I have been feeling a bit under the weather the past few days. My mom thinks it has to do with my non-stop schedule…hmmm Anyways, I took 2 days off work to “relax” and it was really difficult!! It harder than it sounds..at least for me.. when I have a 100 things I want/need to do.
I managed to snuggle up with Freddy and my Kindle to finish reading Me before you! We’re having a book club meeting next Wednesday so I better catch up quick.
Back to the topic… SOUP!! We had 3 days of soup: chicken noodle, tomato basil and, yesterday I made Cauliflower and Cheddar Soup…with parsnips for added flavor.
I made a separate batch for Freddy w/o the onions or added spices – he got parsley though- really good for dogs! (nerd fact: Parsley freshens your pooches breath and provides phytochemicals. It also has Vitamin C, Vitamin K, carotenoids, B vitamins, iron and limonene)
Here is the recipe. Serve with some crusty bread- I made Guy Fieri’sVegan garlic bread to go with.
I realllllly don’t like the smell of tuna fish, nor do I have a desire to ever try it! My mother never really bought food in a can when we were growing up so I guess I am just not accustomed to canned tuna… Recently, I got a Spice Tuna sushi roll and liked it but I’m sure that tastes a lot different than canned tuna fish? I guess if I’m ever stuck on a deserted island and the only thing available is canned tuna fish – I would eat it- but until that happens – don’t pack this girl a tuna fish sandwich! The perfect alternative, however, is Isa Does it, Chicky “Tuna” Salad sandwich. It is vegan and made from chickpeas which some people suggest they have a tuna fish taste? I wouldn’t know…
Can you guess what’s for dinner tonight? Pierogi, of course. Okay, if you didn’t realize it by my blog name, I really like pierogi – but what are they? I just assume everyone knows! In case you have no idea what the heck pierogiare, today is the day to get acquainted!
Quick history: The pierogi, a descendent of Eastern Europe culinary traditions, arrived in the U.S. in the early 1900s. During the 1940s, these crescent-shaped pockets became a staple of fundraisers held by churches in the northeast and throughout the upper Midwest. By the early 1950s, pierogi appeal began broadening among Americans of all ethnicities….
I found some interesting facts about Pierogi that should also get you up to speed on this yummy food!
Pierogi or pierogis?
The word pierogis is popular in U.S. and Canada because it underlines a ‘plurality’. However, the word ‘pierogi’ is already plural in the Polish language! Its grammatical singular equivalent ‘pieróg’ is never used. It has a completely different meaning. Pierog, translated into English language: pyrih, is actually an Ukrainian pie. So, use Pierogi when taking about one or many! My site is in the plural English form clearly J
The Pierogi Race
Pittsburgh Pirates baseball team organizes the so-called ‘pierogi race’ during their games. Four types of pierogi called Sauerkraut Saul, Cheese Chester, Jalapeno Hannah and Oliver Onion take part in the race. Pittsburgh, by the way, consumes 11 times more pierogi than any other city in the U.S.
Types:
Ruskie pierogi, with a potato & cheese filling, are the most well known. During the holidays, my family also makes sauerkraut (pierogi z kapustą kwaszoną) and mushroom pierogi, as well as dried plum pierogi. Then there’s meat-filled ones – my grandparents usually make these after thanksgiving or Christmas, if we have left-over turkey meat – one of my favorites actually!! Topped with gravy… yummy! Then there are some that could pass for dessert and embrace the seasonal fruits – such as apples and cinnamon (pierogi z jabłkami i cynamonem) or blueberries (pierogi z jagodami). You want to top the sweet ones with a sour cream and sugar mixture.
Pierogi and Polish pierożki
An interesting fact about the Polish language is that most of Polish nouns have a diminutive form and an appropriate hypocorism. Most of Polish diminutives mean a thing smaller than the base word. For example, the simple Polish word dom (house and home) has both a diminutive form domek (small house) and a hypocorism domeczek (emotional). Most often, the diminutive and hypocorism have a positive, emotional inclination. My grandparents always used the diminutive forms when I was a little girl!! I hear it mostly used when talking to young children. The diminutive form of pierogi is pierożki. You can use it in order to express your admiration for the taste of this Polish dish.
Guinness record in making pierogi
The Guinness record in making pierogi belongs to ten students from a Catering School in Wroclaw, Poland. In 100 minutes they managed to make as many as 1663 pierogi.. After cooking and packing, the pierogi were sent to Wroclaw children’s homes. Sweet!
The “Pierogy Pocket” is an area spanning the Northeast and Midwest United States where pierogi consumption is the highest, due to the large concentrations of Eastern European immigrants in these areas. The “Pierogy Pocket” makes up 68 percent of pierogi consumption in the U.S.
You know, the Chinese have potstickers and the Italian’s have ravioli. The Polish have Pierogi. Hope you try some tonight! My grandfather’s “famous” family recipe: coming soon! Keep a look out!
I went Vegan for Lent, so 40 days. I made sure we finished everything that comes from an animal before we started so we wouldn’t be tempted. When I say, we, I’m saying I made Nico do this with me! He did it more by default since I was the one grocery shopping, packing lunches and making dinner while he started grad school .. When we got back from our Jamaican vaca- all inclusive, so alcohol and food all the time non stop – We needed a cleanse which is how the 2 things came together (Lent & Cleanse) = Vegan Challenge
Anyways, his cousins got me this book for our housewarming party. ISA DOES IT – all Vegan recipes. At first, I didn’t’ know what Vegan was.. I thought vegetarian- only eat vegetables- no meat. okay can’t be that hard. But when I realized Vegan meant NO animal products whatsoever, I knew I had a challenge ahead of me. Being for Polsih decent, there really isn’t a meal that doesn’t include some type of meat.. Kielbasa, hello! or dairy- Sour cream on top of CHEESE Pierogie — yummmy, sour cream on top of everything for that matter! (My 1st Vegan Bible-Legit amazing!)
So Nico’s cousins (my inspirations for this challenge) have been vegan for 5, going on 6 years now. I will have them guest blog soon to offer up some advice and give insight into why they went Vegan and the benefits/challenges they face…
But in the meantime, let me go ahead and share this Tofu Scramble Recipe– I had my friend over last night and she requested I make her this b/c its that delish!! I usually make it at the end of the work week; when I have leftover veggies and need a way to wrap them all up into something easy and good. I usually pair it with potatoes pancakes, vegan garlic bread, in a sandwich, with a salad, on top of quinoa… anything you feel like really!
Tofu scramble with some Vegan Garlic Bread (recipe coming soon)
Colder nights mean summer is winding down and the season for warm SOUP is upon us. I’d totally be lying if I said I didn’t eat soup even if its 90 degrees out! I grew up with soup being a part of almost every meal. My Babcia (grandmother) would ALWAYS be making some variety with whatever summer veggies were around, so I am used to eating soup in the summer… but for everyone else… Welcome to Soup Season!
Barszcz Czerwony (Polish Red Beet Borscht)
Copyright 2011-2012 European Market Deli & Cafe
I had some extra beets and potatoes left over from the Farmers Market, and I feel like I haven’t had eggs in a while…. so as a result… I made Borscht for dins. Here is my recipe derived mostly from memory and taste. I don’t really like to follow recipes; so I kind of make it work until it tastes AMAZE.
Can you guess what’s for dinner tonight? 
