Yana

There have been many roundups of charities and humanitarian aid organizations complied by more knowledgeable individuals than us. Here are a couple of the best lists: Charity Navigator These are organizations that have been highly rated by Charity Navigator, meaning they are financially efficient and transparent. If you’re worried about your money being put to […]

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Enjoy this excerpt from our cookbook & cultural compendium More Than Borsch.See more and buy a copy here. In Old Russia, the new year began in March. It was celebrated like most spring holidays, with the ushering in of the sun, the warmth, and anticipation of new life. When Orthodox Christianity took root at the […]

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Strawberry Cordial Traditionally, cordials were known as “home wine.” In Russia, there was a lack of vineyards but an abundance of fruit. This fruit was covered in sugar (longer ago, it was honey) after which it released its juices and began to ferment. Eventually — usually in one to six months — this resulted in [...] Continue Reading

Learn how to make this absolute classic.

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Learn how to make this absolute classic.

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Herring Under a Fur Coat Just like olivie, vinaigrette, holodets and borsch, Herring Under a Fur Coat, seledka pod shuboi, is a holiday staple. Everyone has their own recipe, which might include hardboiled eggs, fresh apples, greens, cheese and more. They might layer their ingredients in a different order or decorate it in different ways.The [...] Continue Reading

Hot days, cold borsch.

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Okroshka Refreshingly cold okroshka – a traditional Russian and Ukrainian soup – is one of the most popular dishes to eat during the hot summer months. The word comes from the Russian verb kroshit' (to crumble) or the noun kroshka (crumb). Recipes vary from region to region, but the essence remains: you crumble all the [...] Continue Reading

Deruny The essence of deruny lies in their simplicity: grated raw potato, mixed with flour, egg and optionally garlic, fried until golden and crispy. Though they are considered a traditionally Belorussian dish – called draniki – they are commonly found not only in Russia and Ukraine, not only all over Central and Eastern Europe, but [...] Continue Reading

According to folklore, there is a kind and savvy spirit living in the buckwheat, who increases the eater’s knowledge and ingenuity. That’s what makes it the ideal breakfast for exam days.

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Cottage Cheese Paskha This special, cheesecake-like dessert is served on Easter Sunday. It’s made in the shape of a four-sided pyramid so you’ll need a special plastic or wooden mold, called pasochnitsa. You can find these online or substitute with a clean flower pot or any pyramid-shaped mold. The paskha is usually decorated with the [...] Continue Reading

Blini Recipe Many of Russia’s greatest authors have attested to the artistry it takes to make good blini. They transcend food to a religious rite, a ritual, an art. The cook – no, the artist – whose skills assessed by the quality of his blini, must know how much batter to pour in the pan [...] Continue Reading

Hot days, cold borsch.

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Vladimir's Authentic Borsch Borsch is a staple in most Eastern European cuisines and for good reason – it’s hearty, delicious, filling and best of all, it’s supposed to be accompanied by vodka. Other sides are black bread, green onions or garlic and salo. 1 to 1½ pounds beef, pork, or chicken (cut into 2-inch pieces)1 tbsp [...] Continue Reading

Pickled Watermelon Not even watermelon is safe from the pickling fanaticism. But try this sweet-salty-spicy-garlicky version and tell us it isn't genius! 2 lb watermelon1 bunch dill6 cloves garlic1-2 jalapeños (sliced)6-8 cups water ((enough to cover the watermelon))1/4 c salt1/4 c sugar2 tbsp white vinegar2 tbsp peppercorns Pick a non-reactive (glass or ceramic) container. Slice [...] Continue Reading

Russians are often perceived as cold, distant, and unsmiling – or at best, reserved. Maybe it looks that way on the outside. But there is an unmatched depth to the Russian soul, and that depth is filled with pure, sincere emotion. It is an atmosphere in which cynicism seems crass and vulgar. Someone might be […]

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Why do Russians love cats so much? Apparently, nearly 60% of Russians own at least one cat. Every Russian we know is absolutely obsessed with cats. We think it’s because cats and Russians are similarly misunderstood. Unfairly stereotyped as cold and surly, both cats and Russians are actually pretty warm, loving, and affectionate. Also very […]

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Hot days, cold borsch.

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Strawberry Cordial Traditionally, cordials were known as “home wine.” In Russia, there was a lack of vineyards but an abundance of fruit. This fruit was covered in sugar (longer ago, it was honey) after which it released its juices and began to ferment. Eventually — usually in one to six months — this resulted in [...] Continue Reading

#coolkompotsummer

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No bake cake alert!

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Homemade Sauerkraut Properly prepared pickled cabbage is juicy and crunchy. Make it a salad by adding sliced onions and vegetable oil, or serve as a side dish with potatoes or other foods. Or, most deliciously, eat out of the jar while standing in front of the fridge. 1 head white cabbage ((about 3½ pounds))2 carrots [...] Continue Reading

Easy and excellent.

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According to folklore, there is a kind and savvy spirit living in the buckwheat, who increases the eater’s knowledge and ingenuity. That’s what makes it the ideal breakfast for exam days.

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A perfect eating-in-front-of-the-fridge snack.

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Learn how to make this absolute classic.

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Здравствуйте – Zdravstvuite – Hello! Let’s be real: Russian isn’t the most popular language to learn. It’s not seen as romantic like French, suave like Italian or useful like Spanish. And that’s a real shame, because Russian is extremely eloquent, versatile and even, believe it or not, beautiful. In addition, Russia has been in the […]

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Vladimir's Authentic Borsch Borsch is a staple in most Eastern European cuisines and for good reason – it’s hearty, delicious, filling and best of all, it’s supposed to be accompanied by vodka. Other sides are black bread, green onions or garlic and salo.We enlisted my dad, Vladimir, who makes the best borsch I’ve ever tasted, to [...] Continue Reading

Easter, or Paskha (Пасха), is the most important feast and a joyous celebration of the resurrection of Christ and many religious and secular traditions surround this sacred holiday. The majority of Russians and Ukrainians are either Eastern Orthodox or Catholic. Eastern Orthodox make up the majority of believers in Russia and in the eastern regions […]

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Enjoy this excerpt from our cookbook & cultural compendium More Than Borsch.See more and buy a copy here. Maslenitsa is a holiday that comes at the end of winter, meant to usher in the spring and celebrate the new warmth and coming bounty. In pagan times, the predecessor to Maslenitsa was Komoeditsa, celebrated the week […]

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Russian and Ukrainian folk arts are rooted in and reflective of the cultural life and include objects which historically are crafted and used within a traditional community. They encompass the body of expressive culture associated with the fields of folklore and cultural heritage. Folk art may tell a lot about the Russian and Ukrainian national […]

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Petrykivka decorative painting is a traditional Ukrainian folk painting style that has played a spiritual role in people’s lives for centuries. It originates from the Petrykivka village in the Dnepropetrovsk region, in central-south-eastern Ukraine, along the Dniepr river. In 2013 it was included to the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. […]

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The traditional Ukrainian wardrobe was a far cry from today’s red-rose-and-leopard print spandex and ostentatious, all-white ensembles, but there remain a few common threads – the love of exotic imports, the attention to and care for details and the significance of the clothing as part of the social environment and surroundings. The basic elements of […]

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The Ukrainian embroidery tradition has its roots in pagan beliefs of protection and ritual. Ukrainian embroidery can decorate ceremonial towels, table linens, vyshyvankas (embroidered shirts) and rushnyks (embroidered towels), Ukrainian traditional garments and bags. Like many other folk art practices throughout Ukraine and Eastern Europe, the Ukrainian embroidery tradition is one that is passed down […]

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У Лукоморья – By the Bay – is the prologue to the epic poem Ruslan and Lyudmila by the world-famous poet/heartthrob Alexander Pushkin; it features cameos by almost all of the heroes of Russian folk lore. In this magic place, under that huge, old and beautiful oak, with the wise cat’s songs and tales, images from different […]

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Another famous poem by poet/heartthrob Alexander Pushkin is The Tale of Tsar Saltan, or in full: The Tale of Tsar Saltan, of His Son the Renowned and Mighty Bogatyr Prince Gvidon Saltanovich, and of the Beautiful Princess-Swan (written in 1831). In the poem, Tsar Saltan chooses one of three sisters to be his wife, making the other […]

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“The Mistress of the Copper Mountain” (Russian: Медной горы хозяйка) is a folk tale (the so-called skaz) of the Ural region of Russia collected and reworked by Pavel Bazhov, the famous Russian writer, best known for his collection of fairy tales The Malachite Box, based on Ural folklore. It was first published in 1936 It comes […]

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In the Cabin on Chicken Legs lives Baba Yaga, an old Russian witch with magic powers who symbolizes for the dark side of wisdom and neglected dental care. Baba Yaga is usually shown as an ugly old woman with a huge and distorted nose and crooked, overgrown teeth, in old torn clothes, and dirty. In […]

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There is a very famous Russian folk story for very small children – Ryaba the Hen (Ryaba comes from the word “ryabaya”, meaning spotty or speckled). This kurochka (the hen) Ryaba is a classic character from a classic tale and the inspiration behind the name and logo for Kurochka Clothing. There are a lot of […]

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Enjoy this excerpt from our upcoming cookbook, More Than Borsch. The word samovar means “self-boiler” and is an integral part of tea making and drinking. A samovar-like implement with a central tube covered in soot was discovered in Azerbaijan dating back to the 2nd century BC, but samovars weren’t widely manufactured until the 18th century, […]

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In Ukrainian villages, construction skills were based on local traditions and knowledge handed down generation to generation. Wood, clay and thatched roofs were primary building materials in most vernacular architecture of Ukrainian peasants.      Outside around the house there was a small backyard with fruit trees and bushes and vegetable gardens surrounded by wattle fences, […]

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  A symbol of Russian nature and Russian beauty, the birch tree (“bereza” or “berezka” in Russian) has a very special place in the country’s culture. It is a poetic symbol of the feminine, a lyrical image of spring, light and virginal purity. The slender birch brings to mind the image of a humble girl, beautiful,and very […]

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