These colorful cheese balls are a popular party appetizer in Belarus and neighboring countries. Creamy cheese, garlic, and egg form a savory shell around a juicy cherry tomato center, while fresh dill adds a bright herbal coating. They look elegant on a holiday table and require no cooking beyond boiling the egg.

Minestrone is a classic Italian vegetable soup that changes with the seasons—there’s no single “correct” version. Made with simple vegetables, beans, and pasta, it’s a comforting, nourishing dish that has been cooked in Italian homes for centuries using whatever was on hand.

Feel free to customize this recipe by adding ingredients like thinly sliced green onions, bell peppers, or a dash of hot sauce for some heat.

Potato and chicken stew is a classic example of everyday Eastern European comfort food. After potatoes were introduced to the region in the 18th century, they quickly became a staple, often paired with whatever meat was available. Slow simmering in one pot made this dish practical for village kitchens and outdoor cooking alike—much like your version, which has that rustic, fire-cooked feel.

Croissants, though famously French, actually trace their roots to Vienna, Austria! Their ancestor is the kipferl, a crescent-shaped pastry that dates back to at least the 13th century. Legend says Viennese bakers created it to celebrate the defeat of the Ottoman Turks — the crescent shape imitating the symbol on the Ottoman flag.