The name favors (kindling) was traditionally used to describe a dough that was deep fried, like donuts or paczki, another Polish pastry. Currently, this name is used to describe a deep fried pastry, that contains some alcohol, or vinegar and raises slightly when fried. Some of us remember it as “favors”, others know it as “kindling”. Everything depends on our roots.

Dozens of recipes exist, and every cook will insist that his/her recipe is best. Below is recipe that was used to make kindlings to be served at end of carnival season:

- 2 cups flour - 3 tablespoons sugar - 1 tablespoon vinegar - half cup sour cream - one egg

Mix in a blender, until dough begins to form. The dough will be relatively tough. Add one tablespoon of melted, cooled, unsalted butter, and continue mixing for a minute or so, until all ingredients are incorporated.

For centuries fish were plentiful. Poor people could not afford meat, but fish, wild mushrooms, or wild berries were always available, and considered as inferior foods. Polish people used to say “Fish and mushrooms, flour and meadow” to describe a rich country farm, where everything was plentiful. Sometimes, when even fishes ware scant, people stated that “A crayfish is also a fish, when there are no other fishes in lake”. Many other sayings and proverbs use fish as their subject. A rich and influential person is a “fat fish”. Sometimes “we are fishing in murky waters”, making not-too honest deals. Then we complain, that “the first part of a fish that rots, is its head”, meaning that corruption of government proceeds corruption of society. Sometimes children “go fishing at night” i.e. bed wetting.