My mother was Austrian and my father from Romania. We ate this type of sweet bread fairly often and always at the holidays. My mother called it zopfbrot which translates to braid bread. Setimes she baked it in a bundt form. It is beyond delicious and I miss it, as I have only made a few times in my more ambitious years. I am just not a bread baker. I also love and devour bread. It's good to know yourself and your weaknesses. She also sometimes filled it with poppyseeds. So good. Not too sweet. My father always helped with the dough making. He held the huge bowl in his lap and I helped hold the bowl down as he beat the dough with a large wooded spoon. I can still hear how that noise sounded like someone knocking at the door. I have a dough hook on my kitchenaid and I might just give this recipe a try soon. Thank you for the fond memories! Happy Holidays!
Absolutely loved reading these superstitions and rituals. Kozunak is also commonly filled with Turkish delight (lokum) in Bulgaria, but I much prefer it with dried fruit.
Another beautiful bake! I enjoyed learning about all the rituals and superstitions surrounding this enriched bread. Italians are also obsessed with “la corrente” but mostly for perceived health reasons 😂
Stunning photos, Irina. By the way, I am completely enchanted with your books. You are a marvelous writer. Thank you so much for putting in all that effort to bring us such fascinating information about a part of the world I personally know nothing about. You are a gem.
Absolutely can't wait to try this recipe! My Mum is Polish and it reminds me of some of the sweet breads my grandma (babcia, in Polish) used to make.
I now live in Italy and the Italians share your horror of a draught or current... Here's it's known as a 'colpo d'aria' and is to be avoided at all costs as it leads to dreadful afflictions and possibly pneumonia 😱. As a result, it's common to see people warmly wrapped in coats, hats and scarves from the beginning of September until the end of May..... whatever the actual temperature 🌡️🤒
My dad does the same, he wears a hat, a scarf and a jacket even if the weather is still warm in September, just in case he catches a draft. It's ridiculous.
Super intrigued by this recipe and plan to try it when I have some time off later this month! Also intrigued by "curent" and other superstitions about air movement. Older Koreans have a belief that if you go to sleep with an electric fan blowing on you, it will cause all sorts of ills, up to and including death!
Thanks for another super interesting post, Irina. When you mentioned “current”, I chortled, because my mother is also obsessed with draft, called przeciąg in Polish, it seems to be a national trait, too, but perhaps not as big an obsession as…atmospheric pressure. It’s funny that nations have these health concerns that don’t bother others - nobody complains about “heavy legs” in Poland or England, but the French do. Brits talk about the weather all the time, but don’t blame “pressure” for feeling low or sluggish, as Poles do.
I am so happy to have found you through Domenica Marchetti on Substack! My Dad’s family is from Romania and my grandma made lots of good pastries but not this bread. I want to try this! I will also buy your cookbooks. I’m excited to bring more of Romania into our home!
I'm so glad I found your Substack! I gave your books to my sister as presents and she loves them. Would you ever consider doing a de post cookbook? I am forever looking to make recipes from my childhood vegan.
Stunning photos, Irena. By the way, I am completely enchanted with your books. You are a marvelous writer. Thank you so much for putting in all that effort to bring us such fascinating information about a part of the world I personally know nothing about. You are a gem.
My mother was Austrian and my father from Romania. We ate this type of sweet bread fairly often and always at the holidays. My mother called it zopfbrot which translates to braid bread. Setimes she baked it in a bundt form. It is beyond delicious and I miss it, as I have only made a few times in my more ambitious years. I am just not a bread baker. I also love and devour bread. It's good to know yourself and your weaknesses. She also sometimes filled it with poppyseeds. So good. Not too sweet. My father always helped with the dough making. He held the huge bowl in his lap and I helped hold the bowl down as he beat the dough with a large wooded spoon. I can still hear how that noise sounded like someone knocking at the door. I have a dough hook on my kitchenaid and I might just give this recipe a try soon. Thank you for the fond memories! Happy Holidays!
Thank you for sharing your story with me. Happy holidays x
Absolutely loved reading these superstitions and rituals. Kozunak is also commonly filled with Turkish delight (lokum) in Bulgaria, but I much prefer it with dried fruit.
Yes, me too. I think it's too sweet with Turkish delight.
Another beautiful bake! I enjoyed learning about all the rituals and superstitions surrounding this enriched bread. Italians are also obsessed with “la corrente” but mostly for perceived health reasons 😂
I had no idea that Italians had the same obsession. How funny. x
Stunning photos, Irina. By the way, I am completely enchanted with your books. You are a marvelous writer. Thank you so much for putting in all that effort to bring us such fascinating information about a part of the world I personally know nothing about. You are a gem.
Thank you for these lovely words and for reading my books and posts. Romania is a fascinating country if we are given the chance to tell our story.
Waiting for DANUBE to drop, which it will tomorrow. Soon, it will be in my hands and I am so excited. Well done in publishing another book.
Thank you!
Absolutely can't wait to try this recipe! My Mum is Polish and it reminds me of some of the sweet breads my grandma (babcia, in Polish) used to make.
I now live in Italy and the Italians share your horror of a draught or current... Here's it's known as a 'colpo d'aria' and is to be avoided at all costs as it leads to dreadful afflictions and possibly pneumonia 😱. As a result, it's common to see people warmly wrapped in coats, hats and scarves from the beginning of September until the end of May..... whatever the actual temperature 🌡️🤒
My dad does the same, he wears a hat, a scarf and a jacket even if the weather is still warm in September, just in case he catches a draft. It's ridiculous.
Super intrigued by this recipe and plan to try it when I have some time off later this month! Also intrigued by "curent" and other superstitions about air movement. Older Koreans have a belief that if you go to sleep with an electric fan blowing on you, it will cause all sorts of ills, up to and including death!
Interesting. I suppose it is for the same reason: the draught. My dad wouldn't even use the AC in the car because it made him ill.
Thanks for another super interesting post, Irina. When you mentioned “current”, I chortled, because my mother is also obsessed with draft, called przeciąg in Polish, it seems to be a national trait, too, but perhaps not as big an obsession as…atmospheric pressure. It’s funny that nations have these health concerns that don’t bother others - nobody complains about “heavy legs” in Poland or England, but the French do. Brits talk about the weather all the time, but don’t blame “pressure” for feeling low or sluggish, as Poles do.
Maybe it is an Eastern European thing. Stay safe lol. I didn’t know about the heavy legs in France lol so funny. xx
It’s gonna be my next baking!
I enjoyed your book Tava so much! Thank you for explaining cozonac so entertainingly, Irina
Thank you for reading it.x
I am so happy to have found you through Domenica Marchetti on Substack! My Dad’s family is from Romania and my grandma made lots of good pastries but not this bread. I want to try this! I will also buy your cookbooks. I’m excited to bring more of Romania into our home!
I'm so glad I found your Substack! I gave your books to my sister as presents and she loves them. Would you ever consider doing a de post cookbook? I am forever looking to make recipes from my childhood vegan.
Stunning photos, Irena. By the way, I am completely enchanted with your books. You are a marvelous writer. Thank you so much for putting in all that effort to bring us such fascinating information about a part of the world I personally know nothing about. You are a gem.