Ok, ok I have been really terrible about writing and I am sorry. But after some prodding, and ego stroking I’m back!

 

I think one of the greatest things you can ever experience in life, other than food, is family. And around our families we build traditions, most of them playing out heavily around various holidays. My family is no exception. We have an AMAZING 4th of July party every year (my favorite holiday actually), and hold traditions around Christmas and Thanksgiving but also around Easter. I love the annual Americanized tradition of dip dyeing eggs, and filling plastic eggs with candy for the kids to hunt for in my parents’ backyard. But the traditions that I look forward to even more so, are centered on the food. I love the preparation, the togetherness of cooking with the women in my family, and I absolutely love eating it. And being Polish there are some foods, that are an absolute must try for you newbies, I crave all year round for my Mom to make.

Let’s touch on the process first. There is nothing to bring together the women (or men) of a family like cooking in my opinion. And this doesn’t have to be around the holidays, but it’s great because it brings about traditions that you can pass on from generation to generation that are then seen with such love and appreciation. I feel incredibly lucky that I have been blessed to be included in such, whether it be coloring eggs, or braiding the babka, or testing borscht at 9am I love it all. It’s the feeling of being part of something special that you can do year after year, it’s really incredible. So this past Easter, as many before, I awoke to some of the women in my family in the kitchen with the borscht already. For anyone that doesn’t know what it is, it’s a deliciously wonderful beet soup. You non-beet lovers may be thinking this doesn’t sound so great but it’s amazing both in its red or white form. Combine that with a lot of kielbasa, ham and hardboiled eggs and you have a sheer masterpiece of flavors. Once the borscht was completed, and I had finished my obligatory run so I can indulge in Easter, we moved onto the babka bread. Now, I don’t know how many (if any) of you have ever made bread in general before, but let me tell you it’s work. And I will admit, I barely did much of it because we had opened the Prosecco and I was quite consumed with the egg coloring with another of my fabulous aunts. However, after the rising, kneading, and punching I volunteered to show off my crazy good braiding skills and made me some babka bread. This, my dear readers, is something every Polish girl should experience in her life. I then sat back and watched as the potatoes were made in preparation for Sunday’s feast and the final day-before tasks were accomplished, and waited to feast on a warm piece of bread right out of the oven. It’s so worth any wait.

As you all know I’m no stranger to eating, so of course I did not object to an amazing lamb dinner made that night (yes, we had a huge lamb dinner the night before Easter- this is a judgment free zone, remember?). We had some wine and laughs, watched a movie and then all settled in for a good night’s rest.

Finally the day arrived! I’ll admit, I was a horrible Catholic and did not attend mass. But my adorable new nephew was there and I mean, how could I leave him? Obviously he would notice if I was gone… So we prepared at a leisurely pace, slicing the kielbasa and making a massive meat tray for the borscht. Adorning the ham with fresh pineapple rings and cherries, I love the pineapple. Getting the veggies prepped so they just needed to be heated and brought out at the right time, and making sure the cold veggie salad stayed in the fridge with the multi-color Jell-O mold until we were just about to start. Our Easter always happens this way, and I love that about it. Nothing out of place, everyone pitches in, and then everyone complains about how full they are after the borscht, but then proceeds to eat the main course. I love this, I live for this and nothing makes me happier.

Finally, as the eggs are hunter, and the to-go’s are being packed we all indulge on a sweet treat or two that come from a Polish bakery in New Britain. Polish treats are quite delicious, whether filled with fruits, or poppy seeds, or chocolate we all feel the familiar excitement each year as the saran is taken off and we can make our choices. Then we all move from our Easter best, to comfies but one thing never leaves me… the bling. This year was no exception as I adorned myself with a fabulous new bracelet (http://www.baublebar.com/original-pave-links-bracelet.html).

So ladies and gents, THIS is my Easter. I hope you have some traditions of your own!

Bon appetit!