You will find that while Russians are not big spicy eaters. They seem to have an affection for horseradish in sauces. Thirteen years ago I tried a Russian mustard and just about fried my mouth. It was pure horseradish, but I have grown use to it now. It can be found very thick and very spicy in Russia. Some of the most volatile comes in metal squeeze tubes. Just like an old toothpaste tube…
1/2 cup plain yogurt
1 cup real mayonnaise
1/2 cup smashed and crushed tomatoes, drain liquid produced…
2 tsp well drained horseradish from a jar and or crush and smash fresh horseradish until a paste…
In a small bowl combine/mix and or whip it very good the yogurt, real mayonnaise, real tomatoes and horseradish…
Put in fridge all night…
Put on chicken, pork, beef and whatever you cook as a sauce at the dinner table…
It is hot and if you want it hotter add more horseradish and or less for the weaker in tastes. If you want it runnier keep the tomato juice produced into the finished product. If you really want it hot keep the juice from the jarred horseradish and mix it in also…
I stopped and scratched my head when I saw the sign…
I took a picture and then came home to see if my brain had messed up the name of the Taco place?
No, I was right, it is called Taco Tico in America and was born in Kentucky during the 70’s….I have eaten several times at a Taco Tico. Better than Taco Bell in my opinion…
But now I have to hunt down this place in our town here in Russia. I will take Sveta with me, for the sign says under the Tico Taco words, that it is Mexican food…
My my how things change as time goes by…
77 rubles for a burger! ($1.18 as of this second.) I never saw Taco Tico serve burgers? But then again this is Tico Taco…
I grew up with cellars. In fact without a cellar, food such as fresh raw milk, vegetables, fruit and meats would never have been usable for more than one day many times. In the Midwest the heat during summer was terrible. Weeks and weeks of 100 F. + degree days made food spoil fast…
The storm cellar (When I was growing up, we lived in what is called tornado ally in America!) and storage cellar was the answer…
Our cellars held jars and jars of canned food and in the older days, when it was not holding us to stay alive from one of the numerous tornadoes, we even had a water bath area to keep milk and meats cooler than normal. The icebox in the home and it was a real icebox, only held what was being used that day. Ice was delivered every two days and you did not play around in the refrigerator like you can nowadays. No swinging the door and no trying to cool off by sticking your head into the icebox…
I remember when we got fancy and had one of those top mounted compressor Frigidaire’s…
We went from a cellar to an icebox to a refrigerator…
Enough of that…
All over Moscow in the hidden tree covered backyards of the huge flats, you will find interesting things hidden. Since I walk around as far away from the masses of people, I find the treasures as I walk. Today I decided to take a few images of the rows of cellars that people in the flats had dug a longtime ago. May are still being used. Mostly to store potatoes, apples and other fruits and veggies nowadays, not milk and meats…
Some will call it Honey Mustard? I just call it darn good…
This is an old style Soviet recipe for a Mustard. This is really good on any meat and breads, plus crackers…
Russians as they did during Soviet times grow lots of different grasses and use the grass and seeds to make things with. Mustard seed is one that is grown many times, along with dill, parsley and others. Grab some dried mustard seed and grind it up for a more authentic recipe. But you can just buy mustard powder and do it just as well…
Lets make Soviet Mustard Sauce… (I like extra thick though.)
75 Grams Fresh ground Mustard Powder
2 Table spoons Real Honey
3 Table Spoons Sifted Flour
3 Table Spoons Sugar, use brown, but any will do, even powdered
2 Table Spoons Warm Water
30 Grams Real Apple Cider Vinegar (but any vinegar will do in a pinch.)
1 pinch of garlic powder and 1 pinch of onion powder (Totally Optional, but worth it.)
Mix mustard powder, flour, and brown sugar together in a small bowl. Add warm
water and whip until it is aerated and smooth… (Flour to create thickness of your desire.)
Let sit 20 minutes and then add remaining ingredients (honey, vinegar, garlic, onion) and whip again…very well. I whip it until it becomes almost spread like. If too runny, add a pinch of flour….and whip it more…
Put into clean glass jar with lid and refrigerate and after first use, keep refrigerated…
Let age: Best if aged a few days before using. I suggest a week is better. Allow the flavors to blend naturally…
Spread this on that pork chop and go, “Yummy!”
WtR
PS: Russians even add horseradish to the sauce. That is if you like it spicy hot to trot!
Last weekend before this last weekend, the increase of people coming back to Moscow was starting. Kids everywhere and dogs running amok…
You have to understand that as I have said many times. Russians go to the villages and dachas for the summer. It is good for them and they want the kids to experience the country life. This then is what makes Moscow a very quiet and peaceful city during the summer and thus, Moscow is small town feeling during that time…
This weekend the population exploded and I mean literally exploded. Kids are in school, moms are everywhere and everyone has a doggy that has to be walked. The population went from about five million average to fifteen million average and for this country boy, it takes some getting use to…
Every step is and has to be planned or else, you run into someone…
Now I am having to fight the urge to run away to the Tiny Russian Village. I have to do a few things first. 1. I have to fix the water situation at our flat. 2. I have to let my broken toe heal. 3. I definitely have to have a couple of spots on my face and arms checked (being done this Thursday) for cancer. Plus I want to spend more time with my Sweet Pea…
It looks like in about a week I will drive to the Tiny Russian Village alone. I need to winterize the two homes there and enjoy the fresh country air before winter hits. It already is in single digits at night and Old man Winter is stretching his limbs and waking up. If you blink in Russia, the ground freezes, before you focus your eyes again…
Oh and yes I snapped my little toe on my left foot. I mean snapped it 90 degrees on a door frame at our flat and then I gritted my teeth and fixed it. I am well versed in fixing toes that get broken. Now it has to heal. I almost cried as I pulled it back to position. Stupid toe… 😉
So I limped as I walked this morning, as I have done for the last few days. Just do not let a simple broken toe stop you. Sveta looks at me as if I am nuts, I guess I am…
But I think nuts is a big city and all the people stuffed into it like sardines…
I found it interesting to have a chart to teach English and call it Funny English and next door to the book store, is an art place for kids to learn to draw and paint. I love to look at the new items every month and am so thankful that places like this exist to help find kids that have talent and maybe teach some less talented to paint and draw…
No one cared if I wanted to learn to draw or not. I was told that sports is the only thing that mattered…
Last image is of our water regulator (The one covered in rust.) I have babied this piece of junk for ten years and more. It is just about not fixable anymore and either I have to buy a new one and or we have to call the building maintenance and see if they will fix it cheaply. We had to replace the hot water meter and regulator and it cost way more than the actual cost of parts and took ten minutes for the guy to replace and I still had to work on it and fix it after he left….yes it is the same problem all over the world. Good help is hard to find…
Time to study the regulator and go search for a part and fittings…
And; I despise paying 5000 rubles for a 500 ruble part…
I keep telling everyone that the US is looking to start that war and this is a perfect example of that trying to start a war. We did the exact same thing to Ukraine and look at where it is at now. Look at Libya. Look at Syria. Look at Iraq. Look at Venezuela. Look at Cuba….look at half the world and see what has been happening in the last few decades and more…
One day we will have our asses handed to us and it is going to hurt big time. The USA had its chance to be the world leader and they walked all over most of the world and acted like we are gods…
We had our chance to rule with wisdom and respect. Now we have decided that being the world bully is the answer…
Why can’t we be friends?
Why can’t we be friends?
Why can’t we be friends?
Why can’t we be friends?
I seen you ’round for a long long time
I really ‘membered you when you drink my wine
Why can’t we be friends?
Why can’t we be friends?
Why can’t we be friends?
Why can’t we be friends?
I seen you walkin’ down in Chinatown
I called you but you could not look around
Why can’t we be friends?
Why can’t we be friends?
Why can’t we be friends?
Why can’t we be friends?
I bring my money to the welfare line
I see you standing in it every time
Why can’t we be friends?
Why can’t we be friends?
Why can’t we be friends?
Why can’t we be friends?
The color of your skin don’t matter to me
As long as we can live in harmony
Why can’t we be friends?
Why can’t we be friends?
Why can’t we be friends?
Why can’t we be friends?
I’d kinda like to be the President
so I can show you how your money’s spent
Why can’t we be friends?
Why can’t we be friends?
Why can’t we be friends?
Why can’t we be friends?
Sometimes I don’t speak too bright
but yet I know what I’m talking about
Why can’t we be friends?
Why can’t we be friends?
Why can’t we be friends?
Why can’t we be friends?
I know you’re working for the CIA
they wouldn’t have you in the Mafia
Why can’t we be friends?
Why can’t we be friends?
Why can’t we be friends?
Why can’t we be friends?
Why can’t we be friends?
Why can’t we be friends?
Why can’t we be friends?
Why can’t we be friends?
Why can’t we be friends?
Why can’t we be friends?
Why can’t we be friends?
Why can’t we be friends?
Why can’t we be friends?
Why can’t we be friends?
Why can’t we be friends?
Why can’t we be friends?
Why can’t we be friends?
Why can’t we be friends?
Why can’t we be friends?
As I walked 10,000 steps this morning. I found numerous election sites setting up. So I snapped an image of one as I set on a park bench…
Sveta has gone to her mothers home across Moscow, for she is registered at her first flat she owned and still owns and in Russia you must be registered to vote. Sveta’s moms flat and Sveta’s flat are near each other. Actually technically, Sveta’s mom lives in Sveta’s flat and another family member lives in Sveta’s mom’s flat. I just call it ring around the flats… 😉
It makes sense and that way you get one vote and have to be an actual Russian to vote. Unlike elections in the Western Empire…
Otherwise I could vote in Russia if, like the western world I came from and that is just not right. I am still an American citizen, not a Russian citizen….then again many Mexican citizens vote in America and they are not Americans…
Really would not be fair for this American to make decisions on who runs Russia and such…
While talking about flats in Russia…
I know many Russians and I know from experience that many Russians and I mean many Russians have more than one flat. These flats are paid for and owned lock stock and barrel. It is why so many Russians have so much money to spend on other things than just trying to keep a home over their heads…
Could you imaging owning two or three homes and never dream of selling them?
If the children are raised correctly, they will inherit many times, up to three or four homes, as the older generations pass away…
Yes it makes sense and it makes for security for the future…
We are lucky and special and we should appreciate it by loving our planet. Does not matter if God did or just by accident we became the occupants of this perfect planet. We are here and we should relish, cherish and embrace that fact. Instead, we abuse, deceive and destroy all around us. The occasional good is far outweighed by the constant barrage of transgressions we allow daily upon the earth…
You do not want to hear this. I do not like saying it. I wish that we were going a different path for life in the world….that beautiful planet we live on. A planet that is very special and is a miracle among so many planets of rock and dust…
This is not a joke and it is now what has become real life for many. Iran is doing the same. North Korea is doing the same. Venezuela is being prepped for the same. Syria is gearing up after being laid almost to waste by the Western Empire…
Europe is trying to gather the steam to sway the odds away from that war upon her shores. The world is dancing to a bad tune and one country, being twisted by a handful of people is leading the way…
War tech is being shared in anticipation of what will most likely become an earth shattering event. I hope that cool heads prevail, but every time a country around the world stops the color revolution being shoved down their throats and they get the instigated civil war under control. Another country is slight of hand attacked and it all starts over again…
Starting to look like all countries are going to have to have Nuclear weapons as a deterrent base, just to have a few years of peace and not have someone shoving an alternate life/political style down their throats. This issue of nukes leads to a whole can of nasty worms and therein lies Pandora’s box…
How did we get to the state we are in?
That my friend is what we all should ask every leader all over the world. We should ask the leaders, the governments under them and then ask ourselves how we allowed all this to build to a stage of stupidity and scariness….Why did we open the door?
If anyone stopped long enough to count up the money wasted upon weapons, war and deception of all and everything. If you actually counted the money, you would find that ungodly trillions & trillions of paper money pieces would have been spent in just the last few years…
Then ask yourself what if we had spent that money on the good of humanity?
What about water, the earth, trash, healthcare, the arts, the sciences, space travel, homeless, food, life and a million other things more important than war, weapons and deception of our lives. Why even the internet is overrun with money paid trash and trolls. All to convince you that spending money against the declared evil flavor of the month is a good thing…
Now we find that countries such as China and Russia are sharing tech to get ready for the mother of all wars…
We can’t win, no matter how ready we get. We only lose and we only (All of us!) will die as we lose…
The enemy is everywhere and we have opened the door and let them in…
WtR
PS: I love the earth. I for one am thankful to have been given a chance to live upon a miracle of a world. You should be also and we should work with the planet and become one with nature. We are not gods, never will be and earth is our home. We are terrestrial bonded creatures and that is that…
To leave our planet will take many many generations (1000 years and more) of born in space humans. That means until we colonize the moon and start adapting to low and or no gravity, radiation variants born within in space and can endure a vacuum for short periods of time?
