If you came over on any given weekend when we were growing up on the Northwest side of Chicago, you’d encounter a couple of staple things. The smell of Windex in the air as weekends were for cleaning, the sound of cartoons playing on our old-school box tv, and the […]
Balkan winter food is something else let me tell you. Between the smoked meats, pickled veggies, heaps of sarma, and all the warm fluffy homemade breads it’s unlike anything else. The weather may be crumby outside, but the nostalgic memories of childhood these signature “winter foods” evoke the warmest, most […]
When I think of special occasions and what that looked like growing up, I always remember the cakes being the best part. Everyone eagerly awaited to see “The Cake”. Tall, short, fancy, or very simple, someone was always either bringing a cake to an event or there were so many […]
A tried and true recipe, Tufahije are the perfect end to any meal. While I don’t remember eating them often growing up, they were a staple in every Balkan pastry shop I visited and they were sometimes served when we went over to someone’s house for dinner or as a […]
When I think of Balkan comfort food, I think of slow-cooked meats and stews, baked savory dishes, and hot, freshly baked bread. So when I remembered this Ćulbastije recipe last weekend, I knew I had to share it right away so you can enjoy some comfort too! This is one […]
If you’re familiar with Serbian culture, then you’ll know the importance of Slava. If you’re unfamiliar, each family celebrates a Patron Saint and on that day an integral part of the ritual is the cutting of the Slavski Kolač, or Slava bread translated. The most important component is definitely the […]
If you know anything about Balkan cuisine, then you know it can definitely be meat-heavy. In fact, some older generations often joke that it’s not a meal unless there’s meat on the table. And even though I enjoy eating meat, I don’t necessarily need to have it for every meal. […]
Sometimes nothing beats an old-fashioned pogača to warm the soul. Soft, pillowy, and in this case stuffed with tasty deli meats and cheeses, this recipe is simple and delicious. Across the Balkans, but especially in Serbia, a pogača is very symbolic. Used in rituals for events like weddings, and baptisms, […]
Notice the absence of an appropriate translation for this recipe. Yeah, I had no idea how to go about even attempting to translate it. It’s not a stew and it’s not a gravy. It’s not a sauce. It’s literally its own thing – a Muckalica! By the way, am I […]
When Fall rolls around, it’s a pumpkin bonanza everywhere you go. Back home, fields are littered with bright pumpkins in various shapes and sizes and it’s quite a sight. I’m from a small village so whenever I’m visiting as summer slowly transitions to fall, all of the preparations for winter […]
