Why I Started SaltnPaprika

A couple of years ago, I began writing a cookbook rooted in memory—an edible history of my family. Through this process, I realized how food is a living archive and oftentimes difficult to record.

Recipes in my family were never written down. Measurements were estimated and directions were passed down verbally or demonstrated by hand. So, if I wanted to succeed, I had to focus on piecing things together by observing what my family did and said, and testing out different versions until something finally tasted like home.

A cookbook that started as a personal project soon sparked into a bigger idea—a place for others to connect with their past, exchange insights from our shared histories, and learn from kitchens unlike our own.

My Journey to Food

My love for cooking and baking didn’t start in school—it started in the kitchens of my grandmothers, Babcia (Ela) and Mama (Rozalia), where pots simmered for hours and stories were told through flavour.

I was raised in kitchens that smelled like garlic, butter, and dill—where food wasn’t just nourishment, it was inheritance. And, I learned to continue the tradition by watching and repeating: pinching pierogi dough, stirring big pots of soups, grating apples for szarlotka.

Over time, I realized I wasn’t just gathering recipes—I was documenting my family's resilience, their adaptations to Canadian life, and the way food helped us all stick together through hardship.

Mission

SaltnPaprika is a place to honour the recipes that carry memory. A resource to slow down and cook with intention. An archive where your grandmother’s handwriting is just as important as the ingredient list.

“Whether you're here to share your story, preserve a recipe, or simply read about the rituals of another kitchen, I hope you find something that feels familiar.”

- Szerena