Tuesday, June 11, 2013

Placki ziemniaczane



With natural yogurt and dill
Placki ziemniaczane ("potato pancakes") are a slightly different version of hash browns...
In Poland, placki ziemniaczane make a good, cheap and comforting meal.
Serve them with sugar, sour cream, cottage cheese or natural yogurt. Add some dill, radishes or spring onion.


Placki ziemniaczane:
6 medium potatoes, grated or cut into small pieces if using a food processor
Half onion, chopped
Salt & pepper to taste
2-3 Tbsp flour
Oil for frying

Mix all ingredients (or blend them in a food processor) and heat oil in a frying pan. Place full tablespoons of potato mixture in a pan. Flatten with spatula and fry for 3-5 minutes on each side or until golden brown. Drain on paper towels, sprinkle with granulated sugar and serve warm. You can add other toppings (mentioned above) if you wish. 
Smacznego!
Enjoy!

Tuesday, May 28, 2013

Łeba

 
The Neptun Hotel
- a beautiful landmark on the beach
Source: private albums

I Love Łeba, and I'm not alone here.
Once you visit this charming town located on the Baltic Coast (North of Poland), you will fall in love and want to return. 
There are many reasons why I love this place. Here are a few: large and sandy beach, beautiful sunsets, tasty fried fish, lovely harbor, many, oh so many activities to do, and on top of that: my family lives there! 
Łeba is perfect for leisure and summer fun, but it's also great throughout the year and offers variety of activities for each season.
Here are only a few things to consider doing when visiting this picturesque town, besides swimming and sunbathing:
  1. Słowiński Park Narodowy (Słowiński National Park) - a huge attraction! This Park belongs to the UNESCO's World Biosphere Reserves. It is famous for shifting dunes, that are unique in a world scale. Impression that you get is like being in the middle of the desert :o) Słowiński National Park is also a home for different bird species (260 types of birds). Peat bogs, meadows, woods and four lakes: Łebsko,  Gardno, Dołgie Wielkie and Dołgie Małe create the perfect environment. A must-see!
  2. Windsurfing and kitesurfing. There is a school with professional instructors located near the Sarbsko Lake - 2 km outside of Łeba.
  3. Kayaking on the Sarbsko Lake.
  4. Horse riding. A stable is located in Nowęcin village, outside of Łeba. Horse riding on the beach and horse riding camps are available.
  5. Fishing!
  6. Lots of biking routes.
  7. Camping sides.
  8. Nordic walking (especially in spring and fall). Check out this Nordic Walking School with professional instructors located at Zdrowotel Łeba. (http://www.zdrowotel.pl)
I hope, that you are convinced to visit!

When the sun goes down ...
Source: private albums

Lifeguard standing a watch on a rainy day
Source: private albums 
Beautiful summer evening
Source: private albums

What a view on a rainy day - at the harbor
Source: family pictures

Swans don't mind rainy days
Source: family pictures
 
Łeba's beach in winter
Author: Elzbieta Pietruszewska

Saturday, May 25, 2013

Kokosanki


Sweet memory from childhood. 
Yet, another one :o)
Whenever my mom would buy coconut macaroons, I was literally in heaven!
In Poland they are called "kokosanki".
Cute name, huh? :o)
Well, today I made some, and after tasting/sampling/stuffing my mouth with them, I'm ready to share the recipe with you. 
Warning: pure sweetness!
 
Kokosanki
Yield: around 15 macaroons 
Recipe from "Good Housekeeping" magazine, modified (I didn't dip macaroons in chocolate)

2 1/2 c. sweetened coconut flakes
2/3 c. sweetened condensed milk
1/3 c. all-purpose flour
1 tsp. vanilla extract
pinch of salt

1. Preheat oven to 350º F and grease a cookie sheet.
2. Stir dry ingredients first, then add condensed milk and vanilla.
3. Drop spoonfuls of batter onto a cookie sheet.
3. Bake for 15 min or until golden on bottoms.
4. Let cool. I didn't... :o) They taste the best cold, but who cares... 




Thursday, May 2, 2013

Flag Day

Flag Day was established in 2004, and falls on May 2nd every year.
Polish flags dancing in the wind can be seen already on May 1st (Labor Day - Swieto Pracy) which is usually the beginning of a "long weekend" in Poland. May 3rd brings another national holiday and that is Constitution Day - Swieto Konstytucji 3 Maja.
That's lots of time off this year ;-)
Happy long weekend everyone!

Friday, March 8, 2013

Happy Women's Day!

Dzien Kobiet!
Just wanted to take this opportunity to wish all of us CooL women a wonderful and surprising day! :o)


Thursday, February 7, 2013

Don't forget to grab a doughnut today!

It's this time of the year again!
Fat Thursday - Tlusty Czwartek!
Busy with my baby, I didn't realize it until today. My family and friends have been posting pictures of paczki (doughnuts) since early morning and my mouth is watering now...
Thanks guys! ;-)

If you are not participating in Paczki Eating Contest, you still need to eat at least one paczek today! If not, the rest of the year might not go too well for you... ;o)
This excuse is good enough to indulge in this sugar & fat pleasure. Fine with me and with many Poles! :-D

Let me also recommend another popular Fat Thursday treat: faworki.
Crispy, mouth watering, simply delicious! Mmmm... Mmmm.... Mmmm!
You can find out how to make faworki under the Recipes/Food category.
Happy Fat Thursday!

Wednesday, February 6, 2013

Krzywy Domek, Sopot

If you like modern architecture, you might find this building interesting.
Krzywy Domek (Crooked House) in Sopot, Poland can be found on a list of "11 of Europe's most bizarre buildings" by CNN.
More information about this building can be found on www.krzywydomek.info

Friday, January 18, 2013

Welcome Little Jason!!

Hello everyone,
I would like to share with you this wonderful news!
I'm so fortunate to say that last month we were blessed with a beautiful Baby Boy!
We couldn't be happier!!! Welcome to this world little Jason!
I hope that you like this blue set that mama made for you ;))

I love you so much!!!