Thursday, September 27, 2012

Rakott krumpli

As we sometimes joke to each other, my husband and I are both very much "ethnic wannabes."  We each have one immigrant Polish parent-- in his case, born in a Siberian gulag during the war; and in mine, born in a DP camp in Germany, where my grandparents had been deported for forced labor.  My husband's mother is half Polish and half German; and my father is half Polish and half Hungarian.  On either side, no ancestor arrived in this country before the twentieth century... Although my husband and I don't speak Polish, have never been to Poland (or Hungary, or Germany), and are decidedly "American" in our attitudes (as we always discover when speaking with actual Europeans!), still we cling to the idea of ethnic identity-- and admit that the attempt is, well, half pathetic.

Now, inevitably, our immigrant parents are aging; and our immigrant grandparents are dying.  Someday that direct link to the past will be severed...

While we've always been eager to claim our heritage in small ways (i.e. the framed Polish eagles on our walls), lately I've grown a little desperate!  Along with a great uncle on my father's side, I've been dabbling in Hungarian genealogy.*   I've also been reprinting family photos, displaying deceased family members' cherished personal effects, and-- the true topic of this post-- experimenting with Eastern European recipes.

For dinner last night I made a version of Hungarian rakott krumpli, which is an extremely simple-- but incredibly rich!-- potato casserole.  Basically, it consists of sliced boiled potatoes layered with lots of melted butter; sliced hardboiled eggs; meat (ham and/or bacon and/or sausage); and finally, sour cream, or a sour cream sauce, topped with a sprinkle of paprika.  Then, bake in a medium oven for about 30 minutes... The dish can be varied in many ways, including omitting the meat for a Lenten dish.  I used diced ham and added a layer of chopped cabbage for extra nutrition.

Here's one recipe; and here's another; and another.

The hardboiled egg and sour cream give rakott krumpli a very distinctive, old-world flavor (and I never would have considered using hardboiled egg in a baked casserole!  But try it-- it's delicious.).  I found that sliced cucumber and a glass of wine provided a fresh, pleasant contrast to the casserole's richness.

As I continue to mine my Hungarian and Polish cookbooks, I'll post about the results.  In the meantime, my husband agrees-- we're definitely making rakott krumpli again!


*Ironic, considering that my children are not genetically related to me!  But I'll save that reflection for another day.

Monday, September 24, 2012

"Life" still in the University of Notre Dame

Notre Dame is 4-0 ---  but there's been a much more important comeback!  Life Site News reported last year that ND's culture of life has expanded since 2009; and other conservative organizations continue to thrive.  Some cases in point:

Office for University Life Initiatives  Established in direct response to the furor surrounding Obama's visit, this office aims to "strengthen the Notre Dame community's witness to Catholic teaching on life."  Basically, it's a PR resource that collects info on Notre Dame's pro-life policies and events-- which are substantial. (Check out the sidebar.)

The Notre Dame Fund to Protect Human Life   A Master's program in pro-life studies is in the works (see Project Guadalupe). Meanwhile, the Vita Institute trains pro-life advocates-- and a recent program graduate now leads the March for Life in Washington, D.C.!  Real work with real impact.

University Faculty for Life at Notre Dame  ND's chapter of the national organization

Notre Dame Right to Life  The student group, more active (and better-funded) than ever!  Check out their newsletter.

The Irish Rover  ("It behooves a watchdog to bark.  Good Rover")  An alternative to The Observer, this independent student publication seeks to preserve and foster a conservative Catholic culture at Notre Dame.  Click on this link, if on nothing else: Aren't they doing a fantastic job?

The Sycamore Trust  This vocal alumni group opposes Notre Dame's ongoing secularization.  Please consider donating!

Children of Mary  Notre Dame's Traditional Catholic community, celebrating the Tridentine Mass every Sunday at 9AM in Alumni Hall chapel


Notre Dame is not yet lost.  Instead of bewailing its failures, why not make an effort to reinforce Catholic identity at this, our nation's most prominent and influential Catholic university?  If you'd like to see change at Notre Dame, please promote change!  Support the above efforts.  Write to Fr. Jenkins.  Otherwise (sorry), your complaints are only mean-spirited.

I close this post to comments, lest it become just another unproductive battleground between Notre Dame's love/hate camps.  Facebook has emotionally exhausted me...

(Full disclosure:  I'm a Notre Dame alumna, and it was my overwhelmingly positive experience there-- the people, the liturgy, the atmosphere, the people-- that set the course of my spiritual life.  Really.)

Monday, September 17, 2012

Cruising the Danube, virtually

My toddler and I love this video!  It's a lesson in music (Strauss' waltz, interpreted by a famous conductor who's fun to watch); and geography, too, as it follows the course of the Danube River from Black Forest to Black Sea... Not that my toddler is ready to grab an atlas, but-- someday.  In the meantime, she enjoys the music and scenery, as well as the conductor's enthusiasm!

Since I'm not geographically savvy, I had to look up the significance of many places and images.  Here are a few that were unfamiliar to me:

Donaueschingen:  Traditionally, the Danube's source is a spring at Donaueschingen castle in the Black Forest-- but more accurately, it's the "Danube confluence," where the rivers Breg and Brigach flow together to form the great river.  The video first shows the castle spring (so picturesque!), and then the two streams joining in the forest.

Schlögener Schlinge:  The "Danube Loop," in Austria

Wachau Valley: A truly beautiful part of Austria, known for its wine and architecture, including monasteries... Among other things, Dürnstein was the site of King Richard's captivity (remember the Robin Hood legend?).

Golubac: A 14th-century fortress, now Serbian (it changed hands repeatedly), that controlled river traffic through the Iron Gates 

Eisernes Tor  (Iron Gates):  A series of narrow river gorges dividing the Balkan and Carpathian Mountains, as well as the states of Romania and Serbia

Danube Delta, a reedy wetland area, mostly in Romania... The river ultimately discharges into the Black Sea.

Using a map to follow along with this video might be a terrific activity for children, don't you agree?   Certainly I've learned something!

Of course, one can also simply enjoy the beauty...  This journey never grows old, and it mellows me every time.

Tuesday, September 11, 2012

Thrilling and overwhelming

Two weeks ago an academic publisher-- one well respected in the field of Catholic history-- contacted me to inquire about my dissertation manuscript. Would I consider rewriting it as a book?

(Oh, wouldn't I!)

After a few emails back and forth, we settled on a tentative schedule:  I have until the end of next Spring to put my text in order, at which point it will be submitted for peer review and-- assuming it passes-- then to the board of editors for approval.

Thrilling, no??  I was all aglow for days, and my ego still hasn't recovered (as my husband can confirm)!

But now (reality check) there's a scheduling challenge ahead:  Where to find the time, without shortchanging our little girls or driving my husband insane? Luckily, I know of a teenager down the street who might be willing to babysit for a few hours each week, but... in the end I know that I'll be forced to take an extreme measure:

Getting up early.



(PS:  I'll let you know how that goes.)


Monday, September 3, 2012

How I served my in-laws

My husband's parents drove in on Friday and-- after stuffing our freezer with delicious pierogi from one of Chicago's Polish supermarkets!--drove off again this morning, leaving us in a sort of post-visit malaise.  Today is for winding down, washing sheets, folding laundry, making applesauce... and yes, for blogging all about it!

Since these days we host family more than ever, I'm always interested in easy, economical meal plans that minimize time in the kitchen.  Just to throw some ideas out there-- here's what I served for dinner this weekend to a no-fuss, meat-and-potatoes type of couple.


Friday:  Minestrone  (Saute fresh garlic in oil, then add four cans of diced tomatoes; two cans of white beans; two "cans" [using the empty cans as a unit of measure!] water; two beef bouillon cubes; chopped celery; about 1/2 bag of frozen chopped spinach; and a cup of red wine. Bring to a boil, and then add 1/2 box of small shell pasta and cook for 10 minutes.)  ... with French bread, plus the rest of the wine


Saturday:  Taco pizza   (I whipped up the dough in my bread maker; pre-baked the crust at 425 degrees for five minutes; and then topped it with hot taco sauce, hot sausage, and mozzarella.   After baking at 425 for 10-15 additional minutes, I first sliced the pizza and then added crushed Doritos and grated cheddar.)   ... with a green salad


Sunday:  Slow-cooker pot roast  (4 lbs beef shoulder cooked on low for 8 hours, with mushrooms, peppers, and-- per Mrs. Thetimman's French dip recipe-- onion soup mix and one cup water.)   ... with a green salad and oven-roasted potatoes



What is your mealtime strategy for family weekends?  Any tips?