Season's Eatings podcast

A pastry that has survived the collapse of an empire, the murder of the community that perfected it, decades of communist scarcity, and waves of emigration that scattered a nation across three continents. A pastry that arrives on the Hungarian Christmas table with the quiet authority of a sacrament — and that every family, without exception, believes is theirs in a way no one else's quite matches. We're exploring the history and origins of beigli.

A tiny, golden-brown biscuit, showered with poppy seeds. It has witnessed the birth of nations and their erasure from maps. It has been baked in secret under occupation, and tucked into suitcases by people fleeing everything they knew. And on the twenty-fourth of December, it will be passed around a table set for twelve dishes, beneath a cloth hiding a handful of hay. We're diving into the history and origins of kūčiukai.

What do raisins, candied orange peel, figs, and cherries have to do with Christmas?

More than you might think.

Long before refrigeration and supermarkets, people found ways to capture the sweetness of summer and carry it through the cold winter months.

From medieval monasteries and Mediterranean trade routes to Christmas pudding, fruitcake, and mince pies, we're uncovering the surprising history of why summer tastes like Christmas.

Imagine a stew that's rich with toasted walnuts, brightened by the sweet-tart flavour of pomegranates, and slow-cooked until it becomes as dark as polished mahogany. It may sound unusual, but for centuries, this meal has been one of Persia's great celebration dishes, served at weddings, winter feasts, and Christmas tables in Persian Christian homes.

It's the story of ancient forests, royal Persian kitchens, poetry, and traditions that have survived for thousands of years. Together, we'll discover why this remarkable stew became a symbol of hospitality, abundance, and the simple joy of gathering around the table with family...

What if one of Trinidad's most beloved Christmas foods could tell the story of an entire island?

Wrapped in a simple banana leaf, this dessert might look humble at first glance. But hidden inside is a history that stretches back centuries—long before Christmas arrived in the Caribbean.

In this episode, we'll uncover the remarkable journey of this sweet cornmeal delicacy, tracing its roots through Indigenous food traditions, the cultural transformations of the colonial Caribbean, and the generations of families who made it a treasured part of the Christmas season. We're exploring the history and or...

How did spices once worth fortunes help shape this regional specialty? Why did a humble sausage become so deeply connected to Christmas? And what can one holiday dish reveal about centuries of life in Belgium?

Join us as we uncover the history, culture, and Christmas tradition behind one of Belgium's most fascinating seasonal foods. We're exploring the history and origins of budin de liege.

While many associate it with New Year's Day across the American South, its roots in Virginia and the broader Tidewater region reveal something deeper: a culinary tradition shaped by movement, adaptation, and cultural resilience. Its name sounds like a nickname and its ingredients, though simple, are steeped in symbolism. We're exploring the history and origins of Hoppin' John. Website: https://www.seasonseatingspodcast.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/seasonseatingspodcast Instagram: https://www

This dessert is made from leftovers, and started in medieval Europe. It can be made any time of the year but especially comes out during the holidays. It's a combination of culinary resourcefulness, tradition, and transformation. We're exploring the history and origins of budin.

This dessert is made from leftovers, and started in medieval Europe. It can be made any time of the year but especially comes out during the holidays. It's a combination of culinary resourcefulness, tradition, and transformation. We're exploring the history and origins of budin.

Some cookies cooperate. Zimtsterne do not. And yet, every December, across German-speaking Europe — and far beyond it — these white-topped cinnamon stars return to bakery windows and home kitchens as if they've always belonged there. Routed in medieval spices, baked in theology and tradition, we're exploring the history and origins of zimtsterne.

Dense, dark, and encased in pastry, it is not immediately inviting to modern eyes. This pastry offers an unusually clear window into Scotland's medieval past, its religious transformations, and the ways ordinary people adapted tradition to changing social conditions. We're exploring the history and origins of black bun.

Merry Christmas all.  We're exploring the history of some of the amazing desserts I had, and still have, for the holiday season.  We're looking at the origins of lassy mogs, jam jams, and date squares: all staples on the Newfoundland holiday dessert platter.  Plus we'll hear some local Newfoundland artists for the holiday merry making.

Thank you for listening to the podcast and I wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a safe and prosperous new year.  

This dish has its beginnings in Austria. It's perfect as a treat after a day skiing down the mountains or shopping at all the Christmas markets during the holiday season. The original recipe contained raisins, but now there's a whole list of toppings you can add. We're exploring the history and origins of kaiserschmarrn.

This delicious pastry is thought to have been created because the Vikings needed a sweet treat after battle. While the original recipe contained apples, now you can find all sorts of different fillings for this dessert. You can enjoy them while strolling through the Christmas markets with a cup of warm glogg. We're exploring the history and origins of the fluffy Danish treat: aebleskiver.

This dessert takes us to the lush country of Indonesia. Starting back from over 400 years Dutch colonizers brought their influence to create a dessert using local ingredients and customs. Baked, but served chilled, this custard is made with everyday items found in the Indonesian kitchen. We're exploring the history and origin of klappertart.

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This Ethiopian meal is full of flavour and spice. Its origin can be traced back to over 1000 years ago. While the ingredients are simple, this dish is usually made for special occasions. It's eaten with a spongy flatbread to soak up all the rich juices. We're exploring the history and origins of doro wat.

This traditional dessert has been around for centuries and is considered part of Japanese culture.  It has connections to Buddhism and now can be found all over the country.  You can get it any time of the year, but at Christmas there are special holiday themes and designs.  We're exploring the history and origins of wagashi.

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This savoury treat has its origins in pagan Europe and dates back to a time where each ingredient symbolized abundance and prosperity. It's a dish with similarities to other countries, by name and ingredients, but there's no true comparison to Latvia's version.  Filled with smoked meat, onions and a little seasoning, this simple dish a certainty on Christmas eve tables.  We're exploring the history and origins of piragi.

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This holiday treat started as medallions of bitter chocolate topped with fruit or nuts.  People are clamouring for this sweet as early as September.  While the name may remind you of the surface of a tree, the modern version has only been around for about sixty years.  We're exploring the history and origins of peppermint bark.

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Christmas is a time of family gatherings, especially around food.  This dish has been around, some would say, for over 10,000 years.  Any good household would have hundreds on hand for larger families.  They can be filled with a variety of ingredients, but traditional masa wins out.  We're exploring the history and origins of tamales.

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This holiday treat started out in the first century but has become a staple for Christmas all over the world.  It was a way to use up stale bread and have something to eat during fasting.  It can be enjoyed with your favourite syrup, whipped cream, or fresh fruit.  We're exploring the history and origins of French toast.

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The holidays are filled with family get-togethers.  In case of unexpected guests, this dish can be made days ahead and can be kept at room temperature indefinitely.  It's the national dish of this South American country and can be made with almost any type of protein.  Its other main ingredient is a natural antiseptic and this dish is usually served with a bread shaped like braided hair.  We're looking into the history and origins of pepperpot.

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In Newfoundland and Labrador, you can tell Jiggs Dinner is being cooked before you walk inside. Steamed up windows are a sure sign there's a big pot of supper on the boil. Jiggs Dinner — a veritable melting pot of salted beef, root vegetables and yellow split peas — is one of the most recognizable and beloved meals in the province, and it's the one that makes people feel at home when they're a million miles away.   

Merry Christmas to all my listeners. 

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Christmas dinner around the world is a sumptuous amalgamation of spices, herbs cooked with a variety of meats and fishes. Most of us are used to cooking a turkey for the holidays.  Some may even have a buffet of fish and vegetarian dishes. This dish comes is connected to the Spanish word for milk but the dish has been around for centuries.  We're exploring the history and origins of lechon.

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Jewelled breads, studded with candied fruits and nuts, are hallmarks of the Christmas holiday. Fruitcake, panettone, and julekake are favourites, but for many, this dessert is king.  Resembling snow covered hills, this dessert is protected by law.  And we almost lost it to history because of a Pope's tax on butter. We are travelling to Germany to explore the history and origins of stollen.

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This holiday treat is usually enjoyed during Easter and other celebrations, but it is common for the Christmas season.  When baked, it resembles a lovely head of braided hair. The most common fillings are walnuts, but you can find now with almost any type of filling and flavour.  We're exploring the history and origins of cozonac.

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This warm winter beverage has its origins in folklore and could be connected all the back to Roman times.  It was meant to wake up apple trees and has evolved into going door to door singing carols during the twelve days of Christmas.  We're exploring the history and origins of wassail.

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For many Christmas eve is the main meal for the holiday season.  This dish started with a member of the carrot family but is now made mainly made from beets.  While it's consumed all year long, hot and cold, there's a special version made on Christmas.  We're exploring the history and origins of barszcz.

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This dessert has its origins in pre-Christian traditions, but the modern version has only been around for a few hundred years.  While it's usually done as a log shape, newer creations have a more avant garde approach to the dessert.  We're going back to the sweets table and getting a second helping of the Yule log.

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This dish is rich in flavour and history.  Its origins come from Brazil and Africa, but now can be found in the country of India with a touch of Portugal. Its truly a dish that crosses the world. This pork stew is made for large gatherings so it's obvious it will be prepared for the Christmas feasts.  We're exploring the history and origins of sorpotel.

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When done right, it's sticky and dense, warmly spiced and distinctively dark in colour. While raisins, suet, brown sugar, spices and brandy can be found in most modern variations, the sweet, cake-like nature of today's pudding is a far cry from its early incarnations. So grab your fork because we're going in for a second helping of figgy pudding

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This holiday treat was found on the tables of many families during the 19th and early 20th centuries, but now it's usually found in a few key areas.  The main ingredient was so common, it was called the fast food of the nation.  While the main ingredient has been eaten for millennia, the holiday version has only been around for a few hundred years.  We're exploring the history and origins of oyster stuffing.

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This holiday dessert is a newer cousin to a traditional English favourite.  Filled with fruit and a little bit of spirits, this cake is a seasonal staple on tables throughout the Caribbean. It has now made its way across the world as people traveled for work and play.  We're exploring the history and origins of Jamaican Black Cake.

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This donut shaped treat has its roots way back to the seventh century but emigrated to the United States in the early 1800s.  Its name reminds most of the jolly gift bringer who lives at the North Pole. They can come in many different flavours and colours.  They've even become the state pastry of Wisconsin.  We are exploring the history and origins of the kringle.

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Legend has it that the name for this dessert came from a cry of amazement from a boy at the sight of this gold-coloured cake! It stems from a tradition of women meeting on Christmas eve to bake together. This sweet cake resembles a Christmas star guiding the magi to the birth of Jesus.  Even the box in comes in can be used as a toy. We're exploring the history and origin of pandoro.

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This dish is found on the tables of many African countries during the holidays, as well as when there's a large gathering of people for a party or celebration.  While the basic ingredients are the same, there are many different variations depending on where you're from.  It has been debated so much, there was actually an online Twitter war on which country had the best recipe.  We're exploring the history and origins of jollof rice.

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This towering dessert almost resembles a children's stacking toy and sometimes there's a prize hidden inside.  Made with just a few ingredients, it can be a bit tricky to make and can sometimes take generations to perfect.  And while its origins may have started in Greece, it has now become a Scandinavian tradition for many families over the holidays.  We're exploring the history and origins of kransekake.

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This sweet treat can be found in the candy dishes of many grandma's homes. Its origin has been lost to history but the mechanism used for this candy was created in America. The creator of this machine may be the bane of many children. The candy's extremely brittle consistency makes it easy to break off a piece for sharing. We're discovering the history and origins of ribbon candy.

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During the holiday season hundreds of these treats are made, sometimes by just one household.  Their name can be a bit confusing when first heard.  They have originated in Europe but have settled in America.  It's the cookie that isn't called a cookie.  We're exploring the history and origins of sand tarts.

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Merry Christmas!  This is a bonus episode to thank you all for listening.  Here are a few weird Newfoundland traditions from the past that happened around Christmas.  Thanks again for listening and please share this podcast with friends to spread the Christmas joy.

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