Blog Archives

Chicken Tortilla Soup

Now when it's getting colder and windy outside, this soup is a great idea for your lunch or dinner. Even my kids like to eat this soup. I love how this chicken tortilla soup is both easy to make and satisfying. If you like spicy soup, add jalapeno to the vegetables. True comfort food! (more…)...
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Ossetian Pies Kartofdzhyn

These popular Ossetian pies are baked with different fillings and often prepared on holidays. In Ossetia they traditionally serve three pies on a plate and only on days of mourning - an even number. These pies are a cult food in Ossetia and have ritual significance. Kartofdzhyn- the pie stuffed with potato and cheese. Ossetian cheese can be replaced with similar cheese such...
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Blueberry Peach Tart

Deliciously sweet and slightly sour tart topped with a bounty of fresh peaches and blueberries, it's a true taste of the season and easy to prepare. Even on the next day it stays tasty, so you can eat it cold or slightly warmed up in the microwave. Serve with tea or milk for breakfast, or as a dessert with cream...
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Buns with Poppy Seeds and Raisins

I baked similar buns with my mom and grandmother on holidays or just for breakfast. We also made poppy seeds pirozhki and rolls so if you do not want to mess with each bun, you can roll out the dough, add poppy seeds and raisins for the filling and wrap the roll. Buns can be stored for...
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Wild Duck with Bacon and Vegetables

I usually fry the vegetables and duck breasts in lard or melted goose (or chicken) fat but you can use vegetable or olive oil. For the herbs I use a couple of sage leaves, a little thyme, Thai basil, tarragon and oregano. The finished duck was juicy, tender and had a light smoke flavor from the bacon. Read more

Pigodi, Korean Steam Pies with Meat and Cabbage

Pigodi are a type of Korean pies that are steamed. I usually cook them in a bamboo steamer. The most popular type is with meat and cabbage. Its best to use finely chopped pork but they can also be prepared with ground meat. Serve with various sauces, for example, mix the soy sauce with wine vinegar, fresh finely chopped cilantro...
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Vareniki with Potato and Mushrooms

Vareniki (varenyky, pirogi) are stuffed dumplings from Ukraine made from unleavened dough and different fillings. Some of the more popular fillings are vegetables, boiled potatoes, salted cabbage, baked pumpkin, fruits and berries, meat, mushroom, cheese, poppy seed or buckwheat. My favorite fillings are meat, potatoes with onions and mushrooms, cottage cheese or curd cheese and cherries. Vareniki with berry...
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International Women’s Day

International Women's Day or as sometimes called simply March 8th - is celebrated world wide. It began as a Socialist political event to celebrate and recognize women's economic, political and social achievements but today has blended into a mix of Mother's Day and Valentine's Day combined, losing it's political flavor entirely. In every country it's celebrated differently. In Russia and...
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