As part of an ongoing series, we are publishing one recipe every week from Pontiac County Recipes, a small book that is home to a collection of kitchen secrets from across the region, published by Pontiac Printshop in 1968.

Our recent rediscovery of this book has inspired us to recirculate its recipes, by way of this newspaper, through the communities from which they first came to us.

Bigas, or bigos, as it is known in Poland, is that country’s national dish. Loosely tranlsated as ‘hunter’s stew,’ it often contains various kinds of chopped and cured meats, as well as sauerkraut, mushrooms and spices. The ingredients cook together in a pot for several hours on the stove, alllowing the flavours to mingle. As the weather warms, hearty dishes like these will soon be too sweaty to even consider preparing, so eat this bigas while you still can!

If you recognize a recipe from either your grandparents’ kitchen, or from your own, please write to us. We would love to hear about how these recipes have lived on.