Things You'll Need:
- 1/3 cup chopped onion
- 1 lb. pork roast
- 1 pinch carraway seeds
- 1 pinch black pepper
- 1 pinch salt
- 1/4 tsp. paprika
- 1/2 cup water
- Recipe ingredients (see above for lists)
- Large Dutch oven
- Miscellaneous craft items
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Step 1
Begin your day early by greeting your family with praises for starting anew.
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Step 2
Make early preparations for the evening feast (see sections on preparing traditional foods, below).
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Step 3
Create a mask that symbolizes the good fortune you’ve received in the past year.
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Step 4
Assemble a costume to augment your mask.
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Step 5
Parade around your neighborhood (or your home, if your neighbors are not Slovakian) in your mask singing, dancing and clapping. This should take place between lunch and dinner.
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Step 6
Visit your Slovakian neighbors, who will treat you with drinks and food.
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Step 7
Watch the procession of performers as they act out an ancient sword dance that symbolizes the perpetual life cycle.
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Step 8
Make noise with your rehtacka (traditional wooden ratchet), fireworks, poppers and celebratory noisemakers.
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Step 9
Enjoy an evening meal of pork and bryndzové halušky (potato dumplings with sheep’s-milk cheese, the National Dish of Slovakia).
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Step 10
Participate in the Das Bleigieen (lead-pouring) tradition (see Dal Bleigieen, below)
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Step 1
Peel and finely shred the potatoes.
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Step 2
Combine the egg, flour, salt and shredded potatoes to create a pliable dough that resembles bread dough. Add additional flour and water as necessary.
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Step 3
Bring the water and salt to a boil on the stovetop.
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Step 4
Drop dough into the boiling water, one tsp. at a time. Do not overcrowd the pot of water.
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Step 5
Remove halušky balls from the water with a slotted spoon as they begin to float.
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Step 6
Hold halušky in a covered bowl as you prepare the sauce.
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Step 7
Combine the sheep’s-milk cheese, cream cheese and milk.
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Step 8
Warm over low heat, stirring constantly.
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Step 9
Remove sauce from heat when ingredients are thoroughly combined. Pour a little sauce over the halušky to prevent them from sticking.
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Step 10
Serve with well-cooked crumbled bacon sprinkled on top and the remaining sauce.
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Step 1
Brown chopped onion in a large Dutch oven over medium heat.
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Step 2
Cut the pork roast into 2-inch squares.
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Step 3
Add the pork, carraway seeds, pepper, salt and paprika to the pan of onions.
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Step 4
Stir to brown the pork.
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Step 5
Pour the half-cup of water into the pot and stir again.
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Step 6
Bring the contents of the pot to a boil.
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Step 7
Cover the pot and simmer for one to three hours, until the meat is soft.
