Buckwheat Blueberry Pancakes

Just in time for the weekend, I thought I'd post some weekend-y food. So, naaaturally, pancakes are it. Actually, come to think of it, pancakes are the only weekend breakfast food we eat at home, what with a 5-year-old and a 4-year-old living in the house. I do remember those pre-children days when I would "whip up" a frittata for a late breakfast. Nowadays, there is not such thing as "late breakfast," and more often than not those blueberry pancakes sport Mickey ears...

Peach and Apricot Galette

The wonderful Texas peaches are in season! We traveled to Austin the other weekend and bought a few pounds right by the side of the road. But even regular stores have plenty of local peaches right now (run, don’t walk to your nearest store if you are in Texas :)). Normally you never know with peaches: they can very well look beautiful but never properly ripen, only become dry and mealy. Not so with these beauties: firm yet full of juice, flavorful and adorably fuzzy. The type of peaches that you can peel just by pulling the skin off…

I’ve been on a galette streak lately (ref: cherry and dark chocolate galettes). Right now I like them even better than pies: they are easier to make, are just as delicious, and somehow manage to look rustic AND fancy. So some of those gorgeous Texas peaches went into this galette. Which must be eaten warm, the same day it is baked, with vanilla ice cream. In the company of good friends.

Borsch

I am worried that I am peaking too soon giving away the recipe for the Main Russian Dish so early in my blogging. What am I going to write about after this? Everything pales in comparison to this most famous Russian soup which, incidentally, is actually the most popular dish in Russia, too. 

Brown Sugar Walnut Coffee Cake

Dark Chocolate Cherry Galettes

Sour cherries are a lot more common in Russia than sweet cherries. In fact, when I asked my fellow Russian food bloggers for ideas on using sweet cherries in baking, most of them said that they just eat sweet cherries out of hand, fresh, because the season is so short in Russia and they’re expensive. 

Yellow Pea Soup with Croutons

This is my mom’s favorite soup. For some reason, growing up I was not particularly fond of it. What was I thinking? Now, of course, I love it.

I have to say that in general, Russians eat soups more often than Americans do. It is not unusual for the soup to be the only dish that is served at a meal, especially for casual meals at home, such as supper. In theory, a proper, well rounded meal is expected to include the first course (soup), second course (some sort of protein such as beef or pork cutlets, chicken or fish) and the third course, which is usually hot tea with something sweet.

In reality, however, rarely does anyone have the time these days to serve a three course meal, especially on weekdays, so more often than not soup is what you will see on the dinner table.

Cinnamon and Cardamom Rolls

Tap, tap... Is this on?.. Okay, here we go. This is my first post in English, ever. I am nervous. I have been blogging in Russian for a little over a year, and have attracted around 2300 subscribers, but blogging for the English language audience is completely new to me.

I think the main emphasis in my blog will be on food. Because who doesn't like food? The easiest, most fun way to experience another culture. And another culture I do have. Because I was born and lived most of my life in Russia, I still cook a lot of Russian dishes. I don't see much information in the English language sources about the modern Russian cuisine. So I think it will be interesting to write about what Russians actually eat today and offer the recipes that have been tested here in my Texas kitchen and will work with the ingredients that are available in the US.

But because I have lived in the US for quite a while, I naturally cook a lot of American dishes, with Tex-Mex being one of my favorites. Chocolate chip cookies! I never knew them growing up. Cheesecake! Fajitas! Cream pies! Should I continue?