Merry Christmas Yinz !!

[Fuj]

As observed by the old calendar, and being of Russian and Ukrainian
heritage, I can still remember at an early age, of visiting my grand
mother, and eating that traditional and horrible bowl of Borscht,
but knowing Kalaczki would come after. To this day, I never had
my son or my grandchildren endure Borscht, but I do make them
endure prune Kalaczkis. I favor the apricot myself. Merry Christmas !!

 

[Kurz]

Living and working in Chicago years ago was actually a fun experience as long as you stayed out of certain neighborhoods. The ethnic neighborhoods often hosted community fairs celebrating their history through dance, art and food of course. If you ever wanted to try homemade foods at their best, these neighborhood celebrations were the place to be.

I always tried to visit a few throughout the year just for the eating experience if not the festive air of the celebrations. The Polish neighborhood was simply as good as it gets! Colors, music, dancing and food surely set the tone for a wonderful day of exploring and eating.

Kolaczki, as I was shown, is a sweet pastry cookie filled with fruit jams and prunes:



I am no expert by any stretch but there are as many spellings, recipes and methods of making these cookies as there would be in any country with a national cookie or dish. But, no matter which one you sample, they are always a little bite of heaven when served with hot tea or cold milk! Good memories!

 

[Fuj]

Going over some copies of old family recipes, poppy seed
sweet paste was high on the list along with traditional Kalache,
which is the nut roll. Sweet braided Paska breads was always
on the table during the Holidays. Fresh out of the oven with
real butter was a meal.

 

[mikeinct]

Yep I'm Italian. My taste in holiday treats favors our Easter Goodies. My wife is Polish. Her people do a lot of fancy goodies too. My fav at this time of the year is New Year's Day "Beef n Bean soup" a cup to start the year brings good health & prosperity. Good Luck to all of you my friends. Happy New Year. uncle mikeinct Ps: serve with Fresh Baked Bread & a few shots of hot sauce, lots of black pepper.

 

[joshb]

COUSIN!!! My mother’s family emigrated from Russia! I knew there was a reason I liked you! My Babushka was known as “cookie grandma “ when I had two grandmothers. She always brought home made cookies and kielbasa when she came to visit. She outlived 4 husbands!

 

[std7mag]

With a grand mother who's maiden name was Dobowski, you know i like the Polish treats too!
I still have issues with the names though.

Bought grandma a Polish wood stove, one Christmas.
Made of solid oak.
Gauaranteed to burn for 3 hours...

 

[abishai]

I have been all over Gods green earth and hells half acre, Russia is by far
the worst for food. Poland is the best.

 

[Fuj]

COUSIN!!! My mother’s family emigrated from Russia! I knew there was a reason I liked you! My Babushka was known as “cookie grandma “ when I had two grandmothers. She always brought home made cookies and kielbasa when she came to visit. She outlived 4 husbands!

Had to do some digging in the freezer. I'm thawing out some cheese
and potato Pirohy's. The women of the Russian Orthodox church will
make these up in 3 lb bags, and I get a few every year. Cast iron skillet
and fried in butter !! I missed out on the prune filed ones.

 

[mikeinct]

Barb's cousin Vinny makes the best prune filled "pierogis" Cheese too. those funny one's w cabbage are called what ? Kielbasa too .. Again the "Guido" in me prefers Sausage & peppers. PS that boy can eat. !!!

 

[Fuj]

Barb's cousin Vinny makes the best prune filled "pierogis" Cheese too. those funny one's w cabbage are called what ?

A Pirohy' / Perogies can be stuffed with just about anything. I've
had them with kraut layed alongside Kielbasa. As for cabbage,
We will do up a roaster pan of cabbage rolls, slow cooked with
quartered tomatos. Some people call them "pigs in the blanket.
Halupki / Golupsi.

And Santa's Brown sled just delivered some Accurate 4064. and
some extra high 30mm Ziess rings. It's been a good day.

I'm ready for seconds......

 

[std7mag]

Love me some pigs in a blanket.
(Cabbage rolls for you south of the Mason Dixon Line)

My family makes them in the big commercial grade roaster oven.

 

[mikeinct]

Here's some homemade Italian Pierogi....

 

[joshb]

Had to do some digging in the freezer. I'm thawing out some cheese
and potato Pirohy's. The women of the Russian Orthodox church will
make these up in 3 lb bags, and I get a few every year. Cast iron skillet
and fried in butter !! I missed out on the prune filed ones.

A few years after I got married I invited my grandmother, mother and my aunt over to teach my bride the family kielbasa recipe. I bought a camcorder and filmed the whole thing until the stuffing began. That was my job. We had 30 pounds of mix. I got so tired of cranking, I went to the shop and grabbed a power drill to hook up to the stuffer. Worked like a charm! Great memories! My grandmother thought I was a genius.

 

[FNSafari]

What’s wrong with borscht? If ur talking about a steady diet of it I agree. Well made it’s a simple delicacy imo.

 

[snert]

Living and working in Chicago years ago was actually a fun experience as long as you stayed out of certain neighborhoods. The ethnic neighborhoods often hosted community fairs celebrating their history through dance, art and food of course. If you ever wanted to try homemade foods at their best, these neighborhood celebrations were the place to be.

I always tried to visit a few throughout the year just for the eating experience if not the festive air of the celebrations. The Polish neighborhood was simply as good as it gets! Colors, music, dancing and food surely set the tone for a wonderful day of exploring and eating.

Kolaczki, as I was shown, is a sweet pastry cookie filled with fruit jams and prunes:

View attachment 1305701

I am no expert by any stretch but there are as many spellings, recipes and methods of making these cookies as there would be in any country with a national cookie or dish. But, no matter which one you sample, they are always a little bite of heaven when served with hot tea or cold milk! Good memories!

so thats what them little guys are called. As the local WASP on my street, i was not privy to what they are called, but got to eat em!

 

[MQ1]

My mom is Polish, my dad Hungarian and Italian.

Needless to say, it is amazing the foods I grew up eating from both sides of the family!

MQ1

 

[Fuj]

What’s wrong with borscht? If ur talking about a steady diet of it I agree. Well made it’s a simple delicacy imo.

When your in early grade school, it tasted like crap.....LOL
The ol' pallet was not yet refined.

And as for Italian Pirohy's ?? I'll destroy a plate full of Ravioli's.
Beef filled of course with tomato and mozerella !! Me and eating
go way back....LOL

 

[jimmymac]

When your in early grade school, it tasted like crap.....LOL
The ol' pallet was not yet refined.

And as for Italian Pirohy's ?? I'll destroy a plate full of Ravioli's.
Beef filled of course with tomato and mozerella !! Me and eating
go way back....LOL

I grew up in an ethnic neighborhood in the 60's and 70's. Italians eat cheese ravioli! Poles eat potato and cheese pierogi! There really is no other way. LOL Merry Christmas to you Fuj.

 

[KMart]

You guys are killing me. I am of Czech decent and grew up with and related to a lot of Poles, Germans and Czechs. I need to live closer to the Czech bakeries in the central Texas area. I'm HUNGRY.