Wednesday, October 25, 2023

Polish Duck Soup (Czarnina) with Raw Potato Dumplings

Polish Duck Soup with raw potato dumplings. So good!

Polish Duck Soup (Czarnina) with
Raw Potato Dumplings 
(Kartoflane Kluski)  

Since it is almost impossible today to get duck’s blood and it is a turn off for most people (even though it just adds flavor and richness), this recipe does not include duck’s blood.

1 duck, cut up

1 pound pork loin back ribs

3 quarts water

2 teaspoons salt

1 stalk celery

1/2 onion

1 sprig parsley

8 whole allspice

4 whole cloves

2 Tablespoons vinegar

1 tablespoon Kitchen Bouquet Gravy Maker

1 tablespoon condensed veal stock if you can find it (Optional). I make my own by browning veal neck bones in some oil. Add ½ cup water and simmer until water is reduced to about 2 tablespoons. Use a gravy separator to pour off fat, or chill overnight and remove fat.

12 dried prunes

4 carrots

2 tablespoons flour

1 tablespoon sugar

1 cup sour cream

Cover duck and pork ribs in a large sauce pan. Add salt and bring to a boil. Skim off foam. Add celery, onion, parsley, allspice, cloves, vinegar, and 1 tablespoon Kitchen Bouquet Gravy Maker. Cover and cook over low heat until meat is tender, about 1 and 1/2 hours.


Strain, discard vegetables and reserve pork for another use.

Remove duck meat from bones. Reserve meat. 

Allow soup to chill overnight. The next day remove fat. Bring soup to a boil. Reduce heat and add veal stock if available. 

Add prunes and carrots. Simmer for about 15-20 minutes or until carrots are tender. 

Blend flour, sugar and sour cream until smooth. Add about 1/2 cup hot soup to flour mixture. Pour mixture into soup and bring soup just to boiling. Reduce heat and simmer gently for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. 

Add reserved duck meat. Continue to simmer for an additional 5 minutes, again stirring until meat is heated through. 

Season to taste with salt and pepper to taste. 

Serve with raw potato dumplings.


Raw Potato Dumplings (Kartoflane Kluski)

These are not really "raw". Raw potatoes are used as the basis for this recipe, but are cooked. These dumplings are meant to go with my recipe for Polish Duck Soup You can also use the dumplings in chicken soup, or fry them up with butter and onions to create a side dish.

INGREDIENTS

 8-12 servings

2 cups raw potatoes, peeled and cut into large dice

1 teaspoon salt

2 eggs

1 and 1/2 cups flour

1/2 cups bread crumbs (preferably Japanese panko which have been rolled smooth)

DIRECTIONS

Process potatoes in food processor until smooth. If lots of water, drain excess water.

In a bowl, combine potatoes with beaten eggs, salt, crumbs and flour to make dough.

Drop about a good teaspoonful of dough into boiling, salted water.

Cook until dumplings float. Allow to cook for a couple of minutes, then remove to colander. Rinse lightly with cool water. Drain.


Friday, October 20, 2023

Aunt Mil's Apple Cake

A few years ago, my friend, Jack, from church gave me this recipe for Apple Cake that his Aunt Mil always made. As soon the weather turns to fall, I have a yearning to make this cake. It always tastes delicious and is very easy to make. Thank you, Jack, for sharing your aunt’s recipe with me. It has brought joy to me and to all those who have tasted this Fall treat!

Aunt Mil's Apple Cake

Aunt Mil’s Apple Cake

INGREDIENTS

2 cups sifted flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 and 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon

1 cup vegetable oil

1 and 3/4 cups sugar

3 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla

4 medium apples, peeled and coarsely chopped (I like Golden Delicious)

Optional: 1/2 teaspoon Apple Pie spice (I add this to the apples. It is not in Aunt Mil’s recipe).

1/2 cup chopped walnuts, toasted

DIRECTIONS

Set oven to 350 degrees.

Spray a 9x13 baking pan with baking spray.

Sift together flour, baking soda and cinnamon. Stir to be sure that it is thoroughly mixed. Set aside.

Combine vegetable oil, sugar, eggs, and vanilla. Stir in flour mixture.

Add optional Apple Pie Spice to apples. Stir gently.

Gently add apples and walnuts to the batter. Stir to combine. Don’t over mix.

Pour into baking pan and spread so that batter is evenly dispersed.

Bake for 50 minutes. Check for doneness with a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake.

(Note: This is a good snacking cake as is, but you could up it a notch by topping it with a cream cheese icing and sprinkling some toasted chopped walnuts on top).