Word

Christmas Wafer

In Poland, "opłatek" (oh-PWAH-tek) is a thin wafer that is essential to the Christmas Eve dinner ("Wigilia"). However, this is not about eating, but about a tradition of exchanging wishes with close members of the family ("rodzina").

What's it like to exchange wishes? This short video gives a good explanation.

The key is to snap off a bit of the other person's opłatek and, immediately thereafter, to say aloud the particular wish ("życzenie") that you have for this person. When you have finished, the other person does the same to you.

It's a tradition that can warm the heart ("serca") of even the most curmudgeonly member of the family!

If you live in the New York City metropolitan area, you can visit one of our stores and find authentic opłatki (that's the plural) imported from Poland. Merry Christmas ("Wesołych Świąt") from all of us at Piast Meats & Provisions!

Mini Meat Dumplings

Mini Mushroom Dumplings

In Poland, "uszka" (OOSH-kah) is a type of dumpling. The word literally means, "little ears" in Polish, and they do look a bit like little ears!

The key to enjoying uszka is what's inside: imported forest mushrooms ("grzyby"). These are not like the ordinary white mushrooms that you see in the supermarket. These are hand-picked wild mushrooms that are bursting with flavor ("smak").

You can enjoy uszka on their own, sprinkled with chopped onion ("cebula") and butter ("masło") almost like a Polish interpretation of Italian tortellini. See this fun video of uszka making.

You will discover a special role for uszka each year in December. As the tradition goes, Christmas Eve dinner (called "wigilia" in Polish) includes red barszcz with uszka floating within. For many families in Poland and the United States, the appearance of barszcz with uszka on the table is one of the hallmarks of the Christmas season.