What's for dinner? Golumpki!-Recipe & Book Giveaway-Investigating Food Used in Novels

What's for dinner? Golumpki!-Recipe & Book Giveaway-Investigating Food Used in Novels
Sunday, May 31, 2026 by Sally Jo Pitts

Categories: Books & Food / Recommended Books

Investigating Food Used in Novels

This month’s food scene and recipe for golumpki come from Becky Van Vleet’s novel, Her Strength Within. Becky is offering a free hardback to a commenter. Read on for details.

From Author Becky Van Vleet:

For a little background, Alzbeta is a teenage girl living with a Jewish family as their servant in Bardejov, Czechoslovakia, today known as Slovakia. The family is setting aside her wages to cover the cost of a steerage ticket for her to travel to America as an emigrant. My novel, Her Strength Within, is inspired by the true story of my grandmother, Alzbeta Holeva.

Here is the Scene:

Chapter Sixteen

Autumn,1920, Bardejov,

“Another boy! What will you name him?” Alzbeta cuddled the newborn when Chanah placed him in her arms, and the other children gathered around.

Yaakov beamed. “Meet Gabriel.”

Alzbeta could hardly take her eyes off him. A new life. She’d been considerably younger when Lena had given birth to the other children. When the infant yawned, Alzbeta swayed back and forth with him, holding him close to her chest.

After the doctor left, Yaakov motioned her over, out of Chanah’s earshot. “Alzbeta, Dr. Kalchik says Chanah lost a lot of blood with this one. He’s coming back tomorrow to check on her. He gave orders for complete bed rest, saying she’ll be weak for a while.”

“I’ll help with everything. Don’t worry.”

For the next few weeks, Alzbeta took over the cooking, the children, and the chores. At first, her challah didn’t rise and taste quite like Chanah’s, but she finally mastered it. Esther and Talia helped with the braiding and slathered the loaves with butter. Looking at Chanah’s written notes for farfel, pickled horseradish, babka, goulash, latkes, and other dishes, she prepared meals for the family she’d never made by herself before. One evening, she prepared golumpki, her favorite Polish dish. Everyone liked it. Sizzles filled the kitchen. She planned in advance to prepare extra food on Thursdays so she wouldn’t be working in the kitchen on Fridays and Saturdays to respect the Goldberg’s observation of Shabbat.

Chanah slowly recovered, and the family resumed their normal routine. Baby Gabriel thrived and delighted the household. While the older girls attended school, Alzbeta stayed busy taking care of Avraham, Boaz, and Adina, as well as helping with Gabriel when he wasn’t sleeping or nursing.

Becky shares this recipe for the Polish cabbage rolls and adds that in Poland, Alzbeta would have made her own tomato juice during this time period of the early 1900’s. Later on, in the United States, she learned how easy it was to purchase a prepared bottle!

Golumpki

For the recipe click here.

More about Her Strength Within

The lush, green hills of Poland and Czechoslovakia are all that Alzbeta Holeva has ever known. Yet, as a nineteen-year-old peasant girl in 1921, her life is on the brink of a drastic upheaval. Papa plans to send her to America for a better life. The very thought of severing ties with her family, abandoning her homeland, and facing the frightening unfamiliarity of a new country fills her with an overwhelming dread.

Although her aunt and uncle are willing to sponsor her and have already braved the journey successfully, the thought of venturing alone to a distant land makes her stomach roil. Still, with the haunting memories of German military planes menacing the skies of her childhood and her brothers later embroiled in the horrors of the Great War, she must summon every shred of courage to embrace Papa’s plan. She would pave the way for the rest of her family to follow.

At last, Alzbeta steps onto the SS La Touraine, the mighty vessel that will carry her across the perilous Atlantic waves to an uncertain future. The grueling trials awaiting her in steerage passage will forever change the course of her life and shape her path toward America.

Inspired by a true story.

Book Giveaway Offer! Good through June 5, 2026-

For a chance to win a hardback copy of Becky Van Vleet’s novel, share your favorite foreign food or one you would like to learn to make. Comment below.

About the author:

Becky Van Vleet is a retired teacher and principal and award-winning multi-genre author. Her books are the recipients of the BookFest, Purple Dragonfly, Excellence in Editing, Christlit, and Angel Book awards. She’s a published author of numerous articles in Guideposts, The Country Register, Christian Devotions Ministries, Inkspirations Online, and more. She is passionate about sharing the values from the Greatest Generation and is frequently booked as a guest speaker for middle and high school classes about patriotism. A member of ACFW, Allauthor, and Shepherd for Authors, Becky has devoted her website to creating and preserving family memories and sharing family stories for the next generations through her monthly blogs. You can find her at: https://beckyvanvleet.com.

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NEW!

Grab a FREE copy of The Private Eye Cookbook: Recipes and Tips for a person On-the-Go HERE.

Join me each month as I INVESTIGATE FOOD USED IN NOVELS. I always share a novel scene and recipe. And often there is a free book or discount offer for my newsletter readers who leave a comment.

Blessings,

Comments

Cindy Boyll From Colorado Springs At 6/5/2026 3:45:27 PM

I enjoyed this well-written chapter. I also grew up eating cabbage rolls. My favorite recipe from my German grandma is Maultasche. This “mouth pocket” is like a ravioli. Grandma put peaches in them, then boiled the pockets, and ladled a cream/butter/sugar sauce over them as a side dish to meat.

Reply by: Sally Jo Pitts

Interesting. Sounds delicious.

Lynn Mulhern From Thomaston CT At 6/3/2026 11:16:25 AM

A few of my favorites, since I can't pick just one: Potato Kugelis and Stuffed Cabbage from my Lithuanian/Russian side of the family. And Cream Puffs from my Italian side of the family.

Reply by: Sally Jo Pitts

Interesting foods coming from ancestral background!

Becky Smith From MO At 6/2/2026 2:00:56 PM

My favorite foreign food is Oostakaka, which is a Swedish custard/dessert made by curding milk. I liske either strawberries or raspberries on it.

Reply by: Sally Jo Pitts

I had to learn more about this one. It is similar to American cheesecake but ostakaka is lighter, less sweet, and has a rustic, soft, and slightly grainy texture. Thanks for sharing.

Joy Isley From AZ At 6/1/2026 4:56:40 PM

I live in the southwest so Mexican food is what i make a lot.

Reply by: Sally Jo Pitts

Speaking of Mexican foods in the Southwest, one of my favorites is fried sopaipilla pastry

Beth Reimer From Maryland At 6/1/2026 11:03:58 AM

Chicken Pad Thai and soft summer rolls with peanut sauce I would love to learn to make

Reply by: Sally Jo Pitts

I am learning about some amazing recipes from all the comments! Chicken Pad Thai is a classic Thai street food dish consisting of thin, flat rice noodles stir-fried with bite-sized chicken, scrambled eggs, and crunchy vegetables. It would be fun to learn to make.

Crystal Stewart From Bruin, PA At 6/1/2026 10:40:05 AM

You're very welcome Sally JO

Reply by: Sally Jo Pitts

Becky Van Vleet From CO At 6/1/2026 10:09:29 AM

Thank you, Sally Jo, for featuring me. I've enjoyed reading all the comments about foreign food recipes. I'd like everyone to know that ALL 9 of my grandchildren love golumpki--and that's saying a lot, even for a three-year-old!

Reply by: Sally Jo Pitts

Hi Becky. That is amazing!

Sharon Jennings From Florida At 6/1/2026 7:00:59 AM

My mom was Russian, so she made cabbage rolls one of my favorites. Her cousin would make a Lekvar Cake I would like to try,

Reply by: Sally Jo Pitts

My sister-in-law made a fruit-filled cookie but I never heard what it was called. It looked much like Lekvar when I looked this one up.

Ileana Barrionuevo From Argentina At 6/1/2026 6:43:35 AM

I love sushi and I’d like to learn how to make it! My husband and I love tasting from different places

Reply by: Sally Jo Pitts

Sushi is not a favorite of mine but I do love tasting different foods too!

Ileana Barrionuevo From Argentina At 6/1/2026 6:42:14 AM

I love sushi and I’d like to learn how to make it!

Reply by: Sally Jo Pitts

The beauty of YouTube!? Maybe you can learn how.

Melissa Alexander From Billings, MT At 6/1/2026 12:33:55 AM

LEFSE is a favorite of mine. My Mom made this potato treat for my FINNISH father and our whole family! Loved it!

Reply by: Sally Jo Pitts

Another new one to me. It looks a bit like a tortilla.

Crystal Stewart From Bruin, PA At 6/1/2026 12:09:38 AM

Good to know we both have great taste Hope I win contest

Reply by: Sally Jo Pitts

Thanks for popping in.

Sunnymay From Cleveland, OH, USA At 5/31/2026 11:58:16 PM

I love stuffed cabbage. I have tried unstuffed cabbage which is easier and you don't have to roll up the cabbage rolls around the filling. You just throw it all in a baking pan instead.

Reply by: Sally Jo Pitts

Well there's an idea! I'm always looking for shortcuts.

Julie Grace From Missouri At 5/31/2026 10:55:48 PM

The story sounds wonderful. I would love to win a copy. Otherwise, I'm adding it to my TBR and will purchase it. Julie

Reply by: Sally Jo Pitts

Great!

Jeanne Behrhof From NY At 5/31/2026 10:39:30 PM

Tandoori Chicken, made in a clay oven

Reply by: Sally Jo Pitts

This is a new one on me!

Mel From US At 5/31/2026 9:27:12 PM

There are several different dishes I would like to know how to make. One is schnitzel.

Reply by: Sally Jo Pitts

I've heard of it but never tried it. II had to look it up. It reminds me of country fried steak but with veal or pork. I bet it's tasty.

PJ Gaumond From Schenectady, NY At 5/31/2026 9:20:15 PM

My favorite foreign food is Sauerbraten with potato pancakes. I'd love to learn to make it.

Reply by: Sally Jo Pitts

This is an interesting food I've heard of and never tried.

Lisa Yetman From Pasadena, MD At 5/31/2026 8:12:39 PM

My background is Polish,Russian and German. My Mom makes the best cabbage rolls and apple fritters. Funny, though…my wish is to learn how to roll sushi! My husbandand I like getting sushi and often joke about how we could save money by doing sushi ourselves…yet it has not happened yet. Maybe I

Reply by: Sally Jo Pitts

Sushi looks like it would be an interesting art to learn. Apple fritters I would love to learn to make.

Leela From USA At 5/31/2026 7:49:02 PM

I love Italian Panzerotti. I make them all the time.

Reply by: Sally Jo Pitts

Another one I had to look up. They sound delicious.

Dixie Neitzel From Tomah,WI At 5/31/2026 7:46:57 PM

I like lutefisk and lefse.

Reply by: Sally Jo Pitts

I had to look this one up. A Scandinavian food that really looks interesting

Vicki B From GA At 5/31/2026 7:38:45 PM

I would love to learn how to make Polish Pasties.

Reply by: Sally Jo Pitts

I've never made these. I first heard of pasties in an Agatha Christie novel.

Vicki From GA At 5/31/2026 7:36:55 PM

I would love to learn how to make Polish Pasties.

Reply by: Sally Jo Pitts

Kind of like Hot Pockets.

Anne-Marie Webster From USA, Massachusetts At 5/31/2026 7:23:35 PM

I haven't had golumpkis in a very long time. Time to change that! I love all kinds of ethnic foods. How about some souvlaki?

Reply by: Sally Jo Pitts

Souviaki is a now one on me.

Lisa Wright From prescott valley, AZ At 5/31/2026 7:09:02 PM

would like to learn how to make pierogies

Reply by: Sally Jo Pitts

I had a Korean friend that made dumplings similar to these.

sandra q From texas At 5/31/2026 6:59:05 PM

im not sure what foreign foods i like can't say ive ever had any..

Reply by: Sally Jo Pitts

Many foods have foreign origins though we think of them as American., like egg rolls.

Miranda Summerset From GA At 5/31/2026 6:57:57 PM

I love Mexican food & would love to learn how to make tortillas from scratch!

Reply by: Sally Jo Pitts

Sounds like an interesting project.

Tammy Rash From Missouri At 5/31/2026 6:41:58 PM

I love cheese tortellini with mushrooms like my favorite Italian restaurant makes them.

Reply by: Sally Jo Pitts

That would be a tasty one to learn how to make.

Annie Hanson From MD At 5/31/2026 6:27:15 PM

Soup dumplings! I'd love to learn to make them. Although, I'd also love to learn to make tasty gluten free ones, since I found out relatively recently that I hace celiac. Ugh, but still I love soup dumplings and I'd love to learn to make them!