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“НАШЕ ЖИТТЯ”, ЛЮТИЙ 2011 33 More F ood for Thought Not long after we received the compelling article from Renata Zajac, the subject of traditional Ukrainian cooking emerged in an email exchange between Anita Muenk of North Huntingdon, Pennsylvania, and UNWLA’s President Marianna Zajac. Wit h Ms. Muenk’s permission, we are pleased to share excerpts from this email exchange with our readers. My sister has copies of two cookbooks that she obtained many years ago at the University of Pittsburgh's Ukrainian Festival. . . . Selected Ukrainian Re cipes for Winter Season and Selected Ukrainian Recipes for Spring/Summer Season produced by the Branch 12 of the UNWLA. I believe Winter was produced in 1978 and Summer in 1982 . . . What I like about these two books is the history and information that is included with the recipes. They are educational, enjoyable and easy to follow. They also included many recipes that I remember my Grandmother making. My sister and I spent the day together . . . preparing Holy Supper for our family. We talked about our ch ildhood, growing up with the Ukrainian traditions. We remember taking Ukrainian dance lessons at the local church. These are very treasured memories and we want to keep these traditions alive in our families. Our aunts are in t h e i r 80s and no longer bake the breads or cook the traditional foods, so we are making our way the best we can. I know my father enjoyed our meal and was very proud. Since these two books are not easily available (I found one of them o n eBay but they are asking $65 for it!!) , I am lookin g for something similar. Any suggestions that you have would be appreciated. The response from the UNWLA president confirms that the books cited by Ms. Muenk are no longer available, suggests alternative sources for similar cookbooks, explains a little ab out the UNWLA and Our Life , and concludes with an idea that we hope our readers with expertise in traditional Ukrainian cooking will support: “Coincidentally, I'd like to start putting in traditional recipes in English and the next issue will be inviting o ur readership to submit recipes in both languages. Another coincidence is that my daughter wrote an article for the Feb. issue addressing just this need for women of her generation.” Ms. Muenk’s response, aside from granting permission to share the informa tion in her emails with OL readers, includes details about future culinary plans, and provides a warm and wistful bit of family lore: My sister and I have just asked my Aunt if she will teach us how to make the traditional Easter Bread and several of my cousins have asked to be included. It would be a wonderful w ay to learn about our heritage and keep the traditional alive. . . . It is so important to pass these things down to our generation and our children. My grandparents, Rosie Barron Kuch and Andrew Kuch, both came from Ukraine through Ellis Island in the 1920 s. My grandfather worked in the coal mines and that’s how he ended up in this area. My grandmother had family in the area. They met here in Pennsylvania, married and raised 12 children. They at tended St. Nicholas Orthodox Church in Donora, Pennsylvania. That’s where I remember taking dancing lessons. And I remember that no matter what time of day you arrived at their house, within minutes, the table was full of food and grandmother always made sure that you ate something. They both lived to be in their 80s and passed away when I was 12 years old. I wish I could talk to them and learn more about their lives . . . Editor’s Request Renata Zajac and Anita Muenk have said it all. We hope that man y of our wonderful Ukrainian cooks will heed the call and share their special traditional recipes with these correspondents and other readers who believe as they do. Our plan is to initiate a regular column featuring such recipes in Ukrainian and English, and we cordially invite you to help us meet this very important goal. Traditions live on only when they are passed along from generation to generation. Let’s keep them, share them, and ensure they survive. Please forward a favorite traditional recipe ( in b oth languages ) to editor Tamara Stadnychenko c/o UNWLA headquarters at 203 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10003 . Please include a telephone number where we can reach you if we have questions or concerns.
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