Showing posts with label zemlovka. Show all posts
Showing posts with label zemlovka. Show all posts

Wednesday, January 8, 2014

Slovak Zemlovka for my Nadika





This past weekend was really special for my family, as we got to commemorate my dear grandparents, Nadika and Nadapa who've passed in the last two years.  We loved them so much, and have amazing memories of these dear people (pictured above).  

Nadika (grandma in Hungarian) was very special to me, and she was everyone's favorite cook.  I know many people think this about their grandmother, and I know that in each case it's probably true, but Nadika truly possessed culinary magic.  On our special day where we commemorate both my grandparents, we make a point to get together and cook ALL of the traditional dishes that Nadika was so famous for.  This year was no exception, as my parents' table was filled with sweet family and the most amazing, Slovak and Hungarian food you can ever wish for.  Everyone contributes something that has a special memory for them, and this year, I decided to make Zemlovka (Slovak bread pudding).


Even though this sounds like a dessert-like dish, as it's made of apples, cottage cheese and custardy bread, Slovaks actually serve and eat it as part of a main course.  We did just that, and I got some nice compliments on it, including from my dad who loved Nadika's cooking the most.

It truly was a magical day, and a tradition I hope we continue for many years to come.


You can make Zemlovka at home too!  I adapted mine from the
super helpful recipe on the Slovak Cooking blog.  It's chock full of other fantastic Slovak recipes, and I hope that you enjoy it as much as we did.  Dobru chut prajem (aka bon appetit).

Tuesday, January 15, 2013

Martha's Bakery Continues to Bring Out My Sinful Side



On the same day that Peter, Fiana and I went to BareBurger, we also ventured into Martha's and did quite a job overdosing on dessert.  While I've been to this bakery many a times and continue to be a loyal supporter, I had my eye on some new things that I've been meaning to try like the bread pudding.  Peter and Fiana were intrigued by the hot chocolate options and tried those out, with much success.  Here are the highlights:

Apple Bread Pudding - Admiring the large pans of fluffy bread pudding in their display case, I just couldn't refuse.  Not knowing that there was more than one variety, the apple bread pudding caught my eye so I decided to go for it.  The result was stupendous and the portion is quite large and therefore perfect to share with one (even two) people.  Reminding me of zemlovka, a homestyle Slovak bread pudding recipe made in any proper Slovak kitchen, this had similar qualities, including the soft, sweet apples, tender on the inside but crispy on the outside bread dough, and some familiar flavorings of cinnamon and brown sugar.  It was a delight to eat, and while my brother helped me out, it felt so light that I could've very well polished it off on my own.

PBJ and Regular Hot Chocolate -
 With up to 5 different varieties of hot chocolate, it was hard to choose, but Peter and Fiana each got something that pleased them.  Peter ordered the peanut butter hot chocolate, which was just fantastic - a velvety concoction of dark rich hot chocolate kissed with a hint of peanut butter that left you with a nostalgic aftertaste after each gulp.

Fiana went with the more traditional classic hot cocoa, which was also lovely, and topped with fluffy whipped cream.  I liked that it didn't feel too rich to go down but it was also far from watery, creating a perfect dessert elixir.

Service and Cost:
Even though the cafe offers table service, I've never taken advantage of it until now.  I'm happy to say that the service was relatively responsive, but we didn't feel rushed either, especially on a busy night.  The servers tend to be quite young and maybe a little green, but overall they're very sweet and do a nice job.

Costs are moderate and totally justified for all that deliciousness.  The above  mentioned treats set us back about $22 with tax and tip.


Martha's Country Bakery - 36-21 Ditmars Blvd, Astoria, NY 11105

 718.545.9737
N/W Train to Ditmars Blvd (last stop)

Martha's Country Bakery - 41-06 Bell Blvd, Bayside NY 11361
 718.225.5200
LIRR to Bayside
www.marthascountrybakery.com 
 

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