International Women's Day

Every year on March 8th, we celebrate International Women's Day around the world. This year, I am thrilled to be celebrating women everywhere with the Polish & Slavic FCU.

As you most likely already know, I am Polish-American and proud of it! I've always been connected to my Polish roots and love to support my fellow Polish-Americans in their entrepreneurial endeavors.

Shop Small

For the last year, I have made a conscious effort to shop small businesses as much as possible and especially female owned and operated businesses.

I love being able to directly make a difference in someone's life.

Międzynarodowy Dzień Kobiet

Wish the women in your life a Happy International Women's Day today and make sure to appreciate, support, and lift up the women in your life.

In Polish, you can say: Wszystkiego najlepszego z okazji międzynarodowy dzień kobiet!

How do you celebrate March 8th?

In Croatia, I remember getting flowers and chocolates from co-workers, students, and neighbors and being celebrated every year. It was so lovely!

Here's to women all around the world - I stand with you today and every day.

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​As always, please let me know if you have any questions!

Stay in touch with me here,
over on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest,
and like, comment and remember to subscribe on YouTube!


The Polish & Slavic FCU's direct website is here and make sure to follow them on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and subscribe to their YouTube channel :)

P.S. See more Polish recipes and how to pray in Polish right here on the blog.

Zdrowaś Maryjo​
Zdrowaś Maryjo,
łaski pełna,
Pan z Tobą,
błogosławionaś Ty między niewiastami,
i błogosławiony owoc żywota Twojego, Jezus.
Święta Maryjo,
Matko Boża,
módl się za nami
grzesznymi teraz
i w godzinę śmierci naszej.
Amen 

Hail Mary
Hail Mary, full of grace.
The Lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou amongst women,
and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary,
Mother of God,
pray for us sinners,
now and at the hour of our death.
Amen.
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Pray the rosary along with St. John Paul II and the parishioners in the video below.

The Hail Mary begins at 1:20.
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Please let me know if you have any questions, comments, or suggestions and make sure to follow along on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube!
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​There is nothing more comforting than the smell of homemade rosół cooking in the air. Especially at this time of year, when the seasons are changing, you need to strengthen your immune system the old fashioned way - with natural penicillin! 

Here's how I make rosół (Polish chicken soup):

Ingredients

• 5 pound chicken (you can use pieces rather than a whole chicken, you just want the bone in because all of the flavor is in the bones)
• 2 large onions, sliced
• 5 carrots, peeled and sliced
• 2 parsnips,  peeled and sliced
• 1 leek, cleaned and trimmed, use the white and light green part
• 2 cloves of smashed garlic
• 1 small - medium celery root, peeled or 3 stalks celery (diced)
• 4 allspice berries
• 2 bay leaves
• 4 sprigs fresh flat leaf parsley
• 4 peppercorns
• 1 tablespoon salt (adjust amount to taste)

Optional Add-Ins:

• 1 beef soup bone
• 3 turkey necks 
• thin noodles 
• 4 springs fresh dill (plus some for garnish)

Instructions

1. Add bone-in chicken to a large pot (if you're using beef bone and turkey necks, add now too).
2. Cover with water
3. Bring to a boil and simmer for 1½ to 2½ hours, skimming any impurities off the top to ensure a clear broth
4. Add the sliced vegetables and spices for the last hour of the cooking time
5. If using, cook the noodles.
6. Serve soup, garnish with parsley and make sure to say "Smacznego!" meaning "Enjoy your meal!"
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​1. You use "talk to text" on your iPhone to text your parents because you forgot what you learned in Polish school or never really learned the grammar in the first place.

2. You know where the nearest Polish store is and are ready to go get kabanosy, pasztet, salceson, and ziele angielskie whenever the craving strikes or your family is coming over.​
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​3. You have certain family slang words that have basically become Americanized Polish but everyone knows what they mean. Like: hang outować się (to hang out), cold cuty (cold cuts), and of course Dzia Dzia (Grandpa). 

4. The reverse also happens and you end up saying "kapcz-y" with an American accent when you forget how to say slippers or simply can't translate "Smacznego" (clumsy translation: Have a tasty meal!)​ You always remember to say Smacznego before every meal, though!

​​5. You know that załatwić is one of the best words ever and that it simply cannot be translated. It means to get something done but more specifically get it done by any means possible, whether it be by using charm, luck, or connections. It's got total communist vibes from back in the day (when bribing was one of those means) but it's such an appropriate word for so many situations!

Another amazingly useful and similarly challenging to translate word that you know is kombinować. Such a great word meaning to figure something out or "MacGuyver" something (side note, my Tatus (Dad) is actually Polish MacGuyver). This word usually applies when you're working with the bare minimum. For example, when all I have left in the kitchen are a few sad carrots and a sparse pantry. I "wykombinują" a beautiful French salad by shredding the carrots and dressing in a little vinaigrette.

6. Your parents have at least one picture of Pope John Paul II in their house and probably their wallets.

7. Someone is always making homemade booze, whether it's a bottle of cytrynówka or their own wine. You will definitely be drinking it at the next Polish gathering.

8. You always, always start a round of Sto Lat after singing Happy Birthday and never leave out the "A kto?" ("And who?") at the end, since in the Polish version, you don't sing the person's name. Bonus points if you're the one who starts the "i jeszcze jeden i jeszcze raz!" (and one more, and one more time! If you've been drinking that homemade booze, you'll probably sing a couple of rounds of this).

How else do you know if you're Polish-American? Do you speak Polish? Let me know what I missed and if you relate to any of these in the comments below!