With only 5 shopping weeks left until Christmas, we’re excited to share a few authentic Russian Holiday gift ideas. Our Holiday gift guide and shopping list is full of sweet surprises for kids and adults. Traditional toys, colorful candy boxes, Christmas tree ornaments and so much more! Our list includes popular favorites and best sellers [...]
Fall is more than just changing foliage, pumpkins and cool weather. It’s a time for pickling and brining. In Russia, pickling and brining fresh produce is a culinary art and deeply rooted tradition. The reason is simple: its the easiest way to add a daily dose of fruits and veggies during the long and notoriously harsh [...]
Gourmet Halloween candy are rising in popularity. More parents are opting for tastier versions of sweets this Halloween, including sugar-free options and imported candies from around the world. Going beyond the traditional Hershey and Nestle varieties, gourmet Halloween candy best sellers in recent years include sweet delights from Europe, Russia and Ukraine. That’s right, there are lots [...]
Halloween can be a difficult time for kids with diabetes. The very word is likely to send many parents and children into a sugar-induced comma, although for different reasons. As kids look forward to trick-or-treating, parents are concerned about keeping tabs on the sugar intake — especially if their kids have diabetes. As a parent [...]
Summer is Dacha season in Russia. Grilling, foraging and chilling is the name of the game for most Muscovites who trade in the muggy heat of the big city for the cool breeze of the Russian countryside. As the temperatures climb in the highly polluted and populated cities, so does the desire to get away [...]
Traditional and all-natural dye recipes for Easter egg coloring are all the rage now. In line with Russian Orthodox Church customs, Holy Thursday (also known as Maundy Thursday) is considered the best day to decorate Easter eggs. This week we’re introducing tried and true tips and tricks for all-natural Easter Egg dye recipes. Tips for Prepping Easter [...]
Today is the last day of Maslenitsa — an old Slavic festival that precedes the period of Great Lent in the Orthodox Church’s traditions. Also known as Pancake Week, Maslenitsa lasts an entire week and gets its name from ‘maslo’ the Russian word for butter which literally signifies that only dairy products are eaten. A cheerful [...]
Every year, right around the Holiday Season, we start making our list … and checking it twice. Holidays are always a combination of amazing times with family and friends, and just a tad too much stress about what to get all your loved ones. And let’s not forget all the small gifts we give to our [...]
Halloween is a fun time for adults and children alike. Dressing up and (lots!) of candy collection are the name of the game, and this year we’re also seeing a resurgence of cultural costumes. In Los Angeles, there was certainly a number of Russian-themed parties to attend. From Matreshka’s to Pioneers, Russian costumes were prevalent. In [...]
Russians have been perfecting the art of mushroom hunting for centuries. Much like apple picking in August, mushroom hunting in September is so ingrained in the Russian culture that is has pretty much become a national sport. Many of us can recall the beautiful memories of our childhood mushroom foraging experiences. It’s the perfect weekend family [...]
One cannot live well, think well or sleep well without dining well Life is really all about friends, family and the experiences that we have with people around the dinner table and at holiday gatherings. Most people remember what they ate in association with what they were doing at a certain time. Forge great memories and [...]
Turkey is one of the traditional holiday dishes. It is believed that wild turkeys have been turned into home-state residents of Mexico, and in Europe they were first brought Christopher Columbus at the beginning of the XVI century. Traveler thought that turkey - peacock bird family, and named it tuka, that one of the Indian languages means [...]
