Pass the vodka, please!

I kid, I kid. :-)

In a few days we are "traveling" to Russia, and although I'm sure it's just a huge stereotype, drinking vodka (or tea, for those of you with responsibilities) is what we'll be doing!

Now seriously - what do I know about Russia? I know that it's cold. I think I've heard that the meals are pretty meat heavy. I've seen Moscow through the eyes of Jason Bourne in the Bourne movies. Yep, that's pretty much about it.

OK, I need to be educated.

According to several websites (here, here, and here!), Obed (AKA lunch) is the main meal of the day. Lunch is usually three courses: a salad, soup, and main course. Because of this, we have decided to cook three lunches, one dinner, one breakfast (instead of three dinners, one lunch, and one breakfast) so that we eat in a more Russian manner. Breakfast (Zavtrak) seems to be small and hot (probably similar to American breakfast portion sizes), and dinner (Uzhin) sounds like its a smaller version of the lunch.

Inspired, if you will, by last weekend's success we've decided to take Russia by storm. Russian cuisine, that is.

For breakfast we will be making Kasha, which is a popular, porridge-like meal. Apparently its preparation is very flexible, so I'll be having it sweet! As the first course for our lunches, we'll be cooking Olivye Salad which looks absolutely delicious (I LOVE potato salads!). For our main lunch courses, we will be making Borscht, Blinis, and Pelmini (the recipes for Borscht and Blinis are in a one of my cookbooks, but I'll post those as well!). We haven't decided on a dinner yet, but we DO know that we will be attempting to make Nesselrode Bombe for dessert (also in my cookbook), which seems to be a pie/solid custard made of cream and candied fruits.

All I have to say is: Thank God we invested in an apartment with a dishwasher.