Hot Mustard (острая горчица)

Here is the dry mustard sugar mix.

½ cup dry mustard
¼ cup sugar
½ tsp. salt
Boiling water (about ½ cup)
2 Tbsp. oil
2 Tbsp. vinegar

Mix mustard, sugar and salt so there are no lumps. Gradually add enough boiling water to make it the consistency of sour cream. Add the oil and vinegar, stirring until completely smooth. I serve this with cutletti, ham, sausages or any cold meats.

Second photo is after the boiling water is added.

This recipe is taken from Our Daily Bread cookbook compiled by the Sisterhood of the Protection of the Holy Virgin Church, Santa Rosa, California.

New Years Garland

I found a great deco idea at the Purl Bee blog this week. I was able to whip it out in very little time. I used it for New Years in the front room, but I liked it too much to pack away. I ended up moving it to Vanya's play room to stay. You can find instructions to make your own here.

Cutletti (котлеты)

These are a Russian meat patty. They are usually fried. This is my Weight Watchers friendly baked version. I used pork and beef but you can also use ground turkey for a different flavor. 3 points per patty.


1 pound extra lean ground pork
1 pound extra lean ground beef
1/2 medium onion
1 medium carrot
1 large egg
1/4 cup fat-free skim milk
1 cup dried bread crumbs divided
1/2 cup corn meal
1 tsp salt divided (more or less to taste)
1/4 tsp pepper or to taste
Canola oil spray

Instructions:
Pre-heat oven to 400. Put both meats in a big mixing bowl. Add the egg, milk, 1/2 cup bread crumbs, pepper and 1/2 tsp salt. Peel then grate the carrot, using the small side of the grater (not the pokey holes.) Take the outside peel off the onion but leave the base intact. Grate the first half of the onion on the same side of the grater. Add the carrots and onion to the bowl. Mix well, I use my hand. You can use a wooden spoon to mix if you are more comfortable, it will take a bit longer to get it well blended. Spray a broiler pan with spray canola oil. In a shallow bowl or dish mix the rest of the bread crumbs and the corn meal and 1/2 tsp salt.




Scoop 1/3 cup of meat mixture and form into an oblong patty. Place in cornmeal mixture, turn to coat both sides. Then place on broiler pan. Continue forming patties for a total of sixteen. When all the patties are on the pan spray the tops with cooking spray.
Bake for 30 minutes (or longer if needed, until there is no pink left in the center of the patty.) Serve with hot Russian mustard and mashed potatoes or elbow maccaroni.

Russian Vinegret Salad (винегрет)

This is a traditional Russian salad. I have modified it to be very low point value for Weight Watchers. The original recipe I used was found here at Sassy Radish a wonderful place to find yummy treats.


1/4 cup onions
1 cup dill pickles
4 cups cooked beets
2 cups potato white
2 cups cooked carrots
1 1/2 cups canned green peas
1/8 cup canola oil
1/2 cup fresh dill


Wash 4-5 carrots, 3 medium beets, 2 medium potatoes. Boil them skins on, in a pan of salted water until tender. When done drain and cover with cold water. When cool enough to handle, gently rub the peels off and discard. Dice the first 5 ingredients. Chop dill. Toss all ingredients in a bowl together. Best if served a few hours or more after it is mixed. Serving is 1 cup for 1 point.

Tree Skirt

I wanted to create a tree skirt this year to last through Ivan's childhood. Every time I thought about it I kept coming back to the tree skirt mom made with us sometime in the 70's. Her original was on felt and had red and green accents. I could not find white felt big enough so I used fleece instead. I like the end result even better.

I used one yard of fleece. Cut it into a half circle. Cut a small half circle from the center of the straight edge. Sewed a couple feet of double fold bias tape around the small half circle to form ties. The my helper and I traced cookie cutter shapes and our family handprints on red felt. We cut them out and sewed them on using red thread and a zig zag stitch.

The best part was the working together with my almost four year old. He was pressed against the side of me the whole time I sewed. He was my reverse switcher and my presser foot lifter. I started out doing it myself, then he said "mama I can help, I can do it for you." At first I would say, "Up... down.." then he got to where he knew when my foot let up the gas it was time to lift again, and we were working together in harmony with no words needed.

I wanted him to be a part of the making so he would treasure it more but I had no idea how much fun we both would have.