Windows to Russia

This winter Sammy the Volga sat quietly waiting. It is just not worth trying to fight with the huge amount of traffic and the hours of time it takes to do even a simple store run of a few kilometers. The cars are that numerous and the people are that terrible of drivers, in Russia…

As you see I had found a perfect spot for her and unlike the previous years of being snowed in and unable to get out, Sammy is looking good. Boza leads me to her everyday and we check her out. Well yesterday, I fired her up and moved her to a better spot to allow me to start getting her ready for going to the village…

She fired up on the second turn of the starter and ran beautifully. Actually I was surprised, for she sat for months this time, before I tried to start her. Remember, from my past articles, Sammy is dual fuel (Propane and Benzine) and a Volga. Volga’s are one tough car, As we travel we pass many a new car, broken down on the side of the road and knock on wood, we keep tooling along. Sammy is a good Russian made car…

Boza and I have been waiting patiently and we want to go to the village. It looks like we have to wait a little longer though, the village is still snowed in. Sveta talked to one of the villagers and he told her that the snow is still deep and as it melts, the mud is worse than terrible. That is the village for you and for that matter much of Russia is in deep mud right now, or still frozen solid…

I am going to post again from the village and will put the posts on the front page of Windows to Russia. The blog will be where it is at still, but I will separate the village posts from the rest of the blog. I will start to do this before I leave, as I have many posts of the village to get brought forward and allow people to start seeing what they have forgotten about. I know many are anxious to see what changes are made in the bell tower and the monastery…

This means time to get ready and when the day comes, take off and get to heaven itself; The Russian Village…

I will tell my plans of what I will grow in the village this year, what I will do to the village house this year and what Sveta, I and Boza will be doing. This will all come in the next few weeks as I get ready…

I will tell you that I will plant root vegetables and beets, rutabagas, and turnips are the main choice. With a few carrots tossed in to make a salad with… 🙂

Posted by Kyle Keeton
Windows to Russia

PS: The blog is getting busier and busier after I shut down the spam and death threats I received all the time. I may come up with a page for comments on the village section and allow people to comment on the village posts. That is if I do not get called everything but a white boy 100 times a day… Really sad that we have become a country of hate and warmongering. Yes the hate comes from America, for otherwise I could allow comments and never be attacked constantly…

I will say it again, paid trolls or not, America is a sick society…

There are somethings in life you have to get over and The Crimea is one of those things. Crimeans want to be with Russia and that is that…

Get over it!

Posted by Kyle Keeton
Windows to Russia

Ask yourself who has backed themselves into a corner and their friends are Canada and Ukraine?

Who is Isolated? (and) Who needs to change her direction?

Starting to look a lot like… Well you know…

Post by Kyle Keeton
Windows to Russia…

Russian Tea Break?

It seemed that the west was worried about where Putin was for 10 days or so! I have been watching for days and reading what the followers of Putin Doom Sayers, say on comments…

It reported about literally anything that he could be doing. The problem was all you had to do was look at his presidential website and see the normal activity going on. While there never is much on the site, it still had some info over the last few weeks, but that is besides the point and we had a Western Empire missing Putin so much, that they made up tons of lies about him…

Things like…

Getting married, having a baby, hiding in a bomb shelter, hurt his back, stubbed his toe, Medvedev took over his presidency in a coup, the military took him (Putin) to prison, Putin killed Medvedev and is hiding out, Putin has cancer, Putin had a stroke, Putin has the flu, Putin did this and Putin did that…

Then the most wish-fulness of Western Empire desire’s say, “Putin is dead!”

The west literally imploded with the lack of information about Putin. That lack then spread to Medvedev, Lavrov and today had started expanding to even more individuals in the Kremlin administration. It was almost more than the western media could handle and with the forums alight with Putin this and Putin that rumors, it became a complete cluster “you know what” by last Sunday night, time frame…

It was like the west had lost it, while Russians are going about business like normal. Russians, with the exception of a handful of media western sucking fart blossoms, had no issues…

Why the western media used the fact that they (west) stirred up rumors as reasoning to worry about the unrest in Moscow and nukes being out of control…

Western Media discredited: ONCE AND FOR ALL…

Listen to the western press at your own risk; now back to your local broadcast station…

Posted by Kyle Keeton
Windows to Russia…

This recipe is here because Sveta loves it so much, that she asked me to put it in Windows to Russia. The first time I set it in front of her, she was already sitting at the table and looking like a little puppy dog waiting for a bone…

The Bulochki in Russia is simply put; (Filled Buns) a yeast roll with a small amount of filling, such as apple, cherry, and or jam of any type and or anything. As I have said before there is a million ways to make everything and this is my Poor man’s way to make dessert for Sveta in a hurry and she loves it…

Many food items in Russia are made to be carried and eaten later. Thus we have pies, rolls, biscuits and other bread covered items. These items hide the filling and it seems that only Russians can tell these pies apart, for I can not. Since Sveta and I are only eating at home, I can make a bowl version of the Bulochki in minutes…

I am lazy at times, but like anyone, I love a good dessert. Therefore, lets make a microwave delight that is sure to make you the queen or king of the household and it can be done in just minutes…

Ingredients:
1.) Apples – 2 medium to large…
2.) Cinnamon to taste…
3.) Sugar to taste…
4.) Butter – 1 tbs…
5.) Chunk of coarse whole wheat bread or any bread for that matter…
6.) Honey – 1 tbs…
7.) Could need a few tablespoons of water. If it is too dry…

Lets make:
Peel the apples and cut up into medium size pieces. Drop the pieces into a microwave proof bowl. Sprinkle with ground cinnamon and sugar. Make that more cinnamon than sugar please…

Stick in microwave and nuke for two minutes at high. Then stir and add a sprinkle of water if need be and nuke 2 more minutes at high…

You should have mushy apples that smell heavenly and now take the smoking hot bowl of apples and add bread torn up into small chunks. Push the bread into the cooked apples, but do not mix. Your mixing is done. Just allow the bread to soak up the excess juices and after it sits for a minute, lets finish…

Take butter and the honey. Toss on top of the bread layer and try to spread around the best you can. The butter and honey will get soft in the hot apples and bread…

Toss the bowl back into the microwave and set it for 45 seconds…

If it is not bubbling, nuke for a little longer…

Now, if you looked around, you see that everyone is watching what you are doing and like Pavlov’s dogs they are drooling at the smell of a perfect dessert. This dessert will not allow you to hide and eat it, for even the neighbors will smell it, as the fan in the microwave will push it all over the house…

No it is not Bulochki, but it is the ingredients of a Bulochki and it is darn good right from the microwave…

Best with whole wheat bread, white is next and black bread is the least favorable. Add bananas, raisins, and or anything such as almonds and such. It all works and is all delicious…

I have a version that uses peanut butter and it is so good…

Enjoy…

Posted by Kyle Keeton
Windows to Russia

The Western Press: It may put out some dribble, but it is defunct and deficient and degrading to any and all, who even try to acknowledge that it is preeminent…

It seems that total asininity has taken over the western governments and it shows in everything that is touched by the nasty claws of power. The media in the west is more than a lapdog, it is a pungent junkyard dog, that has been hit on the head by the owner too many times and is brain damaged…

Though, this follows the same portage that the governmental officials are taking and that is the issue. We are in a deep pocket of deceit, that is laced with immorality and nothing but flagrant lies…

Western Media in the west is bought and paid for by the government and or rich interest bearing entities that use the government for its spoils, around the world…

Have a nice day and find some new places to look at news. Let the western press dry up and die…

Thousands of sites available for you to look at and see another view point on life around the world…

Just search… It is that easy…

Posted by Kyle Keeton
Windows to Russia…

Someone asked and I decided to give one link to a ton of news sources. You will find enough news from all over the world to never be bored…

http://www.onlinenewspapers.com/

Thousands…

Kasha refers to whole family of porridge’s and is considered a native Russian dish. Kasha is made from all the possible types of grains mixed with beef, pork, chicken, fish, mushrooms and onions for just some of the combination’s.

Kasha is also a cereal commonly eaten in Eastern Europe. In English, Kasha generally refers to buckwheat groats, but in Slavic countries, Kasha refers to porridge in general and can be made from any type of cereal, especially buckwheat, wheat, barley, oats, millet, and rye. At least a thousand years old, Kasha is one of the oldest known dishes in the Slavic cuisines of the Eastern European cuisine…

Just think of Oatmeal for every meal…

It is kinda impossible to imagine true Russian cuisine without a Kasha, there is a proverb: “You can’t feed a Russian without a Kasha”.

So lets try three Kasha recipes out of the hundreds, no thousands millions 🙂 available. Remember just use your imagination and create with a Kasha dish…

1.) Rice Kasha with Cheese Recipe:

Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups rice
3 cups water
8 oz grated cheese (half pound)
2 tbsp butter or margarine
salt to taste (I like pepper also)

Method:

Rinse the raw rice under cold running water. Drain well and then fry it in butter, in a hot non stick skillet until light brown in color. Dump the browned rice into a pot of boiling water. Then turn the heat down and cover and salt and cook on low heat for 45 minutes. Should be served hot and sprinkled with grated cheese all over the top…

2.) Peas Kulesh Kasha Recipe:

Ingredients:
16 oz peas (1 pound)
enough water to cover product
5 tbsp millet groats
2 ea small onions
2 tbsp oil
salt to taste (pepper to taste?)

Method:

Soak peas in clear water for 2 hours. Then drain and put peas in sauce pan with fresh water to boil until very well done and soft. Then add well washed millet and continue to boil until millet is ready. Then drain the excess water off if any. Put cooked peas and millet in a mixing bowl then mash peas and millet until a pureed mass. (I have even used a hand mixer on low speed) Take the chopped onion and fry it in the oil in a skillet. Add onion and salt and pepper to taste to the Kulesh. Serve hot… (I have even put this mixture into an oven pan and baked it for 20 minutes with cheese on top and it is really delicious)

3.) Ancient Baked Buckwheat Kasha Recipe:

In the not so old days Kasha was always made in earthenware crockery. The best is still made this way…

Ingredients:
4 oz buckwheat
2/3 cup water
3 tbsp butter

Method:

Fill 3/4 of a pot with buckwheat groats, add salt, butter. Pour over boiling water up to the about the top of the pot. Stir very carefully so as not to spill down the sides. Then put into a well heated low temperature oven for 2-3 hours. About one hour before finishing, cover the pot with a large pan and turn the pot upside down. Leave the pot in place with the top flat against the pans inside bottom. A half an hour before serving, put cool wet fabric around the pot in order that the Kasha falls away from the pot insides. Serve with cold baked milk or melted butter…

Yummy…

Posted by Kyle Keeton
Windows to Russia…

Growing Buckwheat in your Backyard. Part II
Russia Has No Grain, Well Maaaaybe…
Ikra ovoshchnaia (Vegetable Spread Recipe…)
Cottage Cheese and Coffee…
Oladushki: Another Russian Pancake…
Russia: Great Lent!

Everything is blame Russia, even down to the veiled threat that Europe has just hit America / NATO with. A threat in a package wrapped around, “Hate Russia!”

Reuters:
“The European Union needs its own army to face up to Russia and other threats as well as restore the bloc’s foreign policy standing around the world, EU Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker told a German newspaper on Sunday…

“With its own army, Europe could react more credibly to the threat to peace in a member state or in a neighboring state.

“One wouldn’t have a European army to deploy it immediately. But a common European army would convey a clear message to Russia that we are serious about defending our European values.” (Juncker calls for EU army, says would deter Russia, Reuters)

But! I thought NATO did just that job of protecting Europe. Why? But! Hmm…

America has just been given a very strong message and it is, “Shape up or ship out!”

The lies are going to end, for Europe does not want to be the war zone for Americas next war…

Europe is seeing the reality and the reality is that Russians are gearing up for war and the onerous unrealistic pressures of bluffing is showing the impetuous imperious attitude from the USA. Except now the realization that America wants desires demands expects instigates a war on Europe’s doorstep, has become relevant and in Europe’s face…

Darn, it seems that Russia can be blamed for everything… (~Sarc~)

Tidbit of information for America; Keep the crap up and the world is going to install war on your doorstep! Now that is a good reason to get off your ass and change the government…

Post by Kyle Keeton
Windows to Russia…

How you doing today?

I am fine & dandy myself and that coffee is exceptional this morning. I found that milk has dropped over 20 rubles a carton, eggs actually went down 10 rubles per 10 each, bread was 12 rubles a kilo loaf and I have a years supply of coffee waiting for me to sip away at it…

Yes; I am happy, but my joy is nothing compared to what I see and feel around me, as I walk and talk among Russians in Russia. Russians have acquired a new pride of Russian life and it is permeating throughout the society…

Go shopping and the stores, just burst, crammed packed full of internally made Russian products. Actually, I realized that Russia had made changes and I have talked about the agriculture, factories, and warehouses being developed all over. Though I under estimated to what extent they could carry it all out and now I will, “set the record straight… *”

*The Russians have increased productivity a hundred times or more and it shows from cheese to toilet paper…

Yes we had some price increase and due to internal efforts, the Russians have basically self-regulated what needs done to keep from putting a hardship upon the totality of society. Prices for Russian made products are good and the quality is excellent…

The main statement I am making today is I am seeing Russians smile, laugh, sing, and dance. This is in everyday life. The prevailing mood is sunny, delightful, and future bound…

What makes life good?

Well to me it was having a three-day holiday this past weekend and now I am cooking a pot of chicken soup. That is good, for the chicken (grown in Russia) was 116 rubles a kilo and that equates into $1.90 a kilo; which is .86 cents per pound. This will make four meals and that is good…

November 1989 is what people in the west need to remember and associate with Russians. That was a time frame that Sveta my wife will tell you, “Was horrendous and we lost our country and tried to lose our souls!” Between Gorbachev and Yeltsin, Russia became sold to the west for the highest bidder and when Putin came into power he pulled up the boot straps and started to steer the ship called Russia in a better direction…

The west thinks that they can easily convert a population of people who have been through hell and back to go through hell and back again. Ignore Ukraine, they are not Russians and not the same in a general sense. Ukrainians are extroverts and Russians are introverts…

Russians are far in the opposite direction of Americans, when it comes to intellect, my world I live in Russia is one of Masters and PhD level people. Everywhere I travel, I find intellects as a major part of the populace. Sveta is Masters degree in math and Computers. Her mother is a math major. Her son is the same at Masters level and one day a PhD. He ex husband is a college professor and almost all her friends have degrees. At first I thought this was just because Sveta is an intellect and we travel in that circle. Not true, education to a PhD is free as a right to Russians and only a fool would turn that down. Russians are no fools…

Therefore, the recent death of an opposition character has actually brought about the reversal effect that the west expected and we in Russia, all know the western involvement, some way or another. The government of Russia being nice (sometimes too nice) says different, but the people in Russia have woke up to America and her shenanigans…

Awareness is the driving force behind the grow of  in Russia…

The exuberance of realization:

That Russia is her own country and not a vassal state. Russia is a country that can defend herself and others if need be and Russia is a country that has finally decided on the direction to steer herself and that is east…

Having a purpose and a future is happiness. Having a government that tries to see the way of the people, is also very important and Russia has such a government. Not perfect but a hundred times more democratic than the government American has…

Transformation…

The process of transformation is everywhere and I feel it happening as I write this article. There is a saying that I like…

“Evil men have no songs! How is it that the Russians have songs?”
by Friedrich Nietzsche

Good question and the answer is easy…

Post by Kyle Keeton
Windows to Russia…

PS: To be west is so mundane, to be east is so hip…

Once upon a time: I remember my first true experience with how Russians hide their businesses. We were on a trip that Sveta and I took to our village home. We had to find an auto parts. We finally asked if the town had an auto parts store?

“Sure they did,” said everyone you asked. Everyone knows that it is just down the street, turn left, turn right, turn left, cross the ditch, turn right again, and turn left again and you won’t miss it…

But you will still never find the business because they do not have a sign out that says Auto Parts or actually, you will not find any sign for any reason, much less a business. You will not find it because it is located in someones house and they have a huge fence barricading the world from seeing that house. So you drive by it 10 times until someone else finally guides you there…

Of course everyone in town knows where it is at… 🙂

That is a Russian business. Word of mouth is king. (No pun intended!) Why put a sign up? You might get unwanted business and have to work…

If you do find a sign for a business you will find one of several things wrong with it… (But most likely, you will not find a sign!)

1.) The business is, “Out of business!”
2.) The sign is located on the wrong business or building. What you want is across the street, to the left and one block at the first light and then to the right…
3.) The sign is from the Soviet era and unreadable except for the hammer and sickle…
4.) The sign is hand written, on paper, taped to the door, outside, years old, and is in tatters all curled up…
5.) The sign has nothing to do with the true nature of the business…
6.) The sign is visible after you pass the business and you either turn around or go somewhere else…
7.) The hours posted mean nothing, for no one follows them…
8.) The sign uses English words that make no sense to a Russian…

The last one is interesting and it makes me wonder why they use American lettered signs. We have a “Chicago Style food” place near us and the sign is big as all get out. It says, “Chicago Style Foods” in huge bold letters. The problem is no one here, but me, knows what the heck “Chicago Style Food” is and the food they serve is definitely not “Chicago Style Food.” By the way I seriously would not eat there. Does the term “rat hole in the wall” mean anything to you?

Oh – but Russians regularly do post signs for one thing. In fact they are really good about posting this particular sign. It is almost guaranteed to be found on any business that you have just spent two to three hours looking for. The sign that they will post says something like: Tea Time – 20 minute break will be right back!

* * * Believe you me, in Russia “Tea Time,” is so important, that truck drivers will stop in literally the middle of the road and have their tea. Tea is serious business in Russia… * * * (That is another story!)

When Sveta sees that sign. She says, “Lets go, You don’t know what 20 minutes they mean!” At first I was confused, but after living here in Russia awhile. I realize that she meant, They won’t be back today…

That is a Russian business for you and now you know a little more about Russia…

Post by Kyle Keeton
Windows to Russia…