I’d like to invite you to experience a Polish Christmas with me this year. Please come in and see what this special holiday looks like at my family table. I’m warning you from the start though, you won’t see any gołąbki or kiełbasa here. This is Polish Christmas: traditional cooking and strict rules apply.

I know some of you may say: “my family came from Poland and they DO, INDEED, cook gołąbki, and kiełbasa for Christmas”, and this may be true. Consider this, however. As generations of Poles immigrated to the “new con- tinent”, the Polish kitchen evolved. Traditions changed due to availability of ingredients and environment. Immigrants adjusted and cooked dishes that reminded them of home, especially during “special occasions”, like Christ- mas. Some dishes faded away from their menus altogether. Second, third and following generations were left with just a taste of what Polish cooking can be. I hope you keep an open mind and consider bringing some of those classic dishes back into your home, and keep the traditions alive.

Recipes that you see in this book are to this day prepared and served by the masses in Poland. Some dishes may vary, but there is a consensus on certain items. Beet soup with dumplings, pierogi with sauerkraut and mushrooms, fried fish, Greek-style fish, herring and a few others, are always present. The method of cooking may be different from home chef to home chef, but you can expect to see this or a similar menu all around the country.

In this Polish Christmas cookbook you will find: