Y'all remember Jennifer Lohmann, right? She's the 2010 RWA Librarian of the Year, and we had a Photoshop contest to celebrate, playing with the cover of Karina Bliss' What the Librarian Did. The entries were amazing, and the winner is still one of my favorite cover mockups ever.
I've done two book events at the Durham County library branch where Jennifer works, and she's still hosting romance reading groups, and trying to reach more romance readers through her job at the library.
But dudes, guess what? SHE WROTE A ROMANCE! Jennifer's attendance at RWA inspired her, and her SuperRomance Reservations for Two came out this month!
The heroine of her book, Tilly, is the chef/owner of a Polish restaurant, and there's a LOT of Polish food in the book. So when she approached me about doing a celebratory giveaway of pirogi, there was NO WAY I was passing that up.
Why pierogi? I had to ask.
Jennifer: A couple years ago, you had a giveaway for a road trip kit for a Kristan Higgins book and I though, “If I get published, I'm giving away pierogi to people!” The heroine of my first book is a chef at a fancy Polish restaurant in Chicago so there is a lot of pierogi. A friend called the book Pierogi and Prejudice.
Anyway, outside of the okay kielbasa you find in the meat section of your grocery store, pierogi are usually people's first exposure to Polish food. While there are versions in pretty much all central and eastern European countries, they are the quintessential Polish dish and people associate them with Poland (they are the Polish national dish).
What would you tell someone who hasn't had pierogi before?
Jennifer: For someone who's not had pierogi before, they are a filled dumpling with an unleavened dough that are first boiled and then fried in butter. They can be sweet or savory, with traditional fillings of cheese (sweet or savory), sauerkraut, mushrooms, or potato.
Like all beloved dishes, there are millions of recipes–one for each babunia in Poland and babcia in the United States. If you have some in your freezer, they make a wonderful dinner with a little sour cream, applesauce, and sauerkraut.Add a little kielbasa if you're feeling flush (pierogi are peasant food). Fry some breadcrumbs in butter for a topping and you are in Polish heaven.
Let's Do This! It's Pierogi Time!
The winner of this here contest shall receive a pierogi sampler from Piast Meats & Provisions. That's five dozen pierogi – which can be frozen, should you wish to space your pierogi madness over a few months of eating time. Plus, you'll also get a copy of Jennifer's book. You can eat pierogi and read about pierogi, as Jennifer says.
Five runners up shall receive a copy of Reservations for Two, ( A | BN | K | S | iB ) digital or print (winner's choice).
This contest is open to anyone in the US, including Alaska and Hawaii. Alas, shipping pierogi internationally does not appear to be an option. (I'm sorry!) Void where prohibited. Must be over 18 and prepared for pierogigasm to win. By submitting an entry to the contest as set forth herein, each entrant does acknowledge and agree that, in the event such entrant is victorious, such entrant will perform a ceremony reasonably appropriate to such circumstance, including, without limitation, the Miposian Dance of Joy or, in the alternative, Gangnam Style. Contest winners will be chosen at random at noon ET Friday 15 February 2013.
To enter, simply leave a comment below telling us what food best represents you. The heroine opens a Polish restaurant and so much of the food represents who she is. So, what food is most “you?” Chocolate? Kugel? Your grandmother's stollen? Share and you're entered to win.
Congrats, Jennifer – let's feast on pierogi!
Pasta is my favorite food. It should be pierogie’s I love to eat them. My grandmother used to make them for us all the time, they were delicious. She was polish, she had a very strong personality with a polish temperament. I never learned how to make them nor do I have her recipe.
I have to say I’ve never had pierogi. Or sauerkraut. I always chicken out on ordering those types of things in restaurants, but I do want to try it. Someday. When I don’t have anyone sitting across the table from me in case I don’t like it.
I’m thinking I’m boring, but I’d be pasta with tomato sauce. I’m half Italian on my mother’s side and pretty much stick to my roots. Of course, linguine with red clam sauce also counts as “pasta” and “tomato” sauce and that’s my favorite 🙂
This is a neat question and a great giveaway. I think homemade mac and cheese represents me, because its comforting but when made well can be complex and as the flavors settle it improves with time. Also its something that changes with every making just as I change through time.
I love pierogi. They are so good. My Czech grandmother used to make them. I haven’t had a really good one since she had to give up making them some years before she died. I would love to win these.
So, to answer the question, I think the food that best represents me is homemade bread. People think it’s difficult, but it’s really not and even if it was it would be worth the effort. I should probably include some Nutella to spread on it because I love chocolate.
Maybe I shouldn’t be surprised, but wow, it sure seems like everyone on here is of European descent! (Nothing wrong with that- I am too, in part). I was originally going to pick salo, a Ukrainian treat (salted cured lard… so SO good after vodka), but to liven things up a little and to represent my actual heritage, I will instead pick char siu bao, which were my absolute favorite treat as a child and which were the one Chinese dish that my Caucasian father may have enjoyed even more than my mother. They are described here- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C…
Oatmeal.
Warm, lumpy, and comforting.
Dumplings, specifically fried Chinese dumplings, because they are my favorite food and remind me of my heritage. ^_^
Fabulous idea for a giveaway! So many foods that I would want to represent me, but I think I’ll go with Anchovy Spaghetti. One of my first distinct food memories is of the Christmas party at my Great Aunt Ginny’s house every year. All the Italian american standards there, but the spagetti tossed with fried anchovies and breadcrumbs were always my favorite
I’m not sure it fits but I’d like to be a chocolate chip cookie – warm and gooey, homey and comforting. With nuts, on occasion. 🙂
Coconut cake! Sweet and flaky, hah!
Chocolate chip cherry cookies, classic with a twist.
Unfortunately, I think it might be prunes. I’m reliable and a little sweet. Not everyone likes me but I’m good for a body. I should keep thinking…
Also, a big Woot! To Jennifer
My favorite food to make is spaghetti and my special homemade meatballs. It’s a complete package, very filling, but nothing fancy, so it’s probably a good representation of me.
I love pierogi! I am a polish girl who is actually in charge of making them for our Christmas eve feast! I only burn the butter once each year…. I’m lucky to live near Cleveland which has lots of great ladies working hard, making them homemade to sell to me to cook (and burn butter).
If I had to pick a food to represent me… it would be the spicy dumpling soup I used to eat all the time in Chengdu. So hot broth that makes your lips numb to touch, like my “fiery personality”, but inside is some delicious dumplings. You just got to work for them through all the delicious spice.
I am now so freaking hungry. OMG.
I’ve heard of pierogi but have never eaten it or even been curious about trying it. Then, oddly enough, I was at the grocery store yesterday and saw a package of pierogi and was this close to buying it. If I don’t win the contest, I’m definitely going back to the store to buy some.
As for the food that best represents me, I’d go with colcannon—yummy Irish goodness
A crisp apple… I have always lived in central New York state where orchards are common, and I have many memories of going to delicious-smelling cool farm markets full of baskets of fruit in the fall…
I’m such a DIY person, I’d have to go with homemade pizza. So many ways you can do it, and it’s so satisfying when you get the dough just right.
Congrats to Jennifer on her book!
Mocha Chip Ice Cream! It’s been my favorite food since age 5. I find it so completely superior to any other ice cream that I can barely stand the taste of any other flavors. I am not sure how it represents me, but the fact that I’ve loved it so passionately for so long makes it hard to disentangle from my sense of self.
Can I have a meal? Ravioli soup with herbed oatmeal pan bread. I got both recipes from my aunt, they’re awesome comfort food and go great together, and they’re my go-to meal when I have to cook to impress—I haven’t once messed them up (knock on wood!)
The new book sounds lovely—and delicious!
I think the food that represents me the most is macaroni and meatballs. It is my favorite food and I can eat it every day.
My grandmother makes pierogies all the time (she’s Polish), but i’ve never actually had them—she isn’t a very good cook. Also, she only ever puts in left over roast beef in them.
I would KILL for a good pizza dough recipe. I can’t get it right. Crispy on the bottom but not too thick.
The food that best represents me would be Swedish Pancakes with lingonberries. It’s Swedish and it’s a dessert disguised as a meal.
Oh man, this place has pierogi ze ?liwkami. Now if I could just get a good recipe for the sweet sauce that my host mother made to go with it, I’d be all set.
I couldn’t think of anything, so I asked my husband via chat
w: what food do you think represents me?
h: delicious food.
w: more specifically
h: I can’t say I ever thought about it. I can’t think of any one food that encapsulates you, anyway. (can you think of one for me?)
w: Challah. Soft and sweet and the staff of life
I think I’m one of those filled chocolates where you never know what you’re going to get.
Hah… the conversation continued:
h: well, if we’re going to expand the search criteria to include food you can’t eat, I did think of suggesting ice cream
w: why?
h: I don’t know. sweet. usually round. lots of different flavors, pretty much all of which are nice. occasionally prone to melting down, too, I guess.
challah will do for me, I guess. I would have hoped for something more in a bacon, but you take what you can get.
I never had Polish food before even though I live in a very diverse place. I know I’m missing out. ;_;
A food that represents me? Probably Chinese egg tart. I love savory-sweet dishes~
While growing up we had pretty basic food so I would say roast chicken is my choice a representative.
I would have to say German food. Our New Year’s Day tradition is a pork roast with sauerkraut for good luck.
The above comment is mine!
Funny its Polish. I’m from Eastern Europe, (Russian Jewish,) and there’s a possibility that I might be trying out Polish with someone on the 14th. I’m not a cook, but I love eating my mom’s Russian food as well as Korean food. It’s hard to say what food represents me, maybe dessert? Like European dessert such as “day and night” cake?
Potatoes. Many variations, same food.
I’m definitely creamed spinach.
I’m definitely creamed spinach.
Barbecue! The southern food, not what up north means hamburgers on your grill. Smoked meat, which around here means pulled pork, though it can be brisket, ribs, chicken, etc. depending on the region. We serve it on a bun with sauce, and I think this may just be an east tennessee thing, but we put the slaw on the sandwich too. Barbecue can be sweet, spicy, vinegar-y, and always smoky… One of the southern food groups.
Nachos. All the way. Fully loaded.
A chocolate cupcake with pink icing and heart sprinkles, delicious and it makes you happy to look at it and eat it!
chocolate avocado cake so yummy 😀
Gonna have to go with Reeses PB cups. Because they are the best. Ever. I should learn to cook so I could try coming up with some of these other delicious creations!
I asked a friend, “What food represents me?” She answered, ” A banana.” “Huh? Why? I don’t even like bananas!” “You ARE bananas!”