kolaches

Haha, they look like eggs.

This was my first time trying to make kolaches, a Czech pastry. I have fond memories going to a Czech bakery with my parents to get kolache. They didn't quite come out like I remember them... These have apricot filling. Julie had made the Polish version before, which is called "kołacz", and is basically the same thing, just a different shape maybe; it seems ka-lotch-key is just a generic Slavic word for cake.

another czech recipe: kuba

Kuba is a czech barley and mushroom casserole--a peasant dish that's traditionally served on Christmas Eve. In fact, when Julie and I went to the Unitarian Congregation in Prague on Christmas Eve, they served kuba and beer! The ingredients are barley, dried or fresh mushrooms, onion, garlic, marjoram, butter, salt, and pepper.

I thought the wheat berries in our pantry were barley, so the photo is actually wheat berry kuba...oops! Still tastes good!