Weekends in the Kitchen and Beyond
There are a few similarities between Polish and German foods, and the inclusion of cabbage in the diet is one of them. While I grew up with cabbage being a staple in my Polish-American diet, I wasn’t too fond of this nutrient-rich vegetable until my adult years. Now, the only thing stopping me from eating […]
Any fried form of potato seems to draw people like a magnet. What comes to mind are the big three–fries, potato chips, and potato pancakes. Of the three, the most accessible to the home cook who doesn’t have specialized equipment beyond a stove top and a frying pan is the potato pancake. Growing up, I […]
According to food writer, Horst Scharfenberg in his classic cookbook, The Cuisines of Germany, the Beef Hot Pot, or “Pfeffer-Potthast,” is a traditional dish from Westphalia in Germany. It hails back a few centuries ago–to the thirteenth century, but who’s counting. “Potthast” means flesh pot. The English meaning kind of puts the dish in a […]
Apple pie is touted as a traditional American dessert–as traditional as it gets. But America isn’t the only place in the world where the apple is the star component of a delightful traditional dessert. Immediately comes to mind French tarte tartin with its caramel coated apples or Polish szarlotka with it’s crumbly, buttery pastry crust. […]
Classical music has always been an integral part of my life–from the hours upon hours of piano practicing I did during my childhood to the hours upon hours of my children’s piano practicing. One composer’s music rings in my house more than most: that of Beethoven. Ludwig van Beethoven was born on December 16, […]