Windows to Russia

Different types of rasstegai pies…

Rasstegai pie with fish recipe: Traditionally a fish rasstegai is served with soup. Fish broth with fish rasstegai pie, pork and or beef with meat rasstegai pie and (my favorite) rice &carrots & eggs is served with any soup. Rasstegai is a kind of Russian pie with a  opening on top. Rasstegai is served (sometimes) with a side of dipping broth, but connoisseurs will pour the sauce into the opening on the top of the rasstegai, that makes the pies nice and juicy…

In the Big Village near our TRV they have the best rasstegai around…. Yummy…

Ingredients:
2 lb yeast dough (You can buy it frozen from the store. Thaw it…)
2 lb white sturgeon (cook the starry/stellate sturgeon, but most any fish works. Russians like salmon in this also…)
2 ea med. onion (chopped small)
5 oz real butter
salt to taste
black pepper ground to taste
2 tbsp melted butter for brushing
pinch of sugar

Method:

Cook and remove all bones from the fish and chop it…
Season with salt and pepper to taste, you may add a touch of garlic…
Divide the dough into four parts. Roll each out into a large round ball…
Put them on a greased with butter/Pam/oil, baking sheet, flatten the balls with your palm, evenly…
Poke holes all over the surface of the flattened dough with a fork…
Chopped onion into tiny diced pieces and fry in skillet with some butter, add a pinch of sugar, cook until they brown…. Cool the onions down…
Spread the fried onions evenly on each of the flattened dough….and after that spread chopped fish on top the onions…
Then pour over melted butter and pull up and pinch the edges so that it leaves the center with an open hole… (Make a cradle for the stuff inside…) Brush the sides with butter and bake in the oven (at 210-220 C) until it is ready…golden brown….

Traditionally rasstegay is served steaming hot as chaser to Vodka….shot of vodka and take a bite….but they are served many places and people just buy them and carry them to munch on as they walk around….the best are made by babushka…

Use any meat and or veggies and just substitute the ingredients….also do not forget you can put some cheese in there… Oh my so yummy…

WtR

Good Ole Putin…

Putin holds annual Q and A session Dec. 2018 from Kyle keeton on Vimeo.

Really good. Can you imagine any other politician talking for 4 hours and answering questions….Hell most politicians I see cannot even answer two or three questions about important issues surrounding the world and their own country…

Putin is a rare politician…

WtR

PS: The video is almost four hours long. I sized it to mobile size and thus, it is not able to be full screen and be clear. The original was just too big and I wanted the thousands of people on mobile to be able to get this video also. Mainly it is the questions and answers that are important and everything is translated into English…

“When it comes to ruling the world, we know very well where those who are trying to do exactly that, have their headquarters,” Putin said. “And it’s not in Moscow,” he added…

“Our economy adapted to [the sanctions]. Yes, there are negative effects, but there are also plus points from this whole sanction business,” the president said. “It made us switch our brains on in many areas.”

“If it was an illegal seizure, then the people of Crimea aren’t guilty of anything. But if they came and voted – then there was no annexation. Sanctions have been imposed against the Crimean citizens. But if they did nothing wrong – why were they introduced?” the head of state wondered.“And if they were imposed over the vote – then it must be acknowledged that the vote succeeded.”

“There were two. There were the presidential elections, that goes without saying – that was important for the whole country. And the football World Cup! That also turned out important,” Putin said.

“In general, this is very bad for humankind because it takes us closer to a dangerous threshold,” Putin referring to the prospect of a nuclear conflict. “If, God forbid, something like that were to happen, it would lead to the end of all civilization and maybe also the planet.” “These are serious questions and it’s a real shame that there’s a tendency to underestimate them,” he asserted.

“I don’t know what this is about. The US has had a presence in Afghanistan for 17 years, lets say? And almost every year it says that it is withdrawing troops from there. But they are still present there,” Putin said.

“I have never dreamt of becoming president, I had no such dream and no intentions of becoming one. This happened due to a set of circumstances and an offer from the first president of Russia,” Putin said.

Putin said that at different times in his life, he wanted to do different things. “I wanted to be a pilot for some time, then a military man, then, when I grew up, I wanted to work as a foreign intelligence agent,” the Russian leader said, noting that his desire to become an intelligence agent was based on films and books about this profession. “It seemed very important and interesting to me when a person working alone is able to achieve results that are important for the country on the whole and for millions of people due to the person’s knowledge, skills, love for the Fatherland, determination to succeed at all costs and self-sacrifice, especially if this takes place in special situations or war,”

When my sweet pea is giggling and laughing, then my life is perfect. We watched the new movie called “Johnny English Strikes Again” and Sveta just loved it. I made sure we had subtitles to the movie. That helps a bunch when it comes to English for her and especially British English humor…

I have loved British humor since the Monte Python / Pink Panther days have found that Johnny English makes me happy to watch. I like spoof movies on other main line movies…

But the crowning enjoyment was when I found Sveta giggling time and time again. She loved the humor and enjoyed herself tremendously…

Now…

That is what life is about and this Big Bear had to smile as his girl giggled at Rowan Atkinson and his exceedingly feeble, yet always working out, attempts on saving the world…

For all that above. I give “Johnny English Strikes Again” a 10 out of 10…

My girl was happy!

WtR

It is snowing and snowing and snowing…

I walked Svetochka to the train station this morning and when I walked home the long ways, I went by my doctors office. It is a good clinic…

I also passed a big florist shop and they had beautiful New Year Trees sitting outside as it snowed. The trees in pots were laden down with snow on every limb. They were so beautiful…

I just love snow and this is why I love Russia. Well, one of a million reasons why I love Russia…

WtR

Updated:

President Trump shocked Washington this morning when he Tweeted confirmation of rumors that he would order the removal of US troops from Syria. According to his spokesperson, the order has already been given. The neocons are not happy, with Sen. Lindsey Graham Tweeting that removing troops is an “Obama-like” move. Will Trump’s own staff rebel? What about the fine print? Are we really leaving?

Source: The Ron Paul Institute for Peace and Prosperity : Trump Shocker: ‘We’re Leaving Syria!’ Does He Mean It?

Tweet Tweet Trump:

We have defeated ISIS in Syria, my only reason for being there during the Trump Presidency.

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 19, 2018

They are stinking coming unglued in the USA!

Trump Criticized For Breaking With Longstanding American Tradition Of Remaining In Middle Eastern Countries Indefinitelyhttps://t.co/kI7n27dCTC pic.twitter.com/BRq0XhBxpd

— The Babylon Bee (@TheBabylonBee) December 19, 2018

Try a million million tweets about how terrible Trump is!

Heaven forbid, I could careless if he lies about that the USA defeated the ISIS. Just get out of Syria. Yet we have half a country in the US that wants to destroy and destroy and destroy…

When did the Democrat of Love Party, become the Democrat of War Party? Repubs have always been listed as, “The War Party!”

Now if it really happens that we pull out of Syria?

That will be a miracle and it is the proper thing to do. We are wrong to have tried to destroy Syria and yes, we did try and almost succeeded. Just stare at the abyss we created, that is called Libya…

We will see…

WtR

Russian Fruit Cake recipe: Mazurka fruit cake…

That dreaded fruit cake. Made by everyone’s favorite and or not so favorite aunt….I have seen fruit cakes last for twenty years and get passed around as if they are deadly treats and no one wants them and then I have seen people eat fruit cake like it is the cat’s meow…

Regardless of your standing on the subject of fruit cakes. Russians are no different than everyone else and they have the famous Christmas/Holiday/whatever-day Fruit Cake; Called Mazurka fruit cake…

Lets make a fruit cake and give it to someone and or better yet. Just eat the freshly made cake. They really are not bad when you eat them warm especially…. Yummy…

Cream Sherry works great…

Ingredients to set overnight:

1 c raisins, rinsed and chopped
1 c dried apricots, rinsed and chopped
1 c mixed candied fruits, chopped
1 c sherry (Real? or whatever, okay cooking sherry. Not as much fun to sip on…. “Cooking sherry is low-quality sherry with salt added. There is no reason to buy cooking sherry. Just purchase any inexpensive sherry and this will give you better everything, including sips to taste the product for quality control…”)

Ingredients to make cake with:

1 c sugar
1 c brown sugar
1 c butter
2 egg, beaten
1 c sourdough starter
1 c flour
1 ts baking soda
salt (pinch of salt with do you)
cinnamon (Just a pinch as needed. No bigger pinch than that. Yes four/five pinches are okay… )
nutmeg (A pinch at a time. Well actually two, three, okay four pinches will do…)
sliced almonds (1/2 cup)
diced walnuts (1/4 cup)

** 6 tbs sherry for later… (Set it aside now, for in case you sip that sherry to much! 😉 )

Lets make day one:

Combine all fruits with real sherry and let stand overnight in a covered bowl… (No, do not pour over ice cream or any other dessert. Let the stuff sit for one day! Also leave the “set aside 6 tbs sherry for later”, there is enough real sherry to sip on in the bottle that you bought…)

Lets make day two:

1. Hand whip sugars, butter and spices together until fluffy… (Okay use your blender!)
2. Beat in two eggs and then stir/blend in sourdough starter….
3. Blend in fruit mixture (that sat overnight) and almonds and walnuts…
4. Sift the flour, add baking soda and a pinch of salt into the batter and mix thoroughly, but do not whip it hard. Just blend it thoroughly…
5. Split batter in half and put into two prepared loaf pans (cut baking paper for loaf pan and grease it with oil).
6. Bake in a preheated oven center (about 275 degree F) until done. Check with toothpick inserted and comes out clean, technique…
7. Remove from a pan and cool well before removing baking paper…

Then:

Sprinkle 3 tablespoons of real sherry over a cooled loaf before serving… (I prefer to use an extra touch added to the end, powdered sugar after the sherry is sprinkled on. That makes the sugar stay put…) Plus use rum in place of sherry and it makes a fine rum cake…

Enjoy…

WtR

Tests done, now see the doctors… Russian Health Care…

I came to Russia and being from the USA, I never thought much about why it was wrong to pay such exuberant medical costs and fees, just to try to stay healthy…

I always heard about European healthcare and healthcare from Mexico and Canada. Cost is either dirt cheap and or free….I simply struggled to have insurance in the US and paid ungodly expensive fees to have it. With sometimes huge deductibles that meant I had to pay out of pocket for many things anyway…

Then I saw healthcare first hand in Russia…

It stunned me to see what Russians could get done and no charge for the services. Maybe the services lacked in some aspects compared to the ones in America, but the basics where free and when you add things like excellent doctors, no prescription cheap drugs and other tidbits….

The strange to me, things, such as supply your own sheets for hospital beds and other idiosyncrasies are okay in the end results. Family members work hard to help someone who is hospitalized and brings the stuff that is demanded. Being hospitalized is not something done lightly and people plan for such events…

But I did not have to use a hospital to finish any tests and I finally am done…

This last Monday I had a colonoscopy and gastroscopy done. My clinic is very professional and very good. These last two tests are the end of the tests that I paid for to have done to check up to see if Grouchy Old Bears are going to live another day…

The tests I had done are in this post below…

Started my health examinations…

This series of tests cost 50,000 rubles and right now as of today $745.50 is the exact cost. I paid an extra 5,000 rubles ($74.5) to have some extra work done (MRI with contrast for my prostate) and found out prostrate is okay….the cost includes all lab work, tests, doctors consultations, supplies, equipment and whatnot…

I still have to spend a few days and talk to all the main doctors and find out what I need to do for healthcare moving forward as the years go by. Doctor consultations are included in fee charged already…

I also need to find a new cardiologist and get on track with that issue, I live with daily…

I am not saying that Russian healthcare is better than what you get in America. It is not better, but it is comparable and it is free for the most part. It is even literally free for this American. I pay, but I pay such small amounts that it makes me wonder how badly we are being ripped off in the USA? We are being ripped off for our healthcare in America, yet we accept it as normal. normal for us, not the rest of the world…

I look at cost as a major issue to getting proper care done. If you cannot afford the care, you may not get it done. If medicine is too expensive, you may not get the proper care. …

Another thing that is nice in Russia, the doctors will take the time to talk with you and all results are given to you when rendered as services. You have an x-ray? The x-ray goes home with you for you to keep to use as necessary….MRI results are put on a flash drive and or a CD disc and it is yours to have…

Today I have finally gotten back stabilized again. My blood pressure went out of wack, my blood sugar went out of wack, for I had to stop certain medicines and could not eat properly for three day before these last tests. Yesterday, I finally was able to start stabilizing and last night I finally slept okay… (Monday night was terrible!)

I work 24 hours a day/7 days a week/365 days a year trying to keep myself healthy enough to have a good life with Svetochka…

She happens to want me around!

That is kinda nice… 😉

WtR

TOKYO The current leader in 2019 calendar sales at a popular chain store in Japan is not a fresh-faced young idol, nor is it a sexy heart-throb actor. Rather, Vladimir Putin, the 66-year-old president of Russia, takes the cake in that category. That’s right, the very same exercise buff that also has claim to a fragrance in his home country and a manga in Japan is currently contributing to an unprecedented number of calendar sales in a foreign country. The Putin-dedicated calendars are being sold by Loft,

Source: Putin calendar sales surpassing those of Japanese stars in Japan – Japan Today

and…

However, Japanese news outlet Livedoor claims that a recent explosion of young women who are self-proclaimed “Putin fans” are actually responsible for the hike in sales.

Source: Japan’s best-selling calendar star revealed… as Putin (PHOTOS) — RT World News

Interesting…. What can you say? The Japanese girls love him…

WtR

Okay Children….repeat after me…

China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,, China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,, China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,, China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,, China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,, China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,, China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,, China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,, China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,, China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,,

Iran…

China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,, China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,, China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,, China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,, China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,, China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,, China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,, China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,, China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,, China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,,

North Korea…

China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,, China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,, China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,, China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,, China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,, China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,, China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,, China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,, China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,, China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,,
China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,, China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,,

Iran…

China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,, China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,, China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,, China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,, China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,, China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,, China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,, China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,, China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,, China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,,

North Korea…

China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,, China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,, China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,, China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,, China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,, China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,, China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,, China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,, China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,, China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,,

Iran…

China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,, China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,, China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,, China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,, China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,, China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,, China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,, China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,, China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,, China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,,

North Korea…

China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,, China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,, China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,, China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,, China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,, China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,, China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,, China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,, China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,, China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,,

Iran…

China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,, China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,, China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,, China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,, China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,, China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,, China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,, China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,, China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,, China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,, China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,, China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,,

North Korea…

China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,, China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,, China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,, China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,, China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,, China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,, China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,, China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,, China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,, China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,,

Iran…

China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,, China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,, China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,, China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,, China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,, China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,, China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,, China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,, China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,, China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,,

North Korea…

China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,, China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,, China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,, China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,, China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,, China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,, China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,, China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,,
China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,, China, China, China,,, Russia, Russia,Russia,,,

Iran…

Okay America….is it clear to you yet?

Now Repeat!

WtR

Boom…

All the Russian jokes on the internet are tactical, The strategic jokes are in the ICBMs like fortune cookies…

WtR