Life / Owning a house in true countryside of Poland - stories [692]


Family helps out but only during summer, sometimes weekends. Now it is mainly work in the field or garden, but previously I engaged my sons to help me do some construction inside the house when it was being thoroughly renovated.


That is crucial, counting on precipitation to water your plants is like expecting to win the lottery. But in GB it is different.


Did you throw up like I did once as a kid after consuming a kilo or two of cherries straight from the trees? We were staying at a single room in a guesthose and I was walking to and fro and leaving indigested cherries behind me. Shocking view. :):) :)

As for losing crops, I already mentioned droughts - blamed for the death of two dozen new plants, small and big. Hares and rarely roe deer - another dozen of bigger saplings. Underground rodents like voles or mice - a few saplings and a lot of veg.

As for disease or insects, I don`t use chemicals, only natural means which I find on the internet, and if they don`t help, I just give up and see what happens next. I sow so many veg that even if half of them is rotten and devoured by pests, I still get the other half which usually suffices. :)


Once I wanted to introduce chickens there but last year I bought a rabbit and after seeing how much work she entailed, I gave up on all other farm birds. Apart from the rabbit, we take our urban home pets with us when we come for a longer stay - cats, mice, tortoise and turtle. The snake stays in the city. :)

Oh, now I remember you asked about feeding sunflower seeds to pets. So, our mice get them.

Life / Mishmash facts about Poland and Poles [182]


Well, it may be explained in two ways - economic and sociological. Renting a flat on your own is still quite an expense in Poland while in Sweden not. Second - family ties are stronger in Poland than in Sweden. Polish youth don`t want to move out because they feel good living with parents, especially Polish mommies or sometimes even babcias.

Literacy rate in Poland - 99.8 percent.

The UK and US - 99 percent.

Food / What do non-Poles think about eating the following Polish foods? [1450]


No, they use brine and then bread crumbs. Read how KFC chicken is prepared.

Guys, can you guess the name of the fish which I loved in my youth because it is so lean but today I prefer fatter fish? It doesn`t come from the Baltic, and Polish fishing ships started providing it in 1970s.

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Life / Mishmash facts about Poland and Poles [182]

This infographics shows that young people in Poland leave family home at 27,6. The earliest leavers are Scandinavians - 18,5 in Sweden, and the latest kippers are Italians - 30,1, Spaniards, Croats, Greeks.

facet.onet.pl/warto-wiedziec/w-jakim-wieku-polacy-wyprowadzaja-sie-od-mamusi-jak-wypadaja-na-tle-innych/hmebgek

Language / Game - guess Polish idioms/sayings in direct English translation [1756]

The idiom doesn`t imply the cross as a real item, let alone of religious meaning. Only its graphic representation, like in a drawing - X.

Food / What do non-Poles think about eating the following Polish foods? [1450]


Read the list of ingredients on the package. I am sure there are many more than just flour, egg and bread crumbs.


But that will kill you even more, she is going to cook typical Polish food without fibre but full of grease and fat. Come one.... We don`t want to lose you ..... Get an Italian......

Language / Game - guess Polish idioms/sayings in direct English translation [1756]

Yes!

on/into the cross

Life / The climate for gardening in Poland [340]

Climate in Poland is great for roses. I have inherited some bushes after the previous owners but am not crazy about that type of flowers. But once I desired to have black or blue roses in my garden. I was even about to order them when I read that such roses hadn`t been invented yet. Blue rose is in fact violet while black is dark crimson. Florists achieve pure blue or black by injecting special dyes into the stem.

The same with rainbow roses - they are artificially created. Growing them in your garden is pure fantasy so don`t let tricksters take you for a ride - e.h., smart guys sell rainbow rose seeds on auction sites.

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Language / Game - guess Polish idioms/sayings in direct English translation [1756]

Yes, exactly!

to do/make/turn sb into grey.

Food / What do non-Poles think about eating the following Polish foods? [1450]

Yes, that`s why I used two words - both for Americans and British. :):) I didn`t include Australians. though, I am sorry. :)

but made of ground meat and is the equivalent of Polish mielony - minced.

Life / Owning a house in true countryside of Poland - stories [692]

It is possible but not too probable in my case because I tried various producers over a few years as well as different parts of the farm - in the field, in the garden, in front of the house and the result was always the same - tall heavy sunflowers with little seeds. But at least I could feed them to our pets.

Food / What do non-Poles think about eating the following Polish foods? [1450]


There is nothing about it. It exists in many cuisines.

pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kotlet_mielony

Food / What do non-Poles think about eating the following Polish foods? [1450]

Sorry, this Persian kotlet isn`t schabowy but made of ground meat and is the equivalent of Polish mielony - minced.

I see I made a mistake using the Polish name KOTLET SCHABOWY because you constantly try to smuggle some chicken or Persian ground stuff. :):)

Let me say it again - schabowy means porktenderloin meat in one piece .

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kotlet_schabowy

Food / What do non-Poles think about eating the following Polish foods? [1450]


Yes, it is but when you couldn`t buy schab (joint) in the butcher`s, you could always order the dish at a restaurant or come across it at a solemn reception (e.,g First Holy Communion), especially when the hosts had some connections in the countryside.


Sorry, chicken fillet is no longer schabowy. :)


Not so quick and easy, don`t forget about flour, egg and bread crumbs. How else are you going to make it crunchy? Kotlet schabowy isn`t itself if you cook it differently.

Or, you buy ready-made stuff. But I wouldn `t trust it if I were you. :):)


It means somebody wasn`t able to cook it well for you. I ate kotlets so soft and delicate that they melted on my tongue. :)

Food / What do non-Poles think about eating the following Polish foods? [1450]

Remember communist times? That was the most desired dinner dish for Poles then, due to shortages of meat.

Kotlet schabowy

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History / Heritage of partitions still present in Poland [107]


Neither Lotus or Lokus, it is LOTOS. But they haven`t got tsar portrait in it because its decor resembles the 1970s communist times. You probably saw Lenin and mistook it for tsar. :)

Lookie here, a true partitioner countenance in the Polish street:

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Life / Owning a house in true countryside of Poland - stories [692]


Well, it depends. I treat it both as hobby and exercise. Since we bought that farm, I have practically given jogging, going to the gym and swimming. It is enough that I look after

the house and the field, especially 100 square metres of veg patches, which have to be dug through, sowed and then cleaned off weeds. I mostly find time but I admit, when I am busy with school work, I am not able to do certain things, e.g, cover the fragile plants before winter or weed the ground between veg.


So was the case with me, we had a small allotment in the city when I was about 10, but later the area was taken by the authorities and a housing estate was built there. I hated that plot because I had to carry water from a distant pipe but I remember my juvenile fascination when I saw first ready to eat radishes. What? That stuff really grows in the ground? :)

That child`s fascination returned to me a few years ago and I suppose it will also return to you. :)


Actually, no, I don`t deal with such stuff, my wife does. I do much dirtier and harder things there, e.g., cleaning the well. :)


Yes, they are sunflowers but I stopped growing them this year because the soil in the area isn`t good for them, they were tall and heavy but seeds were small; I have to learn by neighbours` example - nobody in the vicinity grows sunflowers. :):)

As for experiments, II constantly need strong incentives to dissipate boredom of daily routine which is even able to lead me to depressive moods. :)

Food / What do non-Poles think about eating the following Polish foods? [1450]

Can you buy such bread?

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Food / What do non-Poles think about eating the following Polish foods? [1450]


Yes, that`s because I don`t like reading you in general, as you seldom show any reason in other threads, so when you showed some here at last I was a little flabbergasted. I am sorry. :)


Yes, but I combine them with healthy stuff. )


Yes, that`s right but remember that one needs to listen to their body to know which foods to choose. I only eat what my organism tells me to. I never eat anything that my body rejects. That is why I feel I have to eat fatty foods because that`s what I want subconsciously.


Yes, it is! We don`t have a dog, only two cats, so I have to eat that stuff myself. :) But I am truly fond of it - picking little pieces of meat from between those tiny neck bones is so exciting.

Food / What do non-Poles think about eating the following Polish foods? [1450]

Me, too, as a kid. Today I drink it straight from the bottle, like juice. And only the fear of overdosing vitamins prevents me from drinking the whole bottle at once. I also drinik that oil in which tinned fish liver is kept. And sardines, too. Am I crazy or my body just needs that stuff? :):)


Who knows?


Yes, we eat a lot of that too but showing it here would be boring.

So, one request - don`t judge our cooking ways so superficially after seeing only a dozen pictures in this thread. :):)


Yes, that is why I never eat meat solo. Look at that dish below - isn`t it virtually exploding with fiber?

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Language / Game - guess Polish idioms/sayings in direct English translation [1756]

Nope. Taken off the ceiling is close to sucked from the finger. About calculations, it means sth taken off the top of your head.

to plane/whittle a madman.

News / Years of Poland in the EU - assessment of pros and cons [1199]


The EU introduces strange laws. Some time ago even Polish President complained in an official speech that the EU was wrong about banning traditional light bulbs. Diplomats were very surprised because he seemed really pissed off. :):)

Back to pros.

Without the EU Poland would never be able to to increase her exports so quickly. It is getting higher and higher each year.

rp.pl/Dane-gospodarcze/190509819-Unia-Europejska-przyjmuje-gros-naszego-eksportu.html

In 2004, Poland exported goods and services worth 60 billion euros. In 2018, it is 220 billion.

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Life / Owning a house in true countryside of Poland - stories [692]

Yes, it is surrounded by neighbours` fields. They grow either corn or wheat, sometimes other grains or veg like potatoes. I like corn best because it remain green till autumn, so the view during our summer stay is more pleasant. The pictures above show the year when they grew corn on all sides around us and we were living in splendid isolation.

As for winds, yes, there are strong northern winds, if I didn`t put those pieces of rubble on the black foil, it would fly away. Plants don`t suffer except for some trees which grow fast but have a thin trunk, e,.g, birches, one can see they are all bent southward.

Food / What do non-Poles think about eating the following Polish foods? [1450]


You mean Europe without Great Britain?


How about aubergine? Is it Polish food or not? Watch out, it might be a trap! :)


Yes, but life is generally a fatal disease. I either cut aubergine finely and add to other fatty meat dishes or fry it in olive oil with fatty cheese, ham and greasy mushrooms on top.

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Food / What do non-Poles think about eating the following Polish foods? [1450]


Yes, indeed, that`s what is expected of posters in this thread. You are perfectly right now.


And here is where you seem to be wrong and hence the whole exchange. I said "seem" because we weren`t aware of your intentions behind your words. Did you mean whole dishes shown in the photos or only their main ingredients, that is meat?

1. If you meant whole dishes, then you were wrong saying there is absolutely no fiber in them because if you had looked closely, you would have seen they were served with various side foods containing fiber.

E.g, in post No 594, kidneys are roasted with a huge amount of onion and some pepper and I can see I also added a slice of potato to the casserole.

In post No 598, chopped tongue is simmered with mushrooms and some veg in tomato sauce.

In post 566 chicken liver is served with potatoes and sauerkraut.

In post 561, Polish cold cuts/sausage are served with two kinds of salad plus tomatoes, mushrooms, olives and brown bread.

In post 550, fried Polish sausage is served with wholemeal bread, onion and pineapple.

More?

In post 518, the pork hock is served with buckwheat, cucumber, kohlrabi and peach.

The only food that is really pure fat and grease is fish liver in post no 572.

2 If you meant meat as a main ingredient, you failed a little because meat doesn`t contain fiber.

Can you see now why some posters thought they need to correct you?


Here you are right, but you should have said that at the very beginning. :)

But it is obvious you only look at the photos instead of reading our comments:

I said: After an hour, I started to feel hungry again. It just came to my mind that Polish food must be so fatty and full of calories - how would Poles survive those harsh winters in the past and today?

or Fat pork can raise your cholestorol to an alarming level but it is so yummy...

Food / What do non-Poles think about eating the following Polish foods? [1450]


Yes, that is the purpose. This thread is not about salads or apples, but about Polish food which might seem controvercial, e.g, tripes or other tongues. Show some intelligence from time to time. :):)


Remember, you are talking to an Am Pole. :)

Food / What do non-Poles think about eating the following Polish foods? [1450]

But look at the pics - except for those taste buds which look funny and the skin which is a bit slimy, the rest is pure meat. If you are not a vegetarian, then you will certainly like the tongue.

Life / The climate for gardening in Poland [340]

The last wave of ground frost may come even in May so pro gardeners advise to plant vulnerable greens from mid May. Last year I picked very few cherries because spring frost had killed blooming flowers on trees.

This year I see mine have survived very well but in other regions - not. After the drought, ground frosts are going to negatively influence farmers` income.

finanse.wp.pl/majowe-przymrozki-zaszkodza-sadownikom-wzrosna-ceny-6378043336972417a


There are special names for those cold days with ground frost. Cold Gardeners are on 12, 13 and 14 May while 15 May is called Cold Sophie.

Today it has been raining all day, just like yesterday and a few days ago. Great, the ground is slowly getting soaked but still only the initial layer of it. To get deeper, the rain should continue for a few days more.

Rains are good for some veg and bad for others. E.g. tomatoes don`t like damp conditions, they can easily get diseases.

Life / Owning a house in true countryside of Poland - stories [692]


No, of course not, I am not a pro farmer, I just play one. :):) But we give veg, fruit and flowers as a gift to family or friends. Whoever visits us, doesn`t leave with empty hands/boots. Sometimes neighbours get gifts and they are surprised. People living there are very traditional and they have never seen or even heard of some things we grow.


It`s 2.5 acres. A little part of it is occupied by the house and garden, the rest is the field, half of which I turned into a fruit orchard with a few veg patches scattered around while the other half is leased by a neighbour.

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Language / Game - guess Polish idioms/sayings in direct English translation [1756]


Sorry. But I might offer a hint - it is very close to another idiom which appeared on this page. And it often refers to calculations, figures and data.