Russian comfort food: pirozhki

Summer is finally here for good, and it is time for light meals, cold drinks and picnics but there is something I just can’t miss in my blog: pirozhki. When you speak of Russian comfort food I am sure there is nothing more Russian than this divine and also guilty pastry pleasure.

Guilty salads

The center of Easter table is for sure kulich, paskha and meat dishes, salads are always a nice starter though. I decided to take it easy and make something simple, fast and enjoyable for everybody. Since the whole Easter celebrations this year were all about combining two different traditions the plan was to make the kid’s favorite macaroni salad and Russian (or rather Soviet) classics - Olivier salad (aka Russian salad). Yes, I know it is not fancy and back in Moscow I would be embarrassed to serve Russian salad for a special occasion but since my American family is new to it and never welcomed new year in with a giant basin of this stuff so I found it ok. Plus, I wanted to give the kids something they would definitely eat.

Meat heaven at home: Pork roll w/apples

I took a little break from blogging (oh well, it is also know as procrastination) but now I am back and ready to finish writing about our Easter meal. Today I am sharing my recipe of pork roll with apples - some people asked about it on Facebook - here you go my friends.

This is a simple recipe that everyone will enjoy. It was one of my favorites back in Russia but I had never cooked it here in the States before Easter: the end of Lent seemed the perfect reason to treat everybody to this delicious meal. What I like about pork that it is very cooking time saving and yummy both hot and cold.

Творожная пасха / Cottage cheese paskha

Now when the main Easter celebrations are over I can get back to blogging. I can honestly say: this Easter was the best ever! I am very happy that everything I planned to cook worked out, my family enjoyed it and we all had a terrific day. 

As I mentioned in my previous post on Easter kulich, Good Thursday I was also making a paskha (пасха). It is a traditional Easter dish (‘Easter’ in Russia is also ‘Paskha’) made from cottage cheese - its white color symbolizes the purity if Christ and also the joy of the Resurrection. There is also a version that the paskha ingredients (cottage cheese, butter, sour cream) represent to Russian peasants the wonderland where there are ‘milk rivers and kissel shores’ (compare this image to the Promised Land). Paskha is a symbol of joy, life in paradise and blessed Eternity.

Пасхальный кулич / Easter kulich

Ready Easter kulichs

This is my first Easter in the States, and it is very exciting. First, Easter is one of my most favorite holidays, second, it is my first time celebrating it in a non-Orthodox country and also combining two different traditions. Quite a challenge! I am not used to all those Easter bunnies (they are cute, I admit) and egg hunt but I am dying eggs, baking ‘kulich’ (Easter cake) and making cottage cheese ‘paskha’. Those are essential elements of Easter dinner back home, and of course I wanted to make it here and also introduce Dave and the kids to this tradition.