Last year I happened to be in Riga when the lilacs (ceriņi) were in full bloom. The scent and cloud like blooms is one of the...
Easter Eggs
The most prominent Latvian Easter tradition is to dye eggs with natural ingredients – onion skins, parsley, frozen or preserved blueberries and blackberries, grass, leaves, rice,...
Gingerbread
Christmas in Latvia cannot be imagined without baking tray upon tray of gingerbread (piparkūkas). It is a national pastime in the days leading up to Christmas...
Cottage Cheese Cookies (Biezpiena cepumi)
I came across the recipe for cottage cheese cookies while randomly browsing Latvian news websites. I had never seen it before and suddenly it was everywhere...
Oatmeal (Auzu pārslu putra)
Oatmeal or oat porridge (auzu pārslu putra) is a Latvian breakfast classic. It is not just your winter morning treat, it is eaten all year round...
Lieldienas (Easter)
Lieldienas (Easter) is a celebration of the arrival of spring and sun, the spring equinox. With the rise of Christianity, Lieldienas was celebrated on the day...
Vintage Latvian Easter Cards
Happy Easter! As I could not choose one, here is a collection of colourful, cheerful and mischievous vintage Latvian Easter cards...
Fish soup (Zivju zupa)
I’ve said it once and I will say it again – Latvians love their soup for lunch, dinner or dessert. Funnily enough, we don’t commonly eat...
Ziemassvētki (Christmas)
Celebration of Christmas in Latvia is rich in tradition with a sprinkling of superstition. Although now Christmas has been tamed down to a quiet family celebration,...
Sauteed Sauerkraut
Sauteed sauerkraut (štovēti kāposti) is my “must-have” Christmas dish. Ever since I can remember, my grandma would spend most of the Christmas Eve in the kitchen...
Potato pancakes (Kartupeļu pankūkas)
It was once mentioned to me that potato pancakes to Latvians is what spaghetti Bolognese is to Australians – it is a fairly quick mid-week meal...
Herb dip (Zaļā mērce)
Herb dip or green sauce (zaļā mērce) may not be a very traditional or common Latvian recipe, however, it is made from truly Latvian ingredients –...