The prompt for 16 March 2016 is to write about a lunch date you would like to have with a female family member or ancestor. 

March 16 — If you could have lunch (or another meal) with any female family member (living or dead) or any famous female who would it be and why? Where would you go? What would you eat?

[Note: This post originally ran during the Fearless Females series in March 2010]

I would like to spend the day with my mother Anna, my grandmothers, Elizabeth and Verona, and my great-grandmothers–Ilona, Borbala (Barbara), Maria, and Anna—all together in one place. I imagine we are in Slovakia – in one of my ancestral homes. Of course we would have Slovak food! I picture us sharing a traditional Easter meal: paska, hrutka/syrek (Easter cheese), hrin (beets & horseradish), klobassy, ham, hard-boiled egg–each food symbolic.   

I would understand and speak the Slovak language so I could listen to their stories and their wisdom and help them prepare all the delicious foods. My family dream team!

Recipes and information on Slovak Easter traditions are included in my book, Baba’s Kitchen: Slovak & Rusyn Family Recipes and Traditions.

Copyright 2016, Lisa A. Alzo
All Rights Reserved