Recipe Book – Journey From A Polish Kitchen

Finnish Cookbook

I am always amazed at what gems you can find in Charity shops.

This book on Finnish Cookery is my latest find.
The ‘Finnish Cookbook’ by Beatrice A. Ojakangas.
First published in 1964 and this edition in 1989.
It is aimed at the American market so the recipes are in cups etc.
I will go with cups and tablespoons for liquids but for ingredients such as flour, sugar and butter I will convert these to grams when I try them.
I have learnt a lot about Finland from this book.
Because of its closeness to Russia it is not surprising that some of these recipes are similar to ones found in Russia.
It then follows that some of the recipes are also similar to ones found in Eastern Poland and to ones which I have posted.
Lingonberries, Rye, Cabbage & Herrings are just some of the similar ingredients.
The ‘Cabbage Pasty’, which is served as a’ ‘Soup Accompaniment’ is one example, which is very similar.
Look out for recipes from this book as the New Year (2024) goes on.

Do you know any Finnish Recipes?

I am back from a short trip to Gdańsk on which I bought a couple of Recipe books.
One of these was was a book about cakes – ciasta – and small cakes – ciasteczka -(or buns or biscuits).
I got a book by the same author on my last trip, which was to Wrocław in February, – Wioleta Wójcik.
I am really looking forward to trying some of these out.
Whilst in Gdańsk I had a piece of cake called pleśniak – which was super – the name means mildew or mouldy! – there is a recipe for this and I will be trying it out soon.

Kuchnia Polska was my first Polish cookery book.
The title means Polish Kitchen – or Polish Cookery.
It was my first Polish cookery book and my only one till many years later.
I think of this as my “Cookery Bible” and turn to this first when doing any research for a recipe.
I have rarely had any “failures” from this book.
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First published in 1956.
Published by Państwowe Wydawnictwo Ekonomiczne, Warszawa.
My edition is the 15th published 1971.
There are 775 pages plus photographs.
The text is in Polish.
10 authors are listed – the first is Prof. dr Stanisław Berger.
The graphics are by Czesław Wielhorski (1911-1980).
Czesław Wielhorski was a “visual artist” – a graphic artist
Czesław Wielhorski is well known for his posters for the 1939 winter Olympics in Zakopane.
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As well as recipes there is advice including kitchen layout, food groups and menus
There are many instructions from an age when pre-prepared food ingredients were not available eg – how to grind almonds.
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I have always loved the drawings in this book.
The drawing are in black and white each with one colour.
Cross Hatching and dots in black add texture to the illustrations
Below are a selection of these wonderful illustrations