Ukrainian Food Flair

Paulette MacQuarrie

Short audio stories exploring Ukrainian dishes, traditions, and culinary heritage. Ukrainian Food Flair has been part of Nash Holos Ukrainian Roots Radio for many years, sharing the recipes and stories originally created and presented by Sylvia Molnar, a Vancouver culinary figure whose recipes and stories shaped the original radio series.  This podcast brings those segments together into a dedicated space for easier listening and discovery. It also serves as a companion to the Ukrainian Food Flair cookbook, which preserves and honours the original recipe collection. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episodes

  1. Dill Bread Express: Fresh Dill & Butter Magic

    May 28

    Dill Bread Express: Fresh Dill & Butter Magic

    Fresh dill and soft butter transform a simple French loaf into a warm, aromatic treat that freezes beautifully and pairs perfectly with any meal. This easy make‑ahead recipe brings a touch of Ukrainian kitchen comfort to modern tables. You’ll find this recipe, along with others from the series, in the Ukrainian Food Flair cookbook, available from Amazon and other online booksellers. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    3 min
  2. Duck the Ukrainian Way

    May 21

    Duck the Ukrainian Way

    Duck has long held a special place in Ukrainian kitchens, valued not only for its rich flavor but also for the down and feathers used in traditional pillows and wedding bedding. This episode revisits two time‑honored preparations — fried duck and roast duck — along with the practical cooking wisdom, serving ideas, and old‑world techniques that continue to resonate with home cooks today. You’ll find this recipe in the cookbook Ukrainian Food Flair — Authentic Recipes from Canada's West Coast available on Amazon and other online booksellers.. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    5 min

  3. May 7

    Ukrainian Khrustyky and the Art of the Rose Cookie

    Sylvia Molnar takes a deep dive into the secret behind the dainty, delectable and now quite rare sweets called Khrustyky in Ukrainian, also known as "nothings" because they literally melt in your mouth. She shares the ingredients, shaping methods, and frying techniques for these traditional treats, along with the intricate process for creating the ornate rose shape for these cookies that she learned from her mother. This is one of Sylvia's collection recipes, stories, and cooking tips preserved in the Ukrainian Food Flair Cookbook, published as a tribute to her legacy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    6 min
  4. Centuries of Asparagus and a Classic Ukrainian Dish

    Apr 25

    Centuries of Asparagus and a Classic Ukrainian Dish

    In this segment, Sylvia Pidraziuk Molnar brings forward a fabulous, simple recipe in praise of asparagus — a plant that has grown wild in Ukraine for centuries and still appears in Ukrainian kitchens across the country. She speaks to its quiet presence and long history in Ukrainian cookery, and the way its character pairs so naturally with familiar flavours, including the Carpathian bryndzia cheese as well as parmesan. Sylvia offers a straightforward preparation that lets the vegetable remain the star, a small dish with deep roots and a hint of the mountains in its finish. You’ll find this recipe, along with others from the series, in the Ukrainian Food Flair cookbook, available from Amazon and other online booksellers. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    4 min
  5. A Ukrainian Spring Borsch Variation

    Apr 19

    A Ukrainian Spring Borsch Variation

    From the Nash Holos audio archives and the Ukrainian Food Flair Cookbook, this flashback features Sylvia Molnar sharing her distinctive spring sorrel borscht recipe — a bright, seasonal variation of Ukraine’s national soup. She explains how to prepare it with sorrel or simple substitutes, and how this traditional dish reflects the freshness of Ukrainian home cooking. Sylvia's recipes, stories, and cooking tips have been preserved in the cookbook Ukrainian Food Flair — Authentic Recipes from Canada's West Coast available on Amazon. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    4 min
  6. Poppy Seed Roll (Makivnyk): A Sweet Ukrainian Tradition

    Apr 10

    Poppy Seed Roll (Makivnyk): A Sweet Ukrainian Tradition

    Makivnyk is the Ukrainian name for the poppy seed roll that has long anchored Ukrainian sweet‑dough baking. A timeless favourite shared by other East European cultures, it nonetheless remains a signature dish in Ukrainian kitchens. This episode highlights tips and techniques for creating a luscious poppy seed filling for a roll using your own preferred sweet dough recipe. A bonus is this filling can be used in other classic dishes like strudel and perogies.  And yet another bonus: Sylvia's own sweet dough recipe is in the Ukrainian Food Flair cookbook. I have made it myself ... and it is a winner!  Смачного! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    3 min
  7. Ukrainian Beet and Horseradish Relish

    Apr 2

    Ukrainian Beet and Horseradish Relish

    This Ukrainian Food Flair episode features Sylvia Molnar presenting the classic beet and horseradish relish deeply rooted in Ukrainian, Slavic, and Ashkenazi food traditions. She explains its place on Easter and Passover tables, its popularity in home kitchens and Jewish delis, and the importance of using fresh horseradish when possible. The segment also highlights her practical tips for selecting, preparing, and storing this vibrant condiment, along with a personal reminder that her recipes and stories live on in the Ukrainian Food Flair cookbook. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    4 min
  8. Quick and Easy Lazy Cabbage Rolls

    Mar 29

    Quick and Easy Lazy Cabbage Rolls

    Cabbage is a staple in Ukrainian cuisine, not just for its many outstanding health benefits but for its versatility and economy. The quintessential Ukrainian cabbage dish is of course holubtsi, aka cabbage rolls. The traditional rolls can be quite time consuming to make, so modern cooks often opt for "lazy cabbage rolls" which is basically a layered casserole of cabbage, rice, and other ingredients. In this episode of Ukrainian Food Flair, Sylvia shares her recipe for a hearty dinner variation with ground beef, rice, and cabbage. She also shares some very interesting anecdotes about cabbage folklore and medicinal qualities. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    4 min
  9. Horseradish at Easter: The Fiery Ukrainian Tradition with Ancient Roots

    Mar 26

    Horseradish at Easter: The Fiery Ukrainian Tradition with Ancient Roots

    Long before it became a staple on Ukrainian Easter tables, horseradish had a life that stretched across continents, and centuries. In this Ukrainian Food Flair episode, Sylvia Molnar opens a window into the world of horseradish (hryn in Ukrainian)—a root unassuming in appearance yet powerful in chemistry, folklore, and culinary tradition. Sylvia traces its fascinating journey from ancient Egypt to medieval medicine and, finally, to Ukrainian kitchens and Easter baskets. Along the way she explains why this fiery root demands respect: how its pungency is released, why it must be handled with care, and what makes its sharpness so fleeting yet so prized. She also shares her traditional Ukrainian Easter horseradish sauce—a deceptively simple blend of grated horseradish root, sour cream, salt, sugar, and vinegar. More than a recipe, it’s a glimpse into the sensory and cultural rituals that shape this traditional Easter dish.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    4 min
  10. Tomato Yogurt Salad

    Mar 24

    Tomato Yogurt Salad

    In this episode of Ukrainian Food Flair on Nash Holos Ukrainian Roots Radio, Sylvia Molnar shares a tomato and yogurt salad made with sliced ripe tomatoes, sweet onion, yogurt mixed with salt and pepper, a bit of sugar, and finished with fresh dill. She also reflects on the quality of Ukrainian dairy products and offers a tip for choosing sweet onions. This podcast features the voice of the late Sylvia Molnar, a beloved culinary personality in Vancouver, who presented her recipes, stories, and cooking on Nash Holos in the series Ukrainian Food Flair. The recipe appears in Ukrainian Food Flair: The Cookbook, published as a tribute to her culinary legacy and now available from online booksellers (including Amazon) to home cooks everywhere. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    3 min
  11. Ukrainian Babka – A Traditional Easter Bread

    Mar 24

    Ukrainian Babka – A Traditional Easter Bread

    In this episode of Ukrainian Food Flair on Nash Holos Ukrainian Roots Radio, Sylvia shares the storied tradition of Ukrainian Easter Babka—a tall, cylindrical sweet bread that’s as demanding as it is rewarding. Babka is made from a delicate raised yeast dough and was considered one of the most important and demanding tasks of the Ukrainian homemaker during the Easter holiday season. The preparation is time‑consuming, but the end result—rich, tender, fine‑textured, spongy, and very light—is well worth the effort. This version is more manageable with modern kitchen conveniences, while maintaining the character of the original. It includes a yeast starter, enriched dough with citrus and raisins, and a simple icing of icing sugar, lemon juice, and warm water, finished with baker’s confetti. Whether you’re a seasoned baker or trying Babka for the first time, this episode offers a glimpse into the heritage behind the loaf—and why its successful rise is considered a true triumph For the full recipe and more legacy-rich dishes, check out the cookbook Ukrainian Food Flair: Authentic Recipes from Canada's West Coast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    5 min
  12. Beetniks: A Ukrainian Canadian Culinary Original

    Mar 24

    Beetniks: A Ukrainian Canadian Culinary Original

    In this archival feature of Ukrainian Food Flair, a long‑running series on Nash Holos, you will hear the story and recipe behind beetniks — traditional Ukrainian bread rolls wrapped in beet leaves. Beetniks hold a special place in Ukrainian Canadian kitchens — a dish instantly recognized across Canada yet virtually unheard of in Ukraine itself. For Ukrainian pioneers and their descendants, these beet‑leaf‑wrapped bread rolls have long been a cherished seasonal treat, made only when the garden offers perfect young leaves. This podcast features the voice of the late Sylvia Molnar, a beloved culinary personality in Vancouver, who presented her recipes, stories, and cooking on Nash Holos in the series Ukrainian Food Flair. The recipe appears in Ukrainian Food Flair: The Cookbook, published as a tribute to her culinary legacy and now available from online booksellers (including Amazon) to home cooks everywhere. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    4 min
  • 12 Episodes

About

Short audio stories exploring Ukrainian dishes, traditions, and culinary heritage. Ukrainian Food Flair has been part of Nash Holos Ukrainian Roots Radio for many years, sharing the recipes and stories originally created and presented by Sylvia Molnar, a Vancouver culinary figure whose recipes and stories shaped the original radio series.  This podcast brings those segments together into a dedicated space for easier listening and discovery. It also serves as a companion to the Ukrainian Food Flair cookbook, which preserves and honours the original recipe collection. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Information

  • Creator
    Paulette MacQuarrie
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    12
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Paulette MacQuarrie
  • Show Website
    Ukrainian Food Flair