Category: Holidays

Poppy seed & walnut rolls

| November 17, 2012 | 4 Comments
Poppy seed & walnut rolls

No other time are poppy seed (mákos) and walnut (diós) rolls most enjoyed than during the holiday season. These sweet rolls have always been a favorite and almost every family prides themselves on having a great recipe to make them. In this version, the rolls are made from yeast dough which gives them a rich, [...]

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Hungary’s birthday cake

| August 16, 2012 | 0 Comments
Hungary’s birthday cake

Every year a special birthday cake is prepared to celebrate St. Stephen’s Day, the country’s foundation on August 20th. Confectioners from all over the country are encouraged to submit their best creations. Entrants range from master confectioners to ambitious bakers. The cakes are judged by the National Guild of Hungarian Confectioners according to their flavor, [...]

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Pinca: Croatian Easter bread

| February 15, 2012 | 3 Comments
Pinca: Croatian Easter bread

An Easter tradition in Croatia, pinca also known as sirnica is a sweet bread that is flavored with raisins, rum and citrus zest. It is commonly shaped into a round loaf that is marked with a cross to symbolize the Crucifixion of Christ. Another variation is to tuck hard-boiled colored Easter eggs into the bread’s [...]

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Traditional Hungarian Christmas foods

| December 15, 2011 | 8 Comments
Traditional Hungarian Christmas foods

To Hungarian children, of course, it’s all about Mikulás. But for the grown-ups, Christmas celebrations in Hungary focus a lot on the culinary delights. Here are a few of the highlights. Halászlé (Fish Soup) As a relic of the earlier church tradition of fasting for Advent, it is still traditional for fish to be eaten [...]

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Paprenjak

| December 6, 2011 | 0 Comments
Paprenjak

Paprenjak is a traditional Croatian biscuit that contains a unique mix of honey, walnuts, pepper and spices. Its origin is still unclear but it  is known to have existed since the 16th century and more lately its become a family tradition in many Croatian homes to make paprenjak for Christmas. To make paprenjak you need special wooden mould’s [...]

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Hungarian Christmas honey cookies

| December 3, 2011 | 7 Comments
Hungarian Christmas honey cookies

Honey cookies also known as mézeskalács are a traditional Christmas treat in Hungary and are often sold at festivals and markets. Similar to gingerbread, these cookies are made with honey and spices and are decorated with white sugar icing.  This recipe is an adaptation from Nora Papp’s recipe, who is the creator and editor of Wise Lady, a [...]

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Fritule

| November 25, 2011 | 1 Comment
Fritule

Fritule is a traditional Croatian pastry that is most commonly made for  Christmas. Although very similar to a doughnut these fluffy pastries are actually much smaller in size and are shaped into round balls. In this recipe, sour cream and grated apples are used to give it a richer taste. They make an excellent accompaniment to [...]

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Russian Easter bread

| March 20, 2011 | 7 Comments
Russian Easter bread

This recipe for kulich is by food blogger Alina Petropavlovska and her mother who have  kept the tradition of baking this sweet bread for Easter every year. She says this recipe reminds her of the incense they use in the Orthodox church as it combines the perfect blend of spices. A few tricks that Alina has recommended for making a great kulich involves kneading the dough [...]

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Carnival doughnuts

| February 22, 2011 | 0 Comments
Carnival doughnuts

Farsang is known as the carnival season in Hungary,  is the time where Hungarians celebrate with rich and fatty foods. In particular, the Fánk, similar to a doughnut is a common treat for many locals. Ingredients 1 tsp (8 grams) active dry yeast 2 cups (474 ml) warm milk 1/2 cup  (125 grams) granulated sugar 1/2 tsp [...]

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Potato pancakes

| September 7, 2010 | 3 Comments
Potato pancakes

Ingredients 6 large potatoes, peeled and shredded 2 eggs, beaten 1 onion, finely chopped 1-2 garlic cloves, crushed 1 cup (115 grams) flour 4 tbsp (50 grams)butter 4 tbsp (50 grams) oil salt and pepper to taste Directions In a large bowl, add the eggs, flour, salt, and pepper. Mix in the potatoes, onions, and [...]

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