Palachinky -- Slovak Food.

August 20, 2013.

I know that there are a few members of this family who would like to try to make and eat those luscious palachinky that taste so good. I have a recipe for them, and to make it easier for anyone, decided to add a lot of hints, etcetera, to it. 

   ~~~~~    So, here is the recipe and information that I prepared for the Palachinky Lovers: 

" Slovak Palachinky.  It is also spelled palacinky, with a little check over the c, to pronounce it like ‘ch’ as in chest. Many years ago my Mom Josephine, Gram B, used to make palachinky for a meal now and then, and we really loved them.

     ~   Very thin crepes, use a filling and roll them up, then heat, and eat!.  ~

These are the ingredients: 2 eggs, 1 c milk, 1 tsp sugar, 1 c flour, ½ tsp salt, 1 Tbl melted butter.

Mix dry ingredients, add eggs one at a time; beat well, and add some milk for a thin batter.

Beat until smooth. Stir in melted butter. The batter should look like heavy cream.

Pour a measured amount of batter into the well-greased pan. A small pan would need less batter than a larger one. Just experiment if this is your first attempt.  

Some people like to put only two tablespoonfuls batter in the pan to make very thin pancakes.

Pour 1/4 to ½ cup batter into heated, lightly greased medium-to-large skillet, swirl batter around to coat the bottom of the pan. Cook the palachinky for about one minute or until you see little bubbles form on the surface. Then flip and cook the other side in the same manner; watching carefully so that it doesn’t burn.

(When browned on lower side, turn over and lightly brown the other side.) Place on a flat dish. Spread your desired jam, or other fillings, and roll up the Palachinky. Some people eat them as they are rolled up, but some wait until all the thin pancakes are done, rolled up and heated. 

Repeat the process until all of the thin pancakes are done. Spread the desired filling on all of the thin pancakes, and place them in a rectangular baking dish to bake in a 350˚ oven for approximately 40-45 minutes.

Or you may place the rolled-up palachinky in the frying pan to heat.

Some of the fillings are cottage cheese mixed with egg and sugar; thick applesauce; or sour cream. You may also use dried fruit purees like apricots or prunes.

Some people like powdered sugar on the thin pancake, then rolled up. Other fillings can be pie filling, cooked fruits, jelly, or fresh fruit.

You may use apple butter or preserves, to your liking.

You might even try savory, instead of sweet, palachinky. It’s almost like putting on toppings of your desire, as in pizza.

Some people even use bananas, ice cream, strawberries, or whatever they think of. "  

I'll see you at the Corner Post ...

Nap; Walk; Heat; Birds; One Flower.

August 4, 2013.

Hello, You over there, 

I've been on a hiatus for a few weeks, and it's good to be back here.

There's a storm coming in, we know not when, but the forecast says possibly overnight tonight, and tomorrow. Thunderstorms and rain. The skies look stormy in places, and I hope the storms bring only rain, no damage or injury. 

I was getting quite tired this afternoon, so a Power Nap was in order. I wasn't aware of falling asleep; I suddenly woke up and found that I slept twelve minutes. Aah, how refreshing these Power Naps are! Sometimes I sleep only six or seven minutes, and sometimes about eighteen. Feels so good! 

Then I suddenly had the idea of taking a walk, and did so. That took about eighteen minutes, on my usual route. I, of course, had to stop at least four or five times to catch my breath. I'm no spring chicken these days. Besides, it was quite warm outdoors, and I chose to do this in late afternoon. Early morning is better. There are some mocking birds around the neighborhood and still feeding their young, it seems. One of the adults was on a driveway as I passed, and I noticed that it had its beak open part way. "Oh, dear", I thought, "that bird is very thirsty." So, RAIN, come on down!  

A flower that I cannot identify is still blooming on a mailbox post. It has six open white petals about two inches long in a large flat circle, and the plant is a climber. The remains of the  flowers are about one-inch spirals of fibers in a circle or sphere. It is so beautiful, the flower itself, but the plant is probably approaching its end-of-summer stopping-to-grow cycle. Most of it is dried up. I stopped to visit with it a bit on the way up and also on the way back. There is a tiny bud sort of coming out from under the flower petals. I should have had my camera with me! I must remember to take it with me the next time I walk that route. 

I'll see you at the Corner Post ...

This Is A Really Odd Day!

June 27,  2013.

Hello, family: I am sitting at the computer working on one of my projects, and the window is only 5 feet away from me, facing north. I heard some rumbling that sounded like movers, but movers "up there" somewhere. Sunny! I see sunshine on the ground, through the window. The house next door is right there, so I don't see any sky. 

Then I heard a FedEx plane go by so close, as usual because the airport is only ten minutes away, and it made a loud noise. Oh, I thought, it's the airplanes, they go by twice a day, about fifteen or twenty planes departing in early morning, and then again in the afternoon. I went back to my project. 

Again, there was that rolling sound, a little more explicit and loud. I went to the front door (west) to check out the sky, I just couldn't believe it!  It was sunny and no storm in sight. So I went to the back of the house (east) to look through the bathroom window, and sure enough, the sky was quite dark, with that stormy color of odd deep blue, and I also heard the next thunder raps. 

I came back to the computer, and the graphic picture on the weather page does not show any kind of storm! I haven't seen such a mysterious thing for a lonnnnng time.  

Ooooh, it's thundering again. I would like some rain to cool things down outdoors, but not such a thunderstorm. It seems that it's going to be a strong one. Maybe. Perhaps. I hope not. 

I just looked out the east window, and the stormy overcast sky seems to be so small, not broad and wide as most of the thunderstorms are. This one seems to be a 'skinny-ma-link' storm. But golly, it just rumbled so near and scary, I'm getting jittery. 

Okay, now, here is another mystery for me to figure out. The term 'skinny-ma-link' popped out of my brain as I was writing the previous paragraph, and I don't know from where! So I googled it and found it immediately! The first link has "Skinny Malinky Long Legs". 

I faintly remember hearing someone say, of some skinny child, "You're a skinny malink!" It could have been meant for me, because I wasn't fond of eating when I was very young. Someone said I was a picky eater and skinny. (I'm not, anymorrrrre!)

Another link is http://www.mamalisa.com/blog/to-the-gnat-a-poem-with-mp3-recording/ 

Try it, you might like it. 

Oh, now I see, the graphic on the computer is showing that the storm that just made all those rumbles is heading for Olive Branch, and several more of those smallish thunderstorms are heading southeast to Memphis, from Jonesboro, Arkansas. I'll have a little respite now. But watch out later! 

I'll see you at the Corner Post ...

This is for those who like kale.

June 26, 2013.

Hello, Chefs and Diners, AGAIN! 

In a cup of water, pour a tablespoon of olive oil, and half a teaspoon of butter. After you have rinsed off the leaves of kale, pulled the leaves off the stalks and broken them into bite size pieces, put them in the frying pan with the liquid I mentioned. By the way, do not discard the stalks. Cut them into three-quarter-inch pieces and use them in vegetable soup. 

Add two dashes of black pepper, a dash of dill weed, a dash or two of garlic powder, a teaspoon of dried chopped onion, a teaspoon of honey, a couple of dashes of Italian seasoning, two dashes of paprika, a dash or two of turmeric powder, and hmmm, let's see, I was staring at the spices in my little cupboard, and wondered what I could add. I probably should have quit at that point, but I was interested in adding something else. I glanced upward and spied the chili powder. I thought that a dash or two would be just fine.   NOT.

I took the chili powder and shook it not gently and there came three heavy dashes of chili powder, much more than I had wanted. Oh, dear! I was too quick in stirring and it was too late. Well, I thought, I can freeze this in small quantities and it will eventually be eaten by me. 

Simmering vegetables is one of my favorite ways to cook them. I brought it to a boil, covered it, and let it simmer away, stirring now and then and watching the amount of water that remained. I didn't want a lot of water, just enough to keep it moistened. I took a taste of it to see what it was like. Not very good, so I then added a teaspoonful of cider vinegar, and let it simmer for another fifteen minutes.

 

The kale was cooking quite well, and my next taste-testing took place. I masticated it and it really wasn't that bad, so I took another taste and said aloud, 'MMMmmm" and then "mmmMMMMMM!" What a nice surprise that was, to like the end result of the way I seasoned the kale. 

I must say that I did not freeze any of it. I ate a serving or three, and left the second half of it for tomorrow or the next day. I learned a lesson, though: we must use a measuring spoon instead of using too much muscle to shake dashes of spices out. As old as I am, sometimes I never learn. 

I'll see you at the Corner Post ...

What Spices Go With Black Beans?

June 25, 2013.  

Good day, my dear chefs, and diners, 

I am making a meal in a frying pan, beginning with a little olive oil and butter, simmering black beans with onion, garlic, green peppers, tomato juice, a tablespoon of raw white rice, and seasonings. I went online to get an idea of what seasonings to use. This page came up, and I am sending it to you, just in case you might like to try some of these beans and seasoning combinations. (The first one is ADUKI beans. I thought they were Adzuki beans.) 

I'm getting hungry, now, just looking at this list. Can't wait to have my dinner ~ it smells so good. The  seasonings I put in are these: Dijon mustard, cumin, thyme, a little oregano, basil, a bit of cayenne pepper, rosemary, and a teaspoon of cider vinegar. I just tasted half a teaspoonful of the food. Not bad! Not bad at all. Except that perhaps I used a tad too much of cumin. I do like experimenting and exploring when I cook.  

• Aduki Beans: coriander, cumin, ginger

• Black Beans: bay leaf, chile peppers, cilantro, coriander, cumin, epazote, garlic, ginger, oregano, parsley, savory, thyme

• Black-Eyed Peas: bay leaf, cayenne, chile peppers, cinnamon, cloves, coriander, cumin, ginger, turmeric

• Cannellini Beans: parsley, sage, savory, tarragon, thyme

• Chickpeas (Garbanzo Beans): cardamom, cilantro, coriander, cumin, fennel, garlic, ginger, mint, paprika, parsley, rosemary

• Fava Beans: basil, cilantro, cumin, fennel, garlic, mint, parsley, rosemary, sage, savory, thyme

• Flageolet Beans: parsley, savory, thyme

• Kidney Beans: bay leaf, cumin, fennel, oregano, parsley, sage, savory, thyme

• Lentils: bay leaf, cardamom, cilantro, cinnamon, cloves, coriander, cumin, curry, ginger, mint, parsley, oregano, thyme, turmeric

• Lima Beans: cilantro, mint, parsley, sage

• Mung Beans: cilantro, coriander, cumin, ginger

• Navy Beans: basil, bay leaf, garlic, parsley, savory, thyme

• Pinto Beans: chile peppers, cilantro, cumin, oregano, parsley, savory

I'll see you at the Corner Post ...

Groceries; Handicapped; Apology.

June 14, 2013.

It was quite a day today. I had an appointment with the senior bus to take me to the grocery store. Around 10:20 am, the bus driver phoned to let me know he was about ten minutes away and would pick me up. He arrived at 10:30, and I was quite pleased to get this grocery run over with.      NOT.

He dropped me off at one of the Kroger's, and I was as happy as a lark to get busy shopping. I took my time, trying to find this and that, that I needed. I hadn't been to the grocery store in a few weeks. I needed eggs, meat, greens, carrots, popcorn, Scotch tape, and ice cream. Along with other things, too. 

At almost noon, I phoned the driver to see how far away he was ~ Hernando! It would take him at least a half hour or 35 minutes to get to where I was, and besides that, he had to pick up someone and take them home, THEN come and get me. I said that I would browse a little, and then check out my groceries. I thought he'd be there by that time.      NOT. 

I decided that instead of browsing I would buy myself a lunch (it turned out to be a big lunch so I brought half of it home), and went to the little corner in Kroger's where they sell people some lunch and there are three little tables with chairs there. I had a pleasant time eating, and put the container with leftover food in my grocery cart, and checked out. 

Did that, and waited near the front door, inside the entry, and sat in one of those motorized scooter / shopping vehicles. Sat and sat, and kept looking at each person who came in or out. Ho hum. I did have a pleasant time, though, taking in all those sights of different people, different hairdos, different clothing, little kids, big kids, tall men, heavy women, over-weight men and slender women, different nationalities, watched a little girl trying to get that machine with the hook-grabber, to catch a stuffed toy inside the windows. "No soap", poor little girl. 

I was a little worried about one item I had in my shopping bag-on-wheels with a water-proof lining. The beloved item was a carton of vanilla ice cream. I succumbed again, buying dairy, but it had only four ingredients in it, and that's why I bought it. I was hoping it wouldn't melt into a smoothie before I got home. 

Suddenly the driver phoned me again, and said he'd be coming along shortly, in about ten minutes.      NOT.

It was fifteen minutes, and I eagerly got up and went outside, as he was pulling up and parking. He was gracious to put my groceries into the bus, and he even took the cart back in. Very kind, he really is. And we were on our way!        NOT. 

He drove and then went toward the out-patient door of the hospital to pick up a woman who can't walk very well. He had to help in getting her onto the pull-down lift for wheel chairs and walkers. She very slowly made her way into the bus because she cannot bend her extremely swollen and bandaged knee, and I became very empathetic about her medical difficulties. 

She finally got seated, and I kept thinking about her greatly swollen leg, with the very bad knee. I had been having trouble with my knee, and swollen leg, and wasn't happy to have that condition, but suddenly I changed my mind about myself. How painful her knee is, how handicapped she is, how sorry I feel for her and her pain and inability to do what she wishes. In other words, I feel truly blessed to be able to walk around, do my chores, shop for my groceries, and bend my knees. I shall get down on my knees this evening and thank God that I am so much more capable than I had thought! May this woman regain her ability to walk better, very soon. 

I apologize for being frustrated because I had to wait. Pooh! that was nothing.  

I'll see you at the Corner Post ...  

Been Posting Family Stories; Ice Cream Van; Marching Bands.

June 7, 2013.

Hello, you sweet dears! 

I've been posting some notes that my Mom had written on various pieces of paper. Little anecdotes that she remembered from her childhood, and her youth, and some characteristics of the older members of the families. It is tedious work and a little slow. I have been at it for a few hours, and I am quitting for the day. 

She was very fortunate to obtain much information from the priest in our ancestral village in Europe, too, and I've been browsing through them. We have a large extended family, since she was one of nine children. 

My Dad's family also came from the same country. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I looked out the front door to see what kind of weather is happening, and a robin made a low flight from across the street, swooping over the street knowing just where he wanted to land, and flew about three feet above the front lawn. In the blink of an eye, as he was coming in for a landing, I just KNEW that he would sit on that little concrete bench. I figured he would poo on it too, and he DID sit on it, but no...  ahem...  poo. Imagine that, he did not. But sometimes they DO poo on my bench, because there are telltale signs of it!  

I have been so intrigued by the birds recently, as I watch them flying back and forth across  the street, as they go hunting for food to feed their babies. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Yesterday when I was going outdoors to wait for Bill and Jen picking me up for Vespers, supper, and a class by Father John (love his teaching, and his sermons), I saw with such glee, the large ice cream van stopped directly across the street where there were six kids waiting. It was so exciting to see it all. These children had shorts on, and no shoes, and  they'd been playing with the hose and water in the afternoon. I had watched them for a while, earlier. They really had so much fun!

All it took for me to get excited was a glance under the van, and I quickly got my camera out. The whole length of the van between the wheels is long enough to have room for those kids to line up on the other side of the van, with their legs showing under the van. I counted fourteen legs! All I saw of those kids standing on the other side of the van was their bare legs! I had never seen such a whimsical sight, and by the time I could get my camera out and focused, there were only about six pairs of legs. I did take a shot or two of that. Then from up the street there was a little boy about five years old, walking down to the ice cream van, barefooted, hurrying gingerly, his mother a little way behind him, walking too. 

He got his ice cream cone, and headed back home; she was waiting for him about twenty feet up the street. How cute, how cute, it was! He was little, and could get his very own ice cream cone!

A few more children came from here and there, and the music kept tinkling over and over. What a joyful moment in my day! I'll bet the ice cream man was quite happy! Even the grown-up (looking after all those kids) had some ice cream. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

By the way, The Drummers are back! The percussion departments at schools really do well in preparation for the band concerts, as they practice diligently and often. It sounds quite loud when they pass through the alleyway in back of the house, and the sound comes flowing through the two cul de sacs on the sides of the houses to the street. When I hear it, I run to see them. Last year we attended some of the concerts in the area, and it was marvelous to hear such good band music. Congratulations to all those students and their teachers!

Oh, I'd better tell you that I do not RUN to see them, because I don't want to break my promise to my 'managers' that I will not hurry too fast for fear of breaking anything, even an eyelash. 

I've just had my early dinner, and will try to relax a long while in my rocking chair, watching something from an old video. 

Love and hugs to each and every one of you! 

I'll see you at the Corner Post ...