The preservation of long-standing customs is a heartwarming endeavor. They are able to remain active in the family by remembering and preparing the dishes that my ancestors brought with them from Europe. This ensures that these recipes may be handed down to subsequent generations and enjoyed by yet another generation. Despite the fact that both of my grandparents have been absent from my life for more than four decades, the influence that their meals had on my life was significant. When my ancestors arrived in the United States from Europe in the early 1900s, they brought with them their knowledge of the meals and customs of the region. They came from both the Slovak and the Serbian side of the family. In my opinion, the two festivals that are most closely associated with the consumption of traditional meals are Easter and Christmas. Traditional food baskets were crafted by both sides of the family, and they were brought to their respective churches to be blessed once they arrived. The traditions of the region are quite prevalent, despite the fact that Slovakia and Serbia are not geographically near to one another. As a result of the fact that the last Easter I may have celebrated with one of my grandparents was around 44 years ago, my personal recollections are vague in some details while being clear in other areas. In recent times, I have been experiencing a sense of urgency to make contact with my siblings in order to ascertain whether or not they still possess memories that I have removed from my memory. Ham, sausage, egg cheese, bread, beets with horseradish, salt, butter, Easter eggs, and a candle are the goods that are customarily included in the basket of meals that are to be blessed. There is a possibility that other items were included. I remember that the baskets were brought to church, but I don’t remember much more than that. meals that are traditionally prepared Beets with horseradish and egg cheese are two examples of classic meals that are not as often consumed in the United States as they are in other countries. In recent times, it seems that dishes with horseradish and beets have started appearing all over the place. Naturally, it is not the same as the traditional one that my grandmother cooked, but the combination of those two things has suddenly been clear. horseradish and beets together The recipe that was handed down to me by my Serb grandmother consisted of grated beets that had been boiled or canned and then combined with horseradish that had been bottled to taste. The proportions in the recipe are malleable and change based on the number of people in the household and how much horseradish they are able to handle. It is possible to add about one tablespoon of horseradish to two jars of beets that have been thoroughly drained and shredded. Depending on the circumstances, this amount may be raised or lowered. Between one and three tablespoons of sugar are added to the mixture. All of the components are well combined, and then they may be spooned into jars until they are required. This beetroot dish is used as a condiment to accompany the ham and other items that are a part of the Easter meal. The traditional Easter paska bread may be used to make a sandwich with ham or sausage, or it can be served as a side dish on the plate. Both of these configurations are possible. I am unable to recollect the name of the meal that consists of horseradish and beets that is served in Serbia. According to what I’ve read, this may be referred to as ren, hren, chrin, and a great number of other names, depending on the region from whence it originates. cheese made with eggs The only word I can remember hearing for this specific meal is sirets, which is the name given to it in the Serbo-Croatian language. This word is pronounced as “see rets,” with the letter r being trilled in the pronunciation. Although it is one of the classic cuisines that I have never been a fan of, my father really adored it. As my mother never managed to make it, I approached my grandmother and requested for her recipe so that I could continue the practice. The instructions that she gave me were to put a dozen eggs and one quart of whole milk in a pan, mix them together very well, and then add a little amount of sugar and salt to the mixture. Over the course of my experience, I have discovered that around two tablespoons of sugar and salt are satisfactory. Over low heat, the mixture is stirred continuously while being cooked on the stove. This process continues until the eggs begin to cook and separate. Following the completion of the separation process, the mixture is placed into a colander that is lined with cheesecloth so that it may drain. After the cheesecloth has been drained, the ends are pulled together and secured, and the ball is then hung to continue the process of draining as it continues. The cheesecloth ball was hanging upside down from the faucet in grandma’s kitchen. Following the completion of the cooling process, the egg cheese ball is then put in the refrigerator to continue to solidify and chill. After it has been prepared for consumption, the cheesecloth is removed and the cheese is cut. paska bread This decadent bread baked with butter and eggs was mostly prepared for either Easter or Christmas. And for Thanksgiving, my mother, who is Slovak, also cooked it. The bread is delicious, and I have been making it according to this recipe ever since the 1970s. It has been our everyday bread. It is possible that it was once a traditional bread that was only used for these rare feasts; nonetheless, the bread is much too good to be restricted in its usage. A variant that is simple to prepare in my heavy-duty stand mixer has been developed by me at this point. In preparation for Easter, the bread is braided, either in the form of a ring, a circular loaf with a little braid on top, or in a loaf that is themselves braided. The act of preserving traditions for the benefit of one’s children is a good task since it provides them with a feeling of belonging in the world. In this day and age of fusion cuisine, the purpose of this is not to split or separate cultures; rather, it is to preserve the dishes in their most unadulterated form so that they may continue to distinguish themselves from the rest of the throng. It is my sincere gratitude that you have chosen to read this essay. It is my hope that you found it to be helpful and that it assisted you in your own culinary journey. Please go to my website. a concord for the taste buds You may find my blog at a symphony of tastes blog, my marketplace at a harmony of flavors marketplace, or my facebook page at a harmony of flavors. I am looking forward to seeing you there!
I love myBlogd
