While we enjoy eating Russian food, we really don't know how to cook it, besides of course opening a bag of pelmini and dumping it into boiling water, then waiting 12-15 minutes for the ravioli-like pasta to finish cooking.
So we cook American food. One of our friends in Yazoo City sent us his special sausage seasoning. Wow! We have been eating high on the hog, literally. And we've even mixed it in with some ground chicken as well. Quite tasty!
I've been trying to expand my cooking repertoire, and for that task, I often turn to the 2 cookbooks that I brought with me from the States. Below you'll see the Better Crocker cookbook that I brought with me. I LOVE this cookbook. When I don't know how to cook something or cut something or separate something, I turn to this wonderful cookbook. Here I can read all the technical cooking terms in plain language. I've also found some great recipes, which is no small task considering some ingredients aren't here, or at least I don't know how to translate them yet!
The other cookbook was given to me at a bridal shower. It is full of recipes from women in my family and Thomas' family and all the women who attended the shower. It's very special and contains some of our favorite dishes!
And in that attempt to cook more entrees, I tried calzones from my Better Crocker cookbook. Yes, one of them messed up because the recipe said to spread egg on top to help it brown, but the book didn't know that I have a communist stove. Yes, really, I'm not kidding, check out the CCCP (that means USSR) on the front of the stove! So, anyway, we've made lots of jokes about the stove, but the basic problem is that it only heats from the top, so unless I cover things, they burn, and quickly! So I put egg on 2 of the calzones before I realized that this might not be a good idea, and sure enough, I was right. Oh well, I know for next time.
6 comments:
i'm so impressed with how hard you work to care for your family. you are more of a woman than i, my friend.
Just ran across your blog - I just started recreating my russian grandma's recipes on my blog - started off slow with an appetizer and salad but will be moving into main courses and hopefully desert as well. feel free to come take a look if you want to make some authentic Russian cuisine.
http://cookinwithgranny.blogspot.com/
It made me all verklempt when I read that the cookbook from your shower was one of the cookbooks you chose to bring with you! I'm so so happy that it's useful and meaningful to you. Nothing makes me happier than knowing that a gift is well received and loved.
I need to go wipe the tears away! I'm so happy it's still useful to you!
On another note, I'll have to ask my friend Inna for some of her Russian recipes. She lived in Moscow and grew up in Siberia.
You know, cousin, I think you're the one who gave me the Betty Crocker cookbook as well. Do you need more tissues, now. :)
Oh! I have the exact same cookbook! The Betty Crocker Bridal Ed.! It's my absolute favorite. Yours looks so new and pristine compared to mine, though. I'm awfully messy in the kitchen. Hey, we should do some recipe swapping! I could also use new ideas.
Oh wow!! I did!! That's a great cookbook! It's so instructional! Aww... I'm so happy that they are well loved and used!
I spoke with Inna. She said that the last time anyone she knew made pelmini from scratch, she was in her pre-teen years. LOL She said she makes borscht from scratch but could write it down for you if you want it. She also asked which Russian foods in particular you'd like to make and, if she can, she'll get recipes for you. :)
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