An Eastern European favorite, too. The Slovak name for the cake is makovy kolac. In the Ukraine, Eastern Rite Catholics tend to associate it with Easter, viewing the poppy seed as symbolizing the resurrection (after all, it does die and then finds new life, as it were). That said, it’s also obviously a favorite with people of all faiths.
From a stapled collection of recipes from my preschool, c. 1982, in University Heights, Ohio.
Ukrainian Poppy Seed Cake
1 c. ground poppy seed
1 c. milk
1 c. margarine
2 c. sugar
3 eggs, separated
2 c. flour
1/2 t. salt
2-1/2 [tsp.] baking powder
2 t. vanilla
Put poppy seeds in milk, bring to a boil and set aside 1 hour to cool. Preheat oven to 350 deg. Cream butter and sugar together. Beat in egg yolks. Add milk mixture.
Sift flour, salt, and baking powder together. Stir into butter and milk mixture.
Beat egg whites till stiff and fold into batter gently, with vanilla.
Grease a loaf pan, dust with flour and bake approximately 1 hour.
Ezra Taxel