Re: [Cz-L] The making of the Powidl

I, 3 generations out of Europe, know well of prune butter & apricot butter - Lekvar - but not so much about Povidla until now.

My mother [American born you know] used to say that Povidla was prune plums stewed with orange, raisins, nuts and maybe some cinnamon. It was too much work for her. Lekvar was faster.

I see where they got the idea for Nutella. Much easier to make than Powidl!

Wikipedia has a big explanation - Powidl (or Powidel, from Czech povidla or Polish powidła or powidło) is a plum stew. Unlike jam or marmalade, and unlike the German Pflaumenmus (plum puree), powidl is prepared without additional sweeteners or gelling agents.

Traditionally, large amounts of powidl to be used as a winter store and natural sweetener were prepared in late autumn during a communal event. Since constantly stirring the stew was exhausting work, people took turns, and did easier work in between turns. The Czech term povidla is plural only (the Polish word powidła as well).

Once again, for Lekvar here's the Wikipedia definition - "Hungarian lekvár, jam, from Slovak lekvár, from Czech lektvar, meaning electuary, from Middle High German lactwarje, latwarge, from Old French leituaire, from Late Latin alactuarium.

The first use of the term lekvar was noted from before 1350, used by medical practitioners as a medicinal paste or syrup to hide the medicine taste."

BTW, I ate plenty of the Lekvar while we were cooking/baking.

Gastro-historical trip down memory lane.
Appreciate it.
Shellie

----- Original Message -----
Subject: Re: [Cz-L] The making of the Powidl
From: fred love <fredhotman_at_yahoo.com>
Date: Wed, 22 Aug 2012 17:23:46 -0700
X-Message-Number: 18

Loved the time of Powidla. The stiring with a wooden flat spoon watching as Hardy says those little vulcano's erupting and of course tasting from time to time till mother came she says go look in the mirror, my face was smeared with powidla,I quickly washed off.
Fred. Weisinger

~*~*~*~*~

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
This moderated discussion group is for information exchange on the subject of
 Czernowitz and Sadagora Jewish History and Genealogy. The opinions expressed
 in these posts are the opinions of the original poster only and not necessarily
 the opinions of the List Owner, the Webmaster or any other members
 or entities connected with this mailing list. The Czernowitz-L list has
 an associated web site at http://czernowitz.ehpes.com that includes a
 searchable archive of all messages posted to this list. As a result,
 Messages sent to the list are available to the general public within days
 of posting.

Please post in "Plain Text" if possible (help available at:
<http://www.jewishgen.org/InfoFiles/PlainText.html>).

To remove your address from this e-list follow the directions at:

<http://www.it.cornell.edu/services/elist/howto/user/leave.cfm>

To receive assistance for this e-list send an e-mail message to:
<owner-Czernowitz-L_at_list.cornell.edu>
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Received on 2012-08-24 05:21:53