In the States, Jan. 27 is National Chocolate Cake Day. But, really, does anyone actually need a made-up holiday to eat cake? And chocolate cake, to boot? Not me.

Chocolate cakes and torte recipes exist in abundance in Eastern European kitchens. Here are some of my Favorite Chocolate Recipes. I'm off to the kitchen to whip up a new chocolate treat. Good practice for Valentine's Day, don't you think? Recipe coming soon!

Sign up for the Eastern European Food newsletter
Check out the Eastern European Food forums
Follow me on Twitter
Friend me on Facebook

Nothing chases the chills away better than a thick, hearty stew. Often out of necessity, Eastern Europeans get creative with tougher cuts of meat, turning them into succulent, fall-off-the-bone meals. Braising and stewing are the techniques used to achieve this.

Here are Top Eastern European Stew Recipes guaranteed to warm the body and the soul. Enjoy!

Sign up for the Eastern European Food newsletter
Check out the Eastern European Food forums
Follow me on Twitter
Friend me on Facebook

The recent Fancy Food Show in San Francisco turned up some great new products. Among them is Crummblers from the florida-based Sinful Virtues Baked Goods company. At first blush, Crummblers look like biscotti but, oh, ye of little faith. They are actually far richer and sweeter, and softer on the inside than traditional biscotti. The bonus is the sugar-cinnamon topping.

Pam Rufrano, the co-owner with Rick Martino of Sinful Virtues, says Crummblers originate from the small Belarus village of Pinsk but, of course, they weren't called Crummblers there.

"I was told that my great-grandmother, Marina, was always known in town for her special holiday desserts; one in particular was wildly popular. It was in the form of a hand-shaped loaf. The outside was crunchy and crumbly, kind of like a biscotti. But the inside was more cake-like. Whether she came up with the recipe herself nobody knew. She did keep it a secret, though, and only passed it on to my grandma, Anna, who brought it with her to America. Anna kept the secret, teaching it only to her youngest daughter, Dora, my mom," Rufrano says.

Well, the rest is history. Rufrano and her daughters, Rikki and Melanie, came up with the name Crummblers for these delightful treats. They use the same high-quality ingredients as in the original and the dough is mixed and shaped by hand. Crummblers come in cranberry, blueberry, chocolate-peanut butter, white chocolate and chocolate chip varieties.

There are gift baskets and boxes galore on their site. I especially like the Valentine's Day gift box pictured here and avalable on their site.

While there is no brick-and-mortar store for Sinful Virtues, Rufrano and her family often sell their wares at community markets like the Ybor City Saturday Market in the Tampa Bay Area. They will next be there from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Jan. 28, Feb. 4, 11, 18 and 25, and March 3. If you live in the area, pay them a visit. Otherwise, visit them online. You'll be glad you did.

Sign up for the Eastern European Food newsletter
Check out the Eastern European Food forums
Follow me on Twitter
Friend me on Facebook

American football and the Super Bowl or European soccer and the World Cup bring out the same "need to feed" among rabid sports fans. One-pot dishes that can bubble away in a slow cooker unattended, or what I like to call casserolia, are perfect for noshing during the big game.

Polish Hunter's Stew (bigos) -- a meat-eater's dream come true -- and Smoked Sausage and Sauerkraut can be prepared in advance and then slowly reheated when ready to serve. If you've got a crowd coming, the recipes can be easily doubled or tripled. Score!

Molly Watson, About.com's Guide to Local Foods, says Super Bowl parties don't need to be laden with processed food. Try her recipes for fresh, delicious Super Bowl snacks like homemade potato chips, spicy peanuts, and succulent beer-basted spicy glazed ribs."

Karin Engelbrecht, About.com's Guide to Dutch Food, says, "When the Dutch watch sports on TV, their favorite snacks include kroketten, those sumptuous shrimp or veal ragout-filled crispy croquettes, frikadellen, typically Dutch skinless meat sausages, and kaasstengels, rich Gouda cheese straws, recipes for which can be found on this list of Dutch Party Appetizers."

Stephanie Gallagher, About.com's Guide to Cooking for Kids, says, "The fun thing about throwing a Super Bowl party is that the menu can really be anything you like, from delivery pizza and potluck appetizers to chili and cornbread to homemade snacks and desserts. These Super Bowl menu ideas give you three great options. Feel free to mix and match the recipes to suit your own tastes."

Carroll Pelligrinelli, About.com's Guide to Baking, says, "Make it easier on yourself (or the hostess) by creating desserts and other sweet treats that don't require a fork to eat them. Chocolate Nut Bars are just one of the many treats found on this page of Fork-Free Desserts."

Linda Larsen, About.com's Guide to Busy Cooks, says, "Whether or not you're interested in football, you can throw a party on Super Bowl Sunday. These recipes for Super Bowl Snacks and Anti-Super Bowl Party Foods are all delicious, quick to make, and fun to eat. Hope your team wins!"

Kevin D. Weeks, About.com's Guide to Cooking for Two, says, "This fall, I've been working on recipes for traditional Super Bowl foods like Buffalo Wings, Crab Dip, and Barbecued Ribs. You can find them and many more here -- Super Bowl 46 - Game Time Eats."

Colleen Graham, About.com's Guide to Cocktails, says, "The road to the biggest football game of the year is always exciting. Beginning with the conference championships then onto Super Bowl XLVI, here are this year's Super Bowl cocktail menus. Also, for all of your game-day party-planning needs, check out these ideas for Throwing a Successful Super Bowl Party."

Lisa and Tony Sierra, About.com Guides to Spanish Food, say, "The Spanish aren't counting the days to the Super Bowl, but it is a big day for appetizers in the U.S. So, the party atmosphere and desire to graze are perfect for a Spanish tapas buffet. You can't miss with easy-to-make recipes like Spanish pizza with chorizo sausage, pancetta-stuffed mushrooms, or pinchos morunos (spicy pork kebabs)."

Sign up for the Eastern European Food newsletter
Check out the Eastern European Food forums
Follow me on Twitter
Friend me on Facebook