I’ve been thinking about how to make this transition for a while. When I started this blog, we had been living in Macedonia for about a year. I spent the first few months sitting in my mother-in-law’s apartment pouring over food blogs, thinking about all of the things I would make once I had my own kitchen. After a couple of months, I had my own kitchen, so I kept checking my favorite blogs. Then I discovered tastespotting… So many beautiful potos in one place. So after a year of living and working (finally!) in Macedonia, I decided to start writing about food and life in Skopje. The first year I blogged enthusiastically, there was so much to share about my life in Skopje, and I had so many recipes I wanted to upload.
After about a year of blogging, I encountered a few health problems that altered the kinds of recipes I was trying, so I took a small break from blogging. A month or so later, I received a job offer that took us to Washington D.C. for training, and has us heading to Astana, Kazakhstan this spring! So, a break which was supposed to last a couple of months turned into a year. I debated whether or not I should continue the blog. I mean, I’m not really in Macedonia anymore, so can I really be blogging about my ‘Macedonian Kitchen’? However, there is still a Macedonian IN my kitchen… So, after much debate, we decided to continue with the blog. We will still occasionally post about Macedonia and Macedonian food, but you can also expect to hear a bit more about our life here in D.C. and soon about our move to Central Asia.
For now, I thought I’d post a few photos of the things I miss from Macedonia.
St. John of Kaneo church in Ohrid.
The view from my favorite place to stay in Ohrid, Grebnos guest house.
The smell of ajvar in the fall.
Driving past little villages like this.
To barbecue with cuties like this.
And eat delicious salads like this!
Our sunny apartment.
Hiking on Vodno mountain behind our apartment building.
And looking back on our neighborhood.
Buying figs at the market.
The pictures are gorgeous, as usual, and they make me miss Macedonia, too — never mind I’ve never been there. In addition to having a Macedonian in your kitchen, aren’t many foods you cook also Macedonian? And plus, if I wanted to find out about a Macedonian dish, I would definitely start here — so the blog deserves its name!
Hi Jessica,
I’m glad to see your latest post, but disappointed that you are no longer in Macedonia. Please keep your My Macedonian Kitchen blog going. I have been in Skopje about 6 weeks now and found your blog when I was looking for Macedonian recipes. I especially enjoyed the discussion about making ajvar and look forward to smelling and seeing it made this fall. I will be in Skopje until next January. Currently, I’m trying to make Shketo because the butcher chopped the leg of lamb I was buying into chunks. So, if you have any tips for this dish, I’d love to read them. What are you doing in Astana–quite a culture shock, I imagine.
This is WONDERFUL! And your photography is gorgeous!! I am an instant fan!
I just found your site by accedent. I’m happy I did.
I was living in Macedonia for a few years with my Husband who is Macedonian. We lived in his village near Bitola. You have really nice recipes and pictures by the way those ginger cookies you have posted where can you find molassis in Macedonia? what is it called there? I was looking for that and corn syrup and marshmellows but couldn’t find those either.