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On kakaós csiga and a moment shared

22/5/2013

 
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'Life isn't a matter of milestones, but of moments.'
                                                                                                                       - Rose Elizabeth Fitzgerald Kennedy, 1890-1995
I love this, it’s delicious… what is it? He asks, biting into a fresh-out-of-the-oven-morsel.
Kakaós csiga.  A yeast bun my mother would often bake in autumn and winter; and one of my most favourite things.
Oh, nice.  What’s it called again?
Kakaós csiga.  This time I say it more slowly.
Huh?
Ka/ka/ós, you know, as in co-co-a, but with a Magyar accent like Zsa Zsa and Eva Gábór… and there’s a ‘sshh’ at the end.
He laughs.  He remembers that my family used to have a naughty little black Dachshund named Zsa Zsa.
Then csiga…  we say it as ‘chi’…  then ‘ga’, phonetically the ‘a’ is like a short ‘o’….  csiga.  It means snail.
Oh okay, Kakaós csiga.  Yes!  He says it, albeit with a lilt that sounds more Swedish than Hungarian.
This time I laugh.
In other words, it’s a chocolaty snail, he says knowingly as he licks his lips.
Yes, that’s it, I nod.  A warm and delicious chocolaty snail that wraps itself around you, generously, much like a mother’s love.
And in that moment as we stand together eating freshly baked Kakaós csiga, celebrating the warm autumn sunshine streaming through the French doors into our kitchen… nothing more needs to be said.
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KAKAÓS CSIGA*
 10g fresh yeast or 1 teaspoon dry yeast 
2 teaspoons sugar
½ cup lukewarm milk (soured) or buttermilk
2 cups plain flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 egg, lightly whisked
2 teaspoons unsalted butter, melted
a little extra milk for brushing

Filling:
3 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
2 tablespoons Dutch cocoa
3 tablespoons pure icing sugar

First, make sure your kitchen is warm and free from draughts.  Work up the fresh yeast by crumbling it into a cup, sprinkle with sugar and the lukewarm milk.  Add 2 teaspoons of flour and mix till smooth.  Stand in a warm place for 10-15 minutes till frothy. 

Combine the flour and salt in a mixing bowl.  Make a well in the centre, add the whisked egg and the yeast/milk mixture.  Mix well, then using your hands, work mixture into a soft and puffy dough.  Alternatively, use a stand mixer to work the dough.

Place the dough into a bowl, sprinkle with a little flour and cover the bowl with a clean tea towel.  Allow the dough to rise in a warm place for 35-40 minutes until it has doubled in bulk.  Meanwhile preheat the oven to 180 degrees C.

Punch down the dough. Turn it out onto a lightly floured board or bench and pat down or roll out gently to a rectangle of 1/2 cm thickness.  Using a spatula, spread the prepared cocoa filling over the dough and roll up the dough carefully, as you would a Swiss roll.  Cut into slices 1.5cm thick and place the slices tightly, cut side up, into a greased 18cm round baking tin.  Brush the top with melted butter.

Bake in a moderate oven 180 degrees C for 30-40 minutes, sprinkling with milk during baking, until the csiga are lightly browned.  Cover with a clean tea towel and allow to cool slightly before serving, dusted with icing sugar.  Makes 10 csiga.

To make the cocoa filling, cream together the cocoa, icing sugar and softened butter.

*This is my take on my mother's handwritten recipe for Kakaós csiga.  She baked it often and she baked it with love.

Spread with kakaós deliciousness...

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Ready to bake...

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Fresh-out-of-the-oven morsels...

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Mmmm.  Nagyon finom!

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A warm and delicious chocolaty snail that wraps itself around you, generously, much like a mother’s love.
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Tell me about your most favourite things and treasured moments, dear readers...
Jason (PlentyOfZest) link
20/5/2013 06:48:10 pm

Hi Lizzy,

These look delicious, love the story too! (I'm trying to pronounce it but it's not sounding pretty :) ). We're going away with friends at the end of the month and I might just try baking these for everyone :).

Lizzy
22/5/2013 06:20:48 am

Hello Jason, you made me smile, as I can now imagine you trying to say it. I hope you do give this a try... let me know how you go ; )

Tandy Sinclair link
20/5/2013 07:29:52 pm

No matter how they are pronounced, I would devour the lot :)

Lizzy
22/5/2013 06:21:08 am

And that would be perfectly understandable, Tandy ; )

azita link
21/5/2013 01:19:58 am

We pronounce cocoa as ka'ka'o (but without the 'sssh' sound) in Farsi as well. Love the narrative and the photos and oh my, the chocolate snail ... you're so lucky your mom made this often. Yum!

Lizzy
22/5/2013 06:22:05 am

Interesting, Azita... languages can often be similar, can't they. Thank you for your kind words. And, yes, I was indeed very lucky to have a mother who baked such good things ; )

giulia link
21/5/2013 01:50:25 am

we call it rose cake because they look like roses! i love it :) hope you are feeling better!

Lizzy
22/5/2013 06:22:50 am

They do look like roses, especially before baking, don't they, Giulia. I am (slowly) recovering, thank you. ; )

Azlin Bloor link
21/5/2013 04:54:05 am

They look absolutely gorgeous, nothing better than a family recipe!

Lizzy
22/5/2013 06:23:10 am

This is true, Azlin, thank you for your kind words.

kellie@foodtoglow link
21/5/2013 09:43:17 am

I'll need to keep an eye on the weather for a fine warm day as this sounds and looks truly scrummy. I love to hear about your heritage recipes, especially when they are so accessible. Unlike, perhaps, the pronunciation ;-)

Lizzy
22/5/2013 06:24:16 am

Thank you Kellie, I love to share these recipes of my mother's too. The pronunciation is easy, although I do admit that Magyar is said to be one of the most difficult languages.

celia link
21/5/2013 11:24:33 am

Lizzy, they look divine! So nice that you can keep your mum's old recipe alive.. x

Lizzy
22/5/2013 06:24:49 am

Thank you, Celia, for your kind words. My mother is very much alive in my heart, as you know, and I am delighted to share her recipes. xo

e / dig in hobart link
21/5/2013 11:25:30 am

i'm just having a sneak peak here before i start my day's work, lizzy - and if that isn't the most scrumptious way to start the day, i'm not sure what is! what a sight! i am swooning already.
and what a beautiful conversation and story. how could these NOT be baked with love?

Lizzy
22/5/2013 06:25:11 am

Thank you for your very kind words... this is true.

Mandy - The Complete Cook Book link
21/5/2013 07:48:11 pm

If something "...wraps itself around you, generously, much like a mother’s love" it has to be the most wonderful thing ever.
No matter what you call these Lizzy, they are fabulous.
:-) Mandy xo

Lizzy
22/5/2013 06:25:27 am

Mandy, thank you so much xo

Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella link
21/5/2013 08:20:56 pm

I've never met a Hungarian dish that I haven't loved so I know that this is totally on my radar Lizzy! :D

Lizzy
22/5/2013 06:25:48 am

Ha... I thought you might like this one, Lorraine ; )

A Canadian Foodie link
22/5/2013 12:56:25 am

Loved the pronunciation lesson - but still haven't got it. The chocolate snail part, I got. YUM! And my question for you... (who is "he"?)
:)
V

Lizzy
22/5/2013 06:30:21 am

Hey there Valerie... see if this link helps...
http://greenyschmetterling.tumblr.com/post/41815681596/guide-to-pronounciation
And as to your question, which is a good question... 'He' would be my Peter. xo

Eva Taylor link
22/5/2013 03:08:11 am

I remember my Mom making these for us as kids too. A lovely snack or even breakfast, but then again, what could possibly be bad with anything chocolate in it?

Lizzy
22/5/2013 06:31:11 am

Hello Eva, I think these csiga are very popular with Hungarian families... and what you say is very true. ; )

Maureen | Orgasmic Chef link
22/5/2013 10:41:24 am

I am in love with your mother's cooking. I spent at least 3 minutes practicing how to say it. In the end, chocolatey snails works for me. Definitely trying these.

Lizzy
22/5/2013 01:26:32 pm

Maureen, my mum would be so chuffed to hear this... thank you for your kind words... and I love that you (and some others) have been practising the pronunciation. ; )

John link
22/5/2013 12:00:37 pm

Those moments where "nothing more needs to be said" are magic, aren't they? And ones we remember. Really nice recipe. I've had these, but it's been years, and never made them. Truly good stuff - thanks.

Lizzy
22/5/2013 01:27:13 pm

Oh how wonderful, John, yes, you are right... those moments are to be treasured... and thank you for your very kind words ; )

Karen (Back Road Journal) link
23/5/2013 12:01:42 am

What a delicious treat. They most be absolutely delicious warm out of the oven. Love your opening photo as you can see they were made with love.

Lizzy
23/5/2013 04:27:24 am

Oh they are, Karen, they are.... both delicious and made with love xo

Lisa the Gourmet Wog link
23/5/2013 03:45:16 am

Your 'chocolate snail's' look most delicious!!

Lizzy
23/5/2013 04:27:46 am

Thank you, Lisa, they are indeed ; )

Zsuzsa link
23/5/2013 12:05:56 pm

Yes!!! That's my girl, this is the real thing.

Lizzy
23/5/2013 01:32:24 pm

Köszi angyalom!

Laura (Tutti Dolci) link
23/5/2013 06:46:52 pm

I love baking bread, what lovely rolls!

Lizzy
23/5/2013 06:52:12 pm

Thanks Laura ; )

Liz link
24/5/2013 01:09:32 pm

Hi, Lizzy! Sorry it's been ages since I've popped by. Your chocolate spirals look like something my family would love...especially me! Hope you've been well, my friend~

Lizzy
24/5/2013 11:26:30 pm

Hello Liz... I was just thinking about you the other day. I hope all is well in your world. Thank you for stopping by, my friend from afar.

Moya link
25/5/2013 09:18:26 am

These chocolate snails (easier name to remember) look really delicious and it is wonderful having recipes that your Mum used! Glad to know that you are getting stronger each day. :)

Lizzy
25/5/2013 09:28:44 am

Moya, ; ) , they are delicious indeed. Thank you for your kind words.

Susan link
26/5/2013 01:25:22 am

Lizzy, this is a wonderful post and a wonderul recipe! Thank you so much for sharing it with us. I also love your description of how you explained the pronounciation of them to your husband.

Lizzy
26/5/2013 02:58:18 pm

Thanks Susan for your very kind words. Peter is my partner (life partner)... it was fun trying to teach him, ;)

Daisy@Nevertoosweet link
26/5/2013 03:17:30 pm

Hello Lizzy :) These look AWESOME even though I probably will never know how to pronounce Kakao's csiga at least I know there's chocolate and I bet they taste delicious thanks for sharing the recipe!

Lizzy
26/5/2013 03:21:08 pm

Hi Daisy... so nice of you to stop by. I think you could give the pronunciation a good shot! It is a delicious recipe and my mum would have been chuffed to know that so many people think it's delicious!

Rosa link
26/5/2013 09:27:40 pm

Beautiful rolls/buns! They look very tempting.

Cheers,

Rosa

Lizzy
26/5/2013 09:34:35 pm

Dear Rosa, thank you so much! ; )

GourmetGetaways link
26/5/2013 11:15:29 pm

Oh how wonderful delicious! perfect for this time of year :) I am sure my pronunciation would be terrible but I would enjoy every morsel :)

Lizzy
26/5/2013 11:39:12 pm

Thank you so much! I'm sure you would too ; )

Helene Dsouza link
29/5/2013 01:41:27 am

Liz I need you as my teacher in Hungarian, I have trouble to remember the pronunciation "steps", I need to hear it from you. We would simply call them Schokoladenschnecken =P

Love those btw, I used to have them during school break. We are lucky to have our European roots, don't we? ;)

Lizzy
29/5/2013 01:55:18 am

Ah, Helene, I love how you used to call them! I love that you know these... and love them too! We are indeed fortunate to have European heritage. So very interesting xo

Christina @ The Hungry Australian link
31/5/2013 02:20:54 am

Lovely story, Lizzy, and what beautiful chocolate snails. I'd be happy to have a moment over a freshly baked batch of these any day :D

Lizzy
31/5/2013 02:41:44 am

Thanks so much, Christina! How interesting, I was just this moment thinking about you ... and then your comment arrived. Have sent you an email ; )

JJ - 84thand3rd link
1/6/2013 03:16:13 am

Oh Lizzy what a lovely post :) and these chocolate snails sound simply perfect! xx

Lizzy
1/6/2013 07:24:19 am

JJ, thanks ever so much for your kind words ; )

leaf link
27/6/2013 10:27:45 pm

I can certainly see why this post was a competition winner. It's so deliciously written! x

Lizzy
27/6/2013 10:52:00 pm

Thank you ever so much! xoxo

Jamie
2/8/2013 11:02:03 am

Az nagyon finom! Jó étvágyat!

Lizzy
2/8/2013 02:48:24 pm

Köszönöm szépen Jamie. : D


Comments are closed.

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    Photo of Liz Posmyk, Food Writer, Cook and Traveller

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