Folklorama: Mramorni Kolac and Ćevapčići

Ćevapčići

Back in 1980 many of the pavilions were about Central and Eastern European countries and took place in their home parishes.

These churches were a reminder of when people, after having immigrated to Canada, stayed within their own ethnic community in their new country.  

It was understandable. 

They were facing problems adjusting to a new life, so there was comfort and strength in gathering together for religious and social events in a place where they were able to speak their own language with others who were in the same situation.

Folklorama was a way for people in the different communities to get to know, and be known by, their neighbours.

Just as the Greek Pavilion was sponsored by the Greek community in Winnipeg, the Croatian Pavilion, Zagreb, was sponsored by the Croatian Congregation of Winnipeg.

It took place at the Croatian Catholic Church, St Nicholas Tavelich and Banquet Hall, at 2688 Main Street.

The people at the Croatian pavilion extended a warm Dobro Došli and shared their culture, traditions, national costumes and handicrafts.
They served Croatian dishes such as Raznjici and Sarma.

Visitors could sit and listen to Croatian folk songs or join the folk dance ensemble Hrvatska Zora in a lively dance.

Glasses of Sijivovica and Lozvaca were available to raise in a toast: 
U Zdraulje - To your health!

The Slovenija Pavilion, Ljubljana, gave us a glimpse into the country just north of Croatia. 

It was at Our Lady of Lourdes Roman Catholic Church on 95 Macdonald Avenue, and was hosted by the Slovenian Folk Art Council.

They took a slightly different approach in their written introduction.

First they had a sentence instead of just a welcome:

Dobrodošli v Sloveniji! Želimo vam mnogo zabave in zabave med nami.

And while the other pavilions invited visitors to an energetic and exciting, while educational, time, the people at Slovenija said:

For a change of pace in the hustle of pavilion trekking, stop and relax in the Slovenian Pavilion.

To be honest, it wasn't like going to a quiet place of meditation.
It was just as much fun and as lively as the other pavilions.
Three folk dance groups - Zvonček, Rožmarin and Triglav - plus a male singing quartet, Zvon, provided the entertainment for people who were relaxing and dining.

Along with the handicrafts, embroidery, costumes and crystal, they also had a narrated slide presentation of Slovenija’s history and culture.

While ćevapčići, žlikrofi, and kranjske klobase were available, the main attraction for the pavilion was the succulent young pigs which were barbecued on spits.

The aroma was amazing, and the servings were generous.

Along with the usual domestic and soft drinks, Riesling wine and Slivovica were available for the total Slovenija experience.

Some of the '80s pavilions are no longer with us, but others are as popular as ever.

In the current Folklorama50 brochure there is still a Croatian Pavilion "Zagreb" Pavilion and a Slovenija Pavilion, and they still attract crowds.

Oh, that sentence from Slovenija’s half page means: 

Welcome to Slovenia! We wish you lots of fun and fun among us.

Hints:

The pavilions pride themselves on authentic recipes, and sometimes that causes a problem in translation.

The recipe for the Croatian Mramorni Kolac (Marble Cake) was written with measurements in dkg - dekagrams, a type of metric weight unit. 
I checked a couple of conversion charts and this is what I got. Hope it helps.

dkg    Cup             ounces

 4       .168      1.410958477983 

20      .84        7.054792389916 

25    1.05        8.818490487395

50    2.1        17.63698097479 
I don't know how much was in the packages of baking powder and vanilla sugar.

They didn’t say what size pan to use.

About the pork hamburger... I think the ground meats in the Ćevapčići are lean.

Ćevapčići tastes better barbecued over hot coals until light brown.

Well, what doesn’t?

                        Mramorni Kolac

Preheat oven to 350º

Grease the pan

Combine in a small bowl

50 dkg flour

1 package baking powder 

In a large mixer bowl place

20 dkg butter or margarine

Beat until it is well beaten or smooth.

Add

25 dkg sugar

1 package vanilla sugar

Continue to beat and add, 1 at a time

4 eggs

Then add

a pinch of salt

grated rind of 1 lemon

the flour mixture.

Stir in 

1/2 Cup milk

Place 1/3 of the batter in a medium mixer bowl

Add

4 dkg cocoa

4 dkg sugar

2 Tablespoons milk
Mix well.

Pour the vanilla batter into the prepared pan.

Pour the chocolate batter over the vanilla batter and swirl through with a knife.

Bake 45 minutes or until the cake’s centre springs back.

Cool 15 minutes.
Remove cakes from pans.

                        Ćevapčići

Place in a large bowl

1 pound good quality ground beef

1 pound pork hamburger

2 teaspoons salt

1 teaspoon black pepper

1 teaspoon red sweet paprika

1 egg

1/4 Cup red wine

2 cloves garlic, minced

Mix well, cover and refrigerate for 1 hour or more.

Roll into 1 inch thick, 2 inches long rolls.

Barbecue or fry.

Serve with Spanish onion slices and bread.