Christmas Eve traditions, customs and dishes

It's that time of the year again, when I am missing Polish traditions and my family overseas. The time which feels the most magical and peaceful out of all days in a year.
To me, it's Christmas Eve - Wigilia.
I posted previously about many traditions and the sequence of the Christmas Eve dinner. Somehow, I feel the need to share my sentiments with the readers again, as this day is approaching fast.

My favorite tradition is stated in this saying: "May you never be too grown up to search the skies on Christmas Eve". Waiting for the first star to appear in the sky used to be my favorite and the most exciting part of the evening as a child. Besides opening my presents after the dinner, of course. Part of it must be because it feels really mysterious to search the skies, and another must be the excitement of eating food after all day of fasting!
Do I still look at the sky? - you bet! Some people are searching for Santa's sleigh, others for a star that guided the Three Wise Man to Bethlehem to find Baby Jesus. It's a beautiful tradition. I cherish it so much that I want to pass it to my children. It's totally fine with me if they search the skies twice that night - for the first star before the dinner and for Santa's sleigh before bedtime. Double the magic! As I know from my own my experience, searching for the star stays with you as you get older. 😉

Another very important tradition that I cherish each year is Oplatek (wafer) sharing, thanks to my Mom who shares it with us! It always comes with wishes of good health, love and luck for the next year.
Even though, we're having a very small Christmas Eve dinner this year, I'm excited about the tradition of wafer sharing with Polish Christmas carols being played in a background. Our children will also open one Christmas Eve present that night. I'm thinking about starting to call it a "Christmas Eve Box", as a way of combining Polish and American traditions of opening gifts on different days.

Let's talk about food a bit, too. It is much more different than here in US.
Polish Christmas Eve dinner consists of 12 dishes. Almost in each household, there are 12 dishes on a table. Number 12 is referred to the number of the Apostles and months of the year. Tasting each of the dishes is believed to guarantee strength and luck. Since no one wants to have a bad luck until next Christmas, majority of guests overeat. Dishes vary depending on a region of Poland and the most popular are:

• Choice of soup: red borscht (made of beets), white borscht (sour rye soup) or mushroom soup,
• Uszka - mini dumplings filled with mushrooms 
• Pierogi filled with sauerkraut and mushrooms
• Fried, baked fish with carp being a main dish
• Herrings - pickled, in cream, and in many more variations 
• Bigos - combination of sauerkraut and fresh cabbage with mushrooms and spices (cooked on low for a long time, preferably a couple of days). Non-fasting version includes meats and sausage. 
• Kutia - pearled barley with poppy seed, raisins and nuts
• Egg noodles with poppy seed
• Dried fruit kompot - dried fruit soaked in water and cooked (includes dried apples, plums, pears and apricots)
• Makowiec - poppy seed cake roll
• Piernik - gingerbread cake

and many more treats, salads and side dishes.... Can you handle it???

Here are the links to my piernik and baked paszteciki/pierogi recipes. I'm not missing out on having paszteciki this year!

Paszteciki

Before I finish, I have one more thing worth sharing with you all. I'm going to end this blog post with a fun custom, which many of you might find weird. I remember my dad doing this. It's a custom of putting a carp's scale into one's wallet. Why? To ensure wealth for the entire year. You never know what your Polish friends might carry in their wallets! 😄

Here you go! A little summary of traditions surrounding Polish Christmas Eve Dinner. For more, please visit my older post Wigilia.
I hope that you have a beautiful, joyful Christmas.


Wesołych Świąt Bożego Narodzenia!!!

The Royal Castle, Warsaw.
By: Krzysztof Korczak

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!

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

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... 

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!

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)

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!

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

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!!!

Morskie Oko - Jewel of the Tatra Mountains

It feels like a million years ago... High school field trip

Morskie Oko is one of the most popular and charming destinations when visiting Polish mountains. A must-see place.
You can get there by foot (approximately 2 1/2 hours) or enjoy a horse-drawn carriage ride.
Both are fun and you can rest assured that you will enjoy the surroundings.
The view of the lake itself is a cherry on top!

Morskie Oko is the largest lake in the Tatra Mountains (Tatry) and is located in the Tatra National Park (Tatrzanski Park Narodowy).
The name Morskie Oko can be translated as "Eye of the Sea", as one of the legends says that the lake was connected to the sea through the underground tunnel.
It used to be called "Fish Pond" (Rybi Staw) due to natural stock of fish (mainly trout), which is really rare in the Tatra lakes. However, fishing and feeding fish are not allowed.
Beautiful clear water of the lake and the view of the highest peaks of the Tatra Mountains are breathtaking.
Morskie Oko is a great starting point for those who want to reach the highest peak in the Polish Tatra Mountains - Rysy (2,499 MASL). It takes approximately 4 hours plus time for rest.
Visitors can explore different mountain trails in the area and nice walk around the lake takes less than an hour!

For my mom: Banana Bread recipe

Little twist today: from my table to my mom's table.

Polish version first! :o)

Please scroll down for English version.

 

My brother enjoyed this banana bread at our house

and now he wants some more! :)

 

 

Dla mamusi:

Przepis na CHLEBEK BANANOWY:

3-4 dojrzale banany

75 g rozpuszczonego masla

1/4 szkl. cukru

1 jajko

1 lyzeczka ekstraktu z wanilii (lub opakowanie cukru waniliowego)

1 lyzeczka proszku do pieczenia

szczypta soli

1,5 szkl. maki

*1/2 szkl. posiekanych orzechow wloskich

 

1. Widelcem rozgniesc banany.
2. Dodac roztopione maslo, cukier, jajko oraz wanilie. Wszystkie skladniki wymieszac.
3. Dodac make, proszek do pieczenia i sol. Dobrze wymieszac. Dodac orzechy.
4. Mase wylac do natluszczonej keksowki (w moim przypadku sa to dwie keksowki) i piec godzine w piekarniku nagrzanym do 175 stopni Celsjusza.

*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*

 

BANANA BREAD:

 

3-4 ripe bananas

1/3 c. butter, melted

1/4 c. sugar

1 egg, beaten

1 tsp. vanilla extract

1 tsp. baking soda

pinch of salt

1 1/2 c. all-purpose flour

*1/2 c. chopped walnuts

1. Mash bananas with a fork.
2. Add melted butter, sugar, egg and vanilla extract. Mix.
3. Add flour, baking soda and salt. Mix all ingredients and add walnuts if you like.
4. Pour batter into greased loaf pans and bake for 1 hr at 350º F.
    

The amount of sugar in this recipe is reduced to 1/4 cup

and if you have ripe bananas, trust me, you don't need to overload with sugar!

 



My brother is visiting! A word about tourist visa.

Hello,
It's been a while since my last blog post.
Lots of great things happened and I've been positively distracted.
Finally, I got a chance to host my brother! It's a big deal for me!
For the first time, a close family member from Poland is visiting! :o)

Imagine the distance, the Atlantic Ocean between us, the time difference and plane ticket prices!
We don't get too many chances to see each other.
We're skyping, using social network web sites, sending postcards and e-cards, texting...
I miss my family every day and I'm so grateful for today's technology, but nothing can replace face to face meetings, hugs and laughs!
Horrifying prices of the plane tickets are not the only issue for my family in Poland.
They have to deal with visas, too.
For many people it used to be a discouraging, intimidating and disappointing process (and also expensive one!).
Poland has been waiting patiently for some changes about visas. Different promises and negotiations around this topic took place. Who knows, maybe future will be brighter?...

I believe, that certain things have changed for better though - online application process, short awaiting time for the interview and no long lines in front of the US Embassy!
I was really happy for my brother that he was able to take care of everything and that visa process went really smooth.

All the instructions how to apply for a tourist visa, forms and steps that you need to take can be found on the United States Embassy web site:
http://polish.poland.usembassy.gov/wizy.html
This video, prepared by the United States Embassy in Warsaw might be helpful too.

And one more thing...
Anyone travelling with a tourist visa is expected to be a tourist, doesn't have work permit and can not extend his/her stay in the United States.

I answer this kind of questions a lot. I think, that some people get a little suspicious because of the illegal immigration problem in the U.S., but I try not to get offended. I just patiently explain them "the rules" :)

Gołąbki - Stuffed cabbage rolls

This is how we like it.
With lots of tomato sauce!

"Gołąbki" (plural form) means literally "little pigeons", but don't get discouraged, it's only vocabulary :-)
"Gołąbki" is a traditional Polish dish - delicious stuffed cabbage rolls, that my husband and I, love to eat.
They are perfect, especially when I'm missing homey, comforting, Polish food.
They are known under different names in other European countries, while many people in America refer to this dish as "pigs in a blanket".

Recipe:

1-2 heads of white cabbage,
2 lbs ground beef (*if you can buy ground pork, then half and half),
1.5 cup cooked rice,
1 large onion, chopped,
2 Tbsp butter,
1 clove of garlic, chopped,
1 tsp nutmeg,
salt and pepper,
tomato sauce,
fresh or dried dill

1. Remove core from cabbage and place whole cabbage in a large pot with boiling water.
2. Cover and boil for a few minutes until the leaves get soft and are easy to peel off.
3. Carefully peel off individual leaves, remove hard parts (center stem) using a knife.
4. Chop the remaining cabbage and place it on the bottom of a casserole dish.
5. Fry chopped onions with butter until soft. Let cool.
6. Mix ground beef (and pork, if using any), fried onions, garlic, cooked rice and spices until well combined.
7. Form large ovals from meat and place each one on an individual cabbage leaf. Roll leaves over the meat and place cabbage rolls in a casserole dish.
8. Pour tomato sauce over the cabbage rolls and garnish with dill.
9. Bake in 350º F for 1 hour.

Serve with sauce only or with mashed potatoes on the side.
If you wish, garnish with shredded cheese (optional).

Smacznego!

Łazienki Królewskie - Łazienki Park, Warsaw

Palace on the Water
Source: Family pictures
Author: Maciej P.

Łazienki Królewskie  (or Park Łazienkowski) is the largest park in Warsaw, Poland (76 hectares).

The Park is full of interesting buildings, sculptures, monuments and beautiful gardens.

It's a must-see place in Warsaw!!!

It was created in XVIII century for Polish King Stanislaw August Poniatowski.

The park-and-palace complex is located in the city center, and is considered to be the one of the most beautiful parks in Europe.

Loved by tourists and loved by locals, the Łazienki Park used to be a summer residence of the King Stanislaw August.

The name Łazienki Królewskie means literally "Royal Baths", from a bathhouse that was rebuilt and transformed into the King's Palace, known today as Palace on the Water -  Pałac na Wodzie or Palace on the Island - Pałac na Wyspie.

Closer shot
Source: Family pictures
Author: Maciej P.

Roller skating, skateboarding and biking are banned in the park.

Chasing peacocks or squirrels across beautiful green grass isn't recommended either. (I know, everyone wants a snap shot of that beautiful peacock !... :-)

Squirrels - spoiled by the visitors, come close enough to get food. They might even share a bench with you, and eat nuts from your hand! Be careful though... What if you meet some crazy squirrel (crazy enough to bite you??? ;o)

Peacock - one of many in the Łazienki Park
Source: Family pictures
Author: Maciej P.

Many cultural events take place in the Łazienki Królewskie Park and the most popular are Fryderyk Chopin's Concerts, that I mentioned before in one of the older posts.

For a full history of the park, exhibits of the Royal Collections, pictures, etc. you might want to check this website: Lazienki Krolewskie.

For more pictures click here.

Amphitheater
Source: Family pictures
Author: Maciej P.

The pictures posted here are courtesy of my cousin Maciej P. who is the author.

EURO 2012 starts!



EURO 2012 logo
Source: Google

Today, June 8, 2012

Poland will play with Greece

at the National Stadium in Warsaw.

Time: 18.00.

Good Luck Bialo-Czerwoni!

POLSKA GOLA!!! 



Mowa jest srebrem, milczenie zlotem

Buraczki / beets - healthy side dish

Buraczki - beets, are very popular in Polish cuisine.
I love them now, but it hasn't always been this way...

As a child, I didn't like their look, so I was stubborn and I didn't want to try them.

Until one day... Day at my aunt Zofia's house. It took only one look of "encouragement" and I was eating beets until they were gone from my plate! :) After I was done eating, all I had to say was how great those beets tasted!
The meal was consisting of a pork chop with bread crust, mashed potatoes and beets.
It's a very popular meal combo, so if you happen to visit Poland, big chance is that you are going to try it. 
When talking about beets, I can't forget to mention delicious beet soup - borscht /"barszcz". It's served with mini dumplings called "uszka", and it's definitely one of my favorites!

***Beets are rich in iron, calcium, magnesium, potassium, vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin B1, folic acid and more.

Pork chops with caramelized onions,
 mashed potatoes with skins and beets

Buraczki zasmazane / Fried beets:

4-8 medium size beets,
1-2 Tbsp butter,
sugar, salt, pepper to taste,
*lemon juice to taste (optional)
or:
* 1 Tbsp (or more) horseradish
and/or:
* 1 Tbsp flour,
* 2 Tbsp sour cream.

• Boil beets in skins until soft (30-45 min). Peel off the skins and grate beets finely.
• In a frying pan melt butter. Add beets and fry for about 5 minutes on medium heat.
• Season to taste with sugar, salt and pepper. Add lemon juice if desired.

*** If making Horseradish beets - "Buraczki z chrzanem":
Add horseradish instead of lemon juice. You can also add flour and sour cream.

These two are my favorite versions of fried beets. Hope you will like them too!
Smacznego!

Interesting fact about beets? ;o)
- Long time ago, women used beets juice to color their cheeks in order to look healthy
(red cheeks = healthy woman).

Nie od razu Krakow zbudowano

It's a very popular proverb.

However, in Poland, we're talking about Polish city

Krakow instead of Rome ;-)

P.S. Krakow is a must-see place in Poland!

Tarta truskawkowa / Strawberry tart

TARTA TRUSKAWKOWA / STRAWBERRY TART

Tart:
150 g flour,
100 g cold butter (cubed),
50 g powdered sugar,
1 egg yolk,
pinch of salt,
*1 Tbsp cream (optional)

• Combine all ingredients and form a ball. Leave in the fridge for 30 min.
• Roll out the dough and place it in a baking pan. Pierce with a fork before baking.
• Bake for 15-20 min at 400º F.

Filling:
3 Tbsp strawberry jam,
1 lb strawberries,
strawberry jelly, glaze or jam for coating the fruit

• Cool tart in a pan and spread jam on the bottom.
• Arrange strawberries and coat them with strawberry jelly (liquid form), strawberry jam or fruit glaze.
• Let cool in a fridge.

Smacznego!

NOTES:
- Jam can be replaced with cream cheese (1 box of cream cheese combined with 1/4 cup powdered sugar).
- Sliced strawberries are easier to work with when cutting and serving a tart.
- You can also use blueberries/raspberries and choose corresponding jam flavor.
- This time, I didn't have any jam at home, so I made my own:
In a small saucepan, combine 1 lb strawberries with 3 Tbsp sugar and 1 Tbsp water. Cover with a lid and cook on medium heat for 15-20 min. Let cool completely.

VOCABULARY:
"truskawka" - strawberry
"truskawki" - strawberries
"truskawkowa" ("tarta"- tart), "truskawkowy" ("smak"-flavor), "truskawkowe" ("lody" - ice cream) - adjective describing things that are "strawberry" - examples above ;-)

Have a strawberry summer / "truskawkowe lato" everyone! :o)

Dla chcacego nic trudnego