺 Here we come. This year has felt like such a long time we were away, even though it was just last August. I suppose it will change more and more as the kids age and so much happens in one year!
I love learning this detail about you, Betty, and now I'm inspired to watch more Soviet cinema. I'm sure you're aware that there is a deep Hungarian thread in Hollywood, with several major studios founded by Hungarians. And now dozens of top films are being made in Hungary (Budawood)!
Yes! One of my all time favorite films, Casablanca, was directed by Michael Curtiz! 🇭🇺 The first Hungarian language film I saw was “A Hungarian Fairy Tale.” That’s been awhile ago, lol.
I love growing and cooking with tomatoes. Growing up my senior neighbors had a garden and I was always in it eating the cherry tomatoes.
How lucky to have kind and welcoming senior neighbors to build this memory into your childhood. I always think about this when I guide my kids' little friends around our yard, picking black raspberries and cherry tomatoes. For some of them, it's their only relationship to a garden, but it makes me so proud to see them light up in the magic of picking and eating food straight from the vine. Of course, in Central and Eastern Europe, every family has a small kitchen garden, even those who don't consider themselves serious gardeners. It's just a necessary way of life. I think we're getting back closer to that here in the U.S., too. It's thrilling to see.
I studied abroad as a teen in Spain and I LOVED gazpacho! It was so refreshing and it provided a way to eat my much beloved soup in summer. I certainly have tried my own versions, but nothing is like eating it in Spain at an outdoor table.
Oh wow that is so interesting that in my mind I didn't make the leap from chilled beet and fruit soups of Central and Eastern Europe to gazpacho (which I also LOVE!) until you just mentioned that. Yes, same idea, that cold, bracing, and refreshing, and often deeply savory finish with undertones of shallot and red onion. There is nothing quite like it!
What a lucky experience to have lived in Spain as a teen! Did you go through a program or your school?
a program! I was 16. now it feels so young to just be running wild around Spain
The recipes from this book look amazing. I love vegetarian meals and make vegetarian meals all the time. I'd love to try this cookbook.
It really is a special book! Thank you for your note and for entering to win.