With the war going on in the Ukaraine, it has made me think back to my roots-who and where I came from. I was fortunate to grow up with the love and support of both sets of grandparents. Each was unique and talented in their own way. As I have gotten older, the desire to understand and honour where my family came from has become more important.
Both sets of grandparents came from German-occupied Russia (called Prussia) located in the Ukaraine region. They were children when the Russian Revolution happened and their region was along the enemy lines (which shifted regularly as each side gained and lost ground). My one grandmother, Elizabeth, told me of that time when they had to peel piles of potatoes to feed the soldiers that came through their town. One week it was the Red Army and the next week it was the White Army. She was about 8 or 9 at the time and talked about how uncertain that time was.
Their communities were farming communities and the climate was similar to our Okanogan here in BC. Fruit trees and melons grew in abundance. There was lots of produce grown and communities were considered to be well-off.
Being the only granddaughter on my dad's side of the family, I often spent time with my grandparents to learn how to cook and craft like a Mennonite. If you haven't eaten Mennonite food, you are missing something spectacular. Certain dishes were made at specific times of the year and were often timed around what produce was readily available.
Mennonite baked goods are a real treat and bring me incredible joy. The smell always brings back some of the most incredible memories of happiness and connection for me. One such recipe is Paska (Easter bread) made in time for Easter is a special treat. My one grandmother had a specail pot that she mixed the dough. Her recipe, written in German, has been altered over the years as some ingredients from the original recipe are not longer available. She made her loaves in a random assortment of containers (clean terracotta flower pots, small coffee cans, bowls, and loaf pans). It was always interesting to see what she used to bake them in.
The best part of the Paska was always the icing with sprinkles. Sometimes that is all we would eat because it was such a special treat.
I think as we get older, the need to connect with your roots and pass them along to your kids becomes stronger. I am not a very traditional Mennonite and I believe that my generation is really the last that had the full benefits of what our grandparents could pass down. They were really the final connection to the old country. There are things that I really want my kids to continue to pass along to their kids in the future.
This year I made paska for my family to keep the tradition alive. My recipe is a little different from my grandparents but it is always a winner with everyone who eats it. My recipe comes from the Mennonite Girls Who Cook website (http://www.mennonitegirlscancook.ca/2011/04/paska.html)
This recipe is so good and easy to follow and makes 4-5 loaves depending on your pan size. I would even make it without the icing to use as toast on a regular weekday. It's that good. I used 1 large lemon and 1 large navel orange because I like the extra citrus flavour. When I measured my citrus blend, I had less than 4 1/2 cups so I topped it up with fresh squeezed lemon juice.
As lemon is a favourite flavor in my family, I usually make a lemon glaze to put on the top and spread on the bread but this year I went really traditional and made paska frosting. Here are the two recipes I like to use:
Lemon glaze recipe:
1 cup powdered sugar (sifted so there are no lumps)
1 tablespoon lemon zest
2-3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice (add one tablespoon at a time until your glaze reaches the right consistency for spreading).
Mennonite Paska Frosting recipe:
1 1/4 cups powdered sugar (sifted so there are no lumps)
1 large to extra-large egg white (pasteurized if you have small children or elderly consumers)
1 tsp vanilla
(add small amounts of water if needed to thin the frosting)
Easter is such a hopeful time. The days are getting longer and warmer. Signs of Spring are everywhere. There are so many opportunities for finding joy moments including connecting to your roots.
Happy Easter!
Michelle
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