The Christmas and New Years holidays were busy. Managed to get some time off of work and do a little cooking, but it was mostly the traditional stuff. Of course made a turkey (actually two) – roasted one 10 lb bird out on the grill for two hours – it was great and I sure had the neighbors wondering what I was up to.
We did some running around on Sunday after church and somehow got the bug that I had to have a Polish dinner. We stopped at Polina in Casselberry to pick up some Bobak’s kielbasa.
Well, since I had the kielbasa I thought I might as well make some potato pancakes
Potato Pancakes
Gourmet|December, 2000
1 pound potatoes
1/2 cup finely chopped onion
1 large egg, lightly beaten
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 to 3/4 cup olive oil
Peel potatoes and coarsely grate by hand, transferring to a large bowl of cold water as grated. Soak potatoes 1 to 2 minutes after last batch is added to water, then drain well in a colander.
Spread grated potatoes and onion on a kitchen towel and roll up jelly-roll style. Twist towel tightly to wring out as much liquid as possible. Transfer potato mixture to a bowl and stir in egg and salt.
Heat 1/4 cup oil in a 12-inch nonstick skillet over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking. Working in batches of 4 potato pancakes, spoon 2 tablespoons potato mixture per latke into skillet, spreading into 3-inch rounds with a fork. Reduce heat to moderate and cook until undersides are browned, about 5 minutes. Turn potato pancakes over and cook until undersides are browned, about 5 minutes more. Transfer to paper towels to drain and season with salt. Add more oil to skillet as needed. Keep potato pancakes warm on a wire rack set in a shallow baking pan in oven
I had some left over stuffed cabbage (golumpki) from Christmas Eve. So this made for a pretty nice dish with some nice pumpernickel bread.
So there must have been something in the air — (now be good!) because yesterday there was a package sitting at the front door from my sister in New Haven – two bottles of Jezynowka – blackberry flavored brandy. YUM! Thanks Karen.
Dad Cooks @ Recipe Redux 
Ok…
I remember when I would be the first to receive a phone call letting me know a container of stuffed cabbage was on the way.
I am unsure of what I did to fall out of grace with you, but cannot believe that the stuffed cabbage did not find its way to my belly…the belly that is housing your grandchild!
How am I to bring a stuffed cabbage loving child into the world without affording it the flavor while in the womb? Yes, I don’t know either…this thought keeps me awake at night, pondering what I did to NOT receive the stuffed cabbage. Not to mention the potato pancake and kielbasa.
Just how is a child with the last name Kuczynski to be Polish if it does not even know what the food of the mother land tastes like?
Dear Angry and Hurt!
Your mother-in-law ate it for lunch !!!!
I can however, be persuaded to cook up another batch, just say the word !!!!!!!
Signed,
Caught-in-the-middle-Father-in-law