Paska, a special bread that I used this past weekend
This year, my Easter dinner was photographed for
my upcoming new book on elegant entertaining, so I can’t divulge too
much about what was served. I will tell you, however, about the
beautiful and delicious paska, or Ukrainian Easter yeast bread that
graced our table. Several years ago, Lubow Wolynetz was a guest on my
previous television show. Lubow is the librarian and curator at the
Ukrainian Museum and Library of Stamford, CT Ukrainianmuseumlibrary.org,
and is also a wonderful baker. On that episode, she shared with us her
recipe for paska and I was happy when she agreed to provide us with her
stunning breads this Easter.
Lubow 
Lubow explained that for Ukrainians, paska is so important at Easter
time, representing joy of new life, and baking it is never taken
lightly. It’s critical that the top of a paska be covered with symbols
made out of the dough, such as crosses, astrological signs, rosettes,
leaves, birds, or bees. And, according to ritual, it’s believed that
how your paska turned out would determine your future. So naturally,
every baker hoped for the most beautiful and tallest results. And to
ensure these goals, a bit of magic was always performed, including the
recital of sacred formulas and incantations. During the baking
process, no one in the household was allowed to sit for fear that the
paska would not rise. Needless to say, a successful paska brought joy
and relief to each family and was then carried to church for the ever
so important blessing. You can bake your very own Paska bread by using THIS RECIPE.
This is the building that houses The
Ukrainian Museum, built in 1867. Bishop Constantine
Bohachevesky purchased the property in 1933 with
plans to establish a Ukrainian cultural institution.
This
A formal parlor.
There are many traditional Ukrainian
garments on display.
The
Meticulous
I just adore this egg!
A regal eagle.
The surround and hearth of this mantle
are covered with lovely Delft tiles.
A handsomely carved fireplace.
Hi Martha, It looks like you had a great weekend! I remember when Lubow Wolynetz was on your old show and she made her beautiful paska bread. Wasn't there some kind of contest the Ukrainian women had to see who's paska was the best? I love the photos of the Ukrainian Museum. The Delft tiles and the beautifully carved fireplace are spectacular. Are the beautiful decorated eggs made using blown out eggs? They are absolutely stunning. Thank you so much for sharing and I can't wait for your new Entertaining book to come out. Jan
Posted by: Jan Erickson | March 24th, 2008 at 12:49 am
I'm with you Martha. That egg is amazing!
Posted by: Lourdes | March 24th, 2008 at 1:54 am
How wonderful to read and learn of other traditions. The eggs so beautifully painted/decorated. We too had a wonderful family Easter and for us here in South Africa, Easter is the turning point of the season where we welcome and appreciate the beautiful signs of autumn.
Posted by: Franco Forleo | March 24th, 2008 at 3:01 am
What a great symbol for the sacrament of new life. Jesus is the bread of life, and in Urania this is a tradition for the lamb of God,which gives Christians the blessing of hope and faith. May we all reflect this symbolism. Nan
Posted by: Nan Ashby | March 24th, 2008 at 6:21 am
We too had Paska on our Easter dinner table yesterday, and I appreciate the information behind the bread.
Sharing, in part, in this heritage, AND as an artist, I have always adored the Ukranian Easter Eggs. Still new to Connecticut, I will be sure to plan a visit to the beautiful museum very soon.
Thanks Martha!
Kelly
http://kellyschwark.com/
Posted by: KellySchwark.com | March 24th, 2008 at 7:23 am
Hi, Martha,
What a delicious Easter dinner you must have had. The paska looks delicious. I, too,remember when Lubow Wolynetz was on your other show baking this symbolic bread. Thanks for the wonderful photos of the Ukranian Museum with its traditional embroidered garments, decorated Easter eggs, Delft tile covered mantle, and carved fireplaces.
I'll be happy to see your new book.
Kathy
Posted by: Kathy | March 24th, 2008 at 7:32 am
The egg is so beautifull no words can express it that's forsure. Being Ukrainian and living in Kiev, I am so thrilled to see this Blog. Easter as you may or may not know will be celebrated April 27th in Ukriane for the Greek Orthodox. And yes I will be making my very own Paska also.
Posted by: Laurie Ivanchuk{Ukraine} | March 24th, 2008 at 8:24 am
As always this blog brings the world and traditions to us.
Thank you.
Posted by: Margie | March 24th, 2008 at 9:59 am
Martha,
Thank you for bringing the beauty of the Ukraine to us. I too remember Lubow Wolynetz from the past. What a beautiful paska! What incredibly beautiful eggs!
Posted by: Sharon Weinmann | March 24th, 2008 at 10:32 am
Hi Martha!
I especially enjoyed this post, as my grandmother has made dozens of Ukrainian Pysanky eggs for Easter for as long as I can remember. My sisters, cousins and I each have a collection, with each egg dated for the year it was given to us. Thanks for the background!
Emily
Posted by: Emily A | March 24th, 2008 at 1:22 pm
Hi Martha,
I just wanted you to know that we think your tomato soup from Costco is soooo delicious. My dad is losing weight from chemotherapy and when I brought him your soup (he still has to try the mushroom) to eat he was THRILLED and also thought it was so delicious. He even snuck a few spoonfuls when it was cold in the refrigerator!!!
Thanks for helping him gain his strength back. Every little bit helps.
Kathy
Posted by: kathy | March 24th, 2008 at 1:57 pm
Hi Martha. I just wanted to share with you how much I enjoy reading your blog. I look forward to every new post and can always be assured to take something away from every visit. Your determination and success have inspired so many, myself included. I live by all your cookbooks and the information on your website. I currently live in Germany, but my house in New Fairfield, CT is not far from Bedford. I love that I can watch the show on the website.
I am writing a blog also while living here, and thought you might enjoy reading about some of the neat things we are getting to see and do. the link is http://web.mac.com/coreyleebenson/Cologne/Blog/Blog.html
I know your a busy lady, but hope maybe I might be able to return the pleasure I get from reading your blog. Much success and thanks.
Posted by: Corey Benson | March 24th, 2008 at 2:06 pm
That is one beautiful museum! I love the parlor and the staircase. I used to dream of living in a house with a staircase such as that!
I clearly remember Lubow Wolynetz making paska on a previous show and thought it was the most beautiful bread. I believe I still have that show on tape.
Thanks for yet another interesting blog, Martha and Laura. Trish
Posted by: Trish | March 24th, 2008 at 2:15 pm
Thank you for the feature on Ukrainian Easter. I am very excited to try Martha's Paska recipe for "Uki Easter" -- which falls on April 27th (according to the Julian calendar). The mention of magical and supersticious touches was especially enlightening! They illustrate the holiday's connection to a pagan/pre-Christian tradition; it is one that celebrates springtime and rebirth.
Posted by: Lena Howansky | March 24th, 2008 at 4:36 pm
I want to move in (heh-heh)! Seriously, lovely photos of an amazing estate -- thanks for sharing!
Posted by: Liz Ness | March 24th, 2008 at 5:50 pm
Martha:
I was wondering what you had served yesterday! Now I know, or at least in part. I can't wait for your new Entertaining book. It would be hard for most people to top the first one, but I'm sure you can do it!
I remember when Lubow Wolynetz was on MSL and made the paska. I am fascinated by any type of decorative and, of course, delicious food and these yeast breads are truly works of art and the religious symbolism is so rich. I'll have to make a point of visiting the Ukranian museum when I'm near Stanford.
I have also always been fascinated by Easter eggs of all kinds so I enjoyed the snapshots of those, as well. I've made Faberge-style eggs, panoramic eggs, Easter Egg cakes, etc, but have yet to many any pysanky.
Don't forget our Easter holidays continue until Pentecost, so we have 49 days left to celebrate. Isn't it great!
Joseph Brennan
Posted by: Joseph Brennan | March 24th, 2008 at 6:28 pm
Amazing bread, eggs and that museum is a beauty! Thanks for sharing
Claudine
Posted by: Claudine | March 24th, 2008 at 10:33 pm
Martha:)
Another beautiful and informative blog. The Paska is so lovely. I wouldn't want to cut into it because of its beauty.
The museum is gorgeous and those eggs. I can't find the right words for how beautiful they are.
I'm looking forward to your new "Entertaining" book. With pictures like these it will be great.
Linda Gail:)
Posted by: Linda Gail | March 25th, 2008 at 12:09 am
would love to see pictures of your home decorated for easter
Posted by: ric | March 25th, 2008 at 12:22 am
Hello Martha, Happy Easter.
Congratulations for showing us such a beatiful things, the eggs look fantastic and the bread must taste as good as it looks.
Posted by: Dulce DeLeon | March 25th, 2008 at 11:58 am
Seeing the Ukranian Easter eggs brought back memories. I tried making them with my mother, just as an attempt at an interesting craft, when I was younger. This Easter I thought back to the project and have again become interested in trying to find the tools and supplies to make them. They are SO time consuming, and you have to be meticulous with your patterns, but it is SUCH a treat when you melt the wax off to reveal the beautiful final product!
The photos of the eggs in your blog are lovely! They are incredibly intricate designs and probably took the artist a long time. Thank you for sharing. (And I agree...the chicken is really neat!)
Posted by: Kim Wylie | March 25th, 2008 at 5:00 pm
Hi Martha, While watching your Easter segments this year I kept waiting for those Ukrainian Easter eggs that were profiled on your former beloved show. I will always remember the skill of those ladies, such a beautiful craft. Thanks for sharing.
Posted by: Lynda Huber | March 25th, 2008 at 6:56 pm
Martha...what wonderful photos of paska, easter eggs and the museum.
I am indeed fortunate to live in a neighbouring community where a Ukrainian Cultural Centre is located. Prior to Easter the ladies of the parish have a huge bake sale...selling paska, babka, and a variety of baked goods as well as the wonderful perogees and cabbage rolls. They also have beautifully decorated eggs for sale as well. I love that the ladies attire themselves in their embroidered blouses as they happily go about selling their delicious foods. Thanks to my Ukrainian grandmother i grew up eating all these great foods and now my little grandson loves his perogees and cabbage rolls!
I look forward to your new Entertaining book!
Posted by: Sherey | March 26th, 2008 at 12:11 pm
I remember Lubow Wolynetz being so charming on the Easter show, I thought she should have her own segment to share her amazing knowledge of Ukranian art, traditions, and baking! The museum looks stunning. Thanks for reminding us of the paska this year, would love to see more recipes from Lubow.
Posted by: Vanessa Cheatwood | March 26th, 2008 at 12:27 pm
Mrs. Wolynetz is a WONDERFUL baker. Her bread is beautiful. But if you want a real treat, you should try her amazing Christmas cookies!
Posted by: Catharine | March 26th, 2008 at 12:43 pm
Hi Martha, I wasn't sure where to post this but I wanted to sing the praises of Lucindas' Easter dinner recipes.( Living Magazine, March) I made the entire thing from the artichokes to the cookies and lemon cake. I also baked your riccota pie from about 4 years ago. Everyone loved everything. Usually I'll pick out one or two of the recipes and am always happy, but this time I did the whole thing. It made it so easy from food shopping to planning it out hour by hour. It really made for an easy and successful holiday.
Posted by: patty | March 30th, 2008 at 10:25 am
Dear Martha: Great story on Luba Wolynetz and the Ukrainian Museum of Stamford. Luba is a very talented lady. You might recall that it was I who introduced you to Mrs. Wolynetz. I wonder what you had for Easter this year since our store was closed. After 52 years of eating Kurowycky products I hope you missed them as much as I did. I did try your ham from COTSCO, it was OK but not a Kurowycky ham.
With respect,
Jaroslaw Kurowyckyj
Posted by: Jaroslaw Kurowyckyj - father | March 30th, 2008 at 9:01 pm
Hi Martha,
Happy April 1st. I just want to comment on your display. It was beautiful. I myself am Ukranian and I grew up with my younger brother, Father Joseph Szupa from Elizabeth, N.J. making these beautiful eggs. It took him a long time to make each one. He wouuld make them with the yolks blown out by putting a pin hole in the egg and blowing it out, or by leaving the egg yolk in. Each egg has it's very own special meaning. He still has all these eggs in a crystal bowl and displayed all year round.
Father Joseph commented on seeing Lubow Wolynetz when he was in the seminary at Stamford, Connecticut.
Another tradition is to have your Easter baskets blessed the day before Easter. The basket consists of ham, kielbasi, mom's homemade Easter bread (babka), mom's homemade cheese, colored eggs, horseradish, salt, and a candle. On Easter Sunday as we sit down to eat our meal we cut a blessed egg into several pieces and pass it around. After we eat our egg, we then eat the rest of the delicious food that is awaiting us. A tradition I look forward to every Easter.
Posted by: Joanne Balandiak | April 1st, 2008 at 11:49 am
This is a correction to my comment. Lubow Wolyneta was Father Joseph Szupa's instructor in the seminary at Stamford, Connecticut.
Posted by: Joanne Balandiak | April 1st, 2008 at 11:54 am
Dear Martha,
Thank you very much for introducing Ukrainian Easter traditions to the world. For me, Paska is a symbol of family warmth and a very traditional get together that we carry from generation to generation. It's such a time-consuming project to bake this Easter bread! It's also a lot of love that our grandmothers and mothers dedicate towards this special baking project! That's why PASKA is so delicious! Thank you so much for helping us to keep Ukrainian traditions alive and sharing them with others. Khrystos Voskres!
Posted by: Svitlana Kominko, Vancouver | April 1st, 2008 at 12:02 pm
Martha,
What a thrill it is to see my aunt Lubow Wolynetz in your world! She has such a wealth of Ukrainian folklore history that permeates her being and yet she is rather modest about the depth of her knowledge. I always looked forward to visiting her in the summers as a child and as an adolescent and as an adult. I just couldn't wait to see what new emboroidery stitch she unearthed and what lore was weaved through the designs; or what breads she baked for Easter and what symbols she put on them. I feel blessed to have her influence of connecting us humans to the fruits and magic of our earth and nature. What fun to know of the magic that flows into my bread baking and pysanky writing! My family gets to witness or participate in some of these traditions, too. Thank you for honoring my aunt and our rich Ukrainian roots.
Posted by: Tatiana Yarymovych Thompson | April 2nd, 2008 at 4:18 pm
Dear Martha;
Thank you so very much for your allowing everyone to peek into the Ukrainian Easter setting, allowing everyone to share in our traditions.
I will be mixing and hand kneading the dough for the final destination of baking a round, high, mushroom looking Paska; which gets the crown covered with a white sugar glaze and multi colored sprinkles.
This Ukrainian Orthodox Holy Easter, the highest of all our spiritual holidays, will soon be with us.
Thank you Martha for sharing!
Posted by: Yuri Kyrychok | April 7th, 2008 at 7:44 pm
Ukrainian customs, foods and traditions are very special! Holy Protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary Ukrainian Catholic Church is part of the Stamford community. One of our older parish members, Taras Slevinsky, always bakes the traditional Paska nut and poppy seed rolls around the Easter Holiday. Our "Sviachene" Church Easter Dinner is always sweetened by the fresh raised yeast treats prepared by our parish members! Very nice article!
Posted by: Diane Lytwyn | April 9th, 2008 at 11:52 pm
Great article! Our local church, Holy Protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary also celebrates Easter with the same traditions. One of our dear senior parish members, Taras Slevinsky, a retired baker from "Country Home" in Bridgeport, CT prepares the paska every Easter season. This sweet bread, a symbol of the richness of the season, provides a focal point for the Easter table. Our parish celebrates a traditional "Sviachene" Easter dinner every year! Many church members, myself included, have mastered the art of "pysanky" and we bring baskets with kolbassa, eggs, butter and paska to be blessed on Holy Saturday. Most women bring their very best pysanky to display in the baskets! Easter is the most solemn, yet joyful of all the Seasons for the Ukrainian Community! Thanks for the article!
Posted by: Diane Lytwyn | April 9th, 2008 at 11:58 pm
Zest of lemon and orange?
Uh - 0h , our families 200 year old Paska secret is out of the bag.
Posted by: BlackMinorcaPullets | April 13th, 2008 at 9:56 am
Hello Martha! I was so happy to see this on your website. We are Ukrainian and have so many wonderful traditions. I also teach at a Ukrainian school in New Haven, Conn. It would be great for you to come visit. Our school is in the hall of St.Michael's Ukrainian Church.
Enjoy your day.
Halia Lodynsky
Posted by: Halia Lodynsky | April 15th, 2008 at 9:38 pm
Hello Martha! I'm from Finland and I'm very happy about the way you introduce European traditions to the American audience - and to the international audience also. I think it's is both entertaining and educating and thanks to you it's easy to understand and appreciate different cultures better!
Posted by: Kakkainen Pylly | April 27th, 2008 at 10:09 am
Martha, where are you buying your kielbasa now that Kurovitsky has closed shop?
Posted by: Lucille | April 27th, 2008 at 9:05 pm
Dear Martha,
Seeing that Easter in the Kostyra Family was so special, would you consider doing a cookbook with your mother, Martha Kostyra's recipes,with a title like:
"In Remembrance of my Mother, "Martha Kostyra" by Martha Stewart?
I would love seeing it coupled with lots of family photos, & stories?
Kate
Posted by: Kate Miller | May 9th, 2008 at 1:03 pm
I was in Connecticut a few years ago (2003)and came across this little Italian bakery, they had an Easter bread that had prosciutto, ham, salami(I think),a couple of cheeses (ricotta, & mozzarella)(I think)and I think it also had sun-dried tomatoes. The bread had all of these items layered and then rolled up and baked. I was wondering if you had some kind of recipe like this one. I have looked everywhere and I can't seem to find a recipe like it. Thank you.
Dawn
Posted by: Dawn Bradway | May 28th, 2008 at 2:45 pm
I love the beautiful display of the ukrainian pictures.I wish I could have seen the show.I belong to the first ukrainian church in America,St. Michaels in Shenandoah,Pa.The original burned down years ago,it was absolutely stunning.I`m very proud of my heritage and try to carry on our traditions and pass them on to my son.We would love to visit the museum .I think my son would enjoy it very much.
Posted by: Ann Swaldi | August 15th, 2008 at 8:30 pm
Martha thank you for bringing the amazing style and food of Ukraine to these pages. You must have had a great time. Just wanted to make one note that usually in the Boston Ukrainian community the dough is usually baked in empty coffee cans to give a towering appearance. The tops are then adorned with a basic white frosting and during Easter mass candles are placed on top and lit. Just wanted to share our traditions of us Ukrainan-Bostonians. Cheers!
Posted by: Andri Kyrychok | November 23rd, 2008 at 5:47 pm
Dear Martha
My aunt had always made paska for everone at Easter time. I have her recipe, but I can't find the pans like she used. Do you know where I can get these special paska pans? I miss this wonderful sweet bread and would love to make my aunts recipe. I hope you can help me find these pans.
Thank You,
Peggy Ferchak
Posted by: Peggy Ferchak | March 31st, 2009 at 7:35 am
"I will be mixing and hand kneading the dough for the final destination of baking a round, high, mushroom looking Paska; which gets the crown covered with a white sugar glaze and multi colored sprinkles."
Yum, that sounds so delicious!
Here in Finland we don't have Paska on our Easter table, though mämmi looks almost the same. Thank you Martha for your fascinating articles!
Posted by: Mämmit Naamaan | March 31st, 2010 at 6:42 pm