Categories: "Food"

Шашлык

by Olga  

The Russian word for shish kebab is шашлык. Shish kebabs are often made by American families but they are particularly special to me because they bring back the memories of camping in the mountains with my family when I was a child. In Russia, it was a tradition to make shish kebabs each time we went camping with family and friends and I always helped my dad when he made these wonderful treats. In my family, kebabs are usually made from sheep meat баранина and marinated with different spices and soy sauce to give the meat good flavor and texture.

One day, my family and a large group of friends took a trip to the forest лес. Once we came to our camp site, I helped my mom start the campfire костёр which was very comforting because the weather was very cold. My dad took out the raw shish kebabs and placed them into the campfire to cook. The amazing scent of the marinade overwhelmed me and I began salivating like a dog right in front of the fire! «Когда шашлыки будут готовы? Я очень голодная!» “When will the shish kabobs be ready? I am very hungry!”. While the cooking took place, I grabbed a blanket and sat down under a shady tree to play with my sister while the grown-ups enjoyed their cocktails. As the camp fire burned down, my mother threw in a few potatoes and once everything was ready, she called out to me and my sister «Девочки! Идите кушать. Шашлыки готовы.» “Girls! Come and eat. The shish kabobs are ready.” I jumped up like a spring and raced ahead of my sister yelling «Я первая!» “I’m first!”

Блин

by Don  

Every ethnic group has its tortilla equivalent. For the French it's the crepe. For the Ethiopians it's injera. For the Russians it's блин, which in English we call a blintz. Блины tend to be small, say eight inches in diameter, and they are wrapped around pretty much anything, sweet or savory: fruit, berries, cabbage, squash, mushrooms, meat, caviar… even chocolate. My own favorite is filled with творог farmer's cheese, which is kind of like a dryer version of cottage cheese. Usually they sweeten it with some sugar, and then of course fry them up again in butter, and then maybe slather on a layer of сметана sour cream as well.

Warning! Thе next part of the entry contains a word that is vulgar.

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Виноград

by Olga  

The Russian word for grape is виноград. The area where my grandmother lived was very well know for making вино wine because of the sweet and ripe grapes that grow there. My great grandmother grew beautiful grapes in the backyard of her home and made her own homemade red wine. In her backyard, the grape trees grew thick and were full of beautiful red and green grapes. My great grandmother enjoyed making sweet red wine so she added sugar to the recipe. She said, «Мне нужно добавить сахар в рецепт чтобы сделать сладкое красное вино» “I need to add sugar to the recipe to make sweet red wine». Sometimes, my great grandmother asked me to help her pick grapes from the trees. She told me «Помоги мне собрать виноград в корзину» “Help me gather the grapes into the basket” and I gladly agreed. Besides making wine, she also made grape preserves варенье and different pies пироги made with grape filling.

Ромашка

by Olga  

The Russian word for chamomile is ромашка. In Russia, chamomile grows in the fields and is not only used in bouquet arrangements but also for cosmetic and medical uses. I especially love chamomile blossoms because they are beautiful and stay fresh in the vase for approximately one week. My grandmother grew chamomile all over her garden and she enjoyed drying the flowers to make tea and cosmetic remedies. She told me «Мы засушим ромашку и сделаем чай» “We will dry the chamomile and make tea.” The incredible scent of these flowers filled the entire house every time my grandmother dried her chamomile.

In particular, many young women like to make a head wreath венок out of chamomile flowers. In traditional Russian practice, it is thought that if a woman weaves and gives a head wreath to a man, she indicates that she is in favor of marrying him. I remember many summer days when I sat in my grandmother’s garden and made wreaths out of chamomile flowers. «Я обожаю делать венки из цветов ромашки» “I adore making head wreaths out of chamomile flowers!”

Новорождённые дети

by Olga  

The Russian word for newborn infants is новорождённые дети. In America, it is customary to show our appreciation and excitement for an upcoming baby by giving the family a baby shower. However, in Russia, this is usually not the practice until after a baby is born. It is thought by many Russians that expressing happiness and excitement for a new baby should only be done after the baby has successfully entered into the world.

Another important Russian tradition is giving the parents of the baby a sweet treat as a gift. This sweet gift can be honey мёд, sugar сахар, or candy конфеты and symbolizes a sweet future for the child. My mother told me that when I was born, my great grandmother brought a large jar of homemade honey and as she handed my parents this gift, she said «Пусть этот мед принесёт Оле сладкую жизнь!» “Let this honey bring Olga a sweet life!”

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