getting bold with borscht One of my favorite things to whip up over the winter was just a pot of hearty, flavorful borscht. It’s pretty easy to make–just boil some beets with other veggies and some herbs–and I would just keep jars of it in the fridge whenever I was in the mood for it. …
honey, honey This Ukrainian honey cake, or medivnyk, is one of my grandmother’s recipes, and is one of my all-time favorites. Augmented with cozy spices like cinnamon and cloves, as well as walnuts for a little crunch, this is a great little sweet to serve around the holidays (or just because). Enjoy it in the …
handmade is better I don’t know if it’s even possible to be Ukrainian without loving pierogies. And it’s not even just the fact that they’re made up of fluffy, savory potato or cabbage filling swaddled in a tender blanket of dough, but it’s also the feeling of nostalgia and familiarity that comes with eating and …
giving pork chops a good name I used to absolutely dread having pork chops for dinner when I was younger. There was nothing fun about eating them–they were tough and tasteless, and it took way too long to finish chewing a single bite. That’s still pretty much the case when I make a regular old …
don’t buck the buckwheat trend This buckwheat cereal, or “kasha,” is the most perfect, satisfying meal for breakfast, lunch, and/or dinner. This gluten-free cereal isn’t made of grains but rather groats, and it has a nice warm, nutty flavor. While you can easily make it a sweet dish, my favorite way to enjoy buckwheat is …
i dare you to dumpling Once in awhile (actually, pretty often) I’m just in the mood for some Ukrainian comfort food. These finger dumplings are essentially the Ukrainian version of Italian gnocchi which you may have heard of. These dumplings probably have a more official name in Ukrainian cuisine, but we would just call them …
Reminiscing about potatoes This is one of my all-time favorite recipes as a kid, and it take me all the way back to the days when my grandmother would babysit me. Those were the good old days, and I remember fondly the time I would spend just one-on-one with my Bunia. She’s from Ukraine, so …
tasty nostalgia This cranberry walnut bread is a classic recipe of my grandmother’s, and it’s one of my favorite nostalgic treats during the holiday season. Even though we’re past the holidays, you can certainly enjoy this sweet and nutty bread throughout the winter and let it bring you comfort. Paired best with a warming cup …
it’s not all gravy, baby Sometimes gravy gives me the ick, but this mushroom sauce is definitely not gravy. Sure, it has the similar methods and the same utility as gravy, but this sauce is delicious and it’s a keeper. Not to mention an absolute staple on my Thanksgiving or Christmas Eve dinner table. This …
you’ve got the beet In case you didn’t already know, beets are kind of a big deal in Ukrainian cooking. But it isn’t just borscht and boiled beets for a side—there are many different ways to put these carmine veggies to use, including this shredded beet salad (or ‘cwikla’ in Ukrainian). We would typically enjoy …