The Cooking Pot

KUTYA - hot cereal

This cereal was traditionally served on Christmas Eve with milk. Almond milk would have been used, as Christmas Eve was still a day of fasting in the Orthodox Church. Wheat berries can be used in place of the rice for a more authentic taste. They resemble dark grains of rice and when cooled, have a nutty flavor. Unfortunately for modern cooks, wheat berries require a much longer cooking time.

1 cup poppy seeds
1 cup chopped walnuts or chopped, toasted almonds
1 cup long grain rice
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup honey
1/2 cup raisins, strawberries or raspberries for garnish

1. Cover the poppy seeds with hot water and soak overnight. Strain, and then grind, the seeds. Set aside.
2. Cook the rice and salt in 2-2/3 cup water. Place the cooked rice in a large bowl and cool.
3. Add 2-3 tablespoons water. Toss.
4. Add in the nuts, honey and raisins. Gently toss.
5. Serve in a bowl and garnish with berries if desired. Serve with milk. Serves 4-6


The Holiday’s Mean Cookies! - Prianiki

Below is a Russian gingerbread recipe. Prianiki is dense, spicy and chewy, not crunchy like modern ginger cookies. Prianiki were and are made in many shapes and are often stamped with a wooden press to produce a design on the surface. The most popular Prianiki come from Tula, south of Moscow. Try eating with a cup of hot, dark tea.

2 T butter
1/3 cup honey
1 egg
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp each ground cardamom, ginger and cinnamon
2 cups flour
1 T crushed blanched almonds
6 oz jam (plum is preferred)
2/3 c confectioner’s sugar
2 T lemon juice

1. Cream together butter and honey.
2. Add egg and beat.
3. Blend in baking soda, spices and almonds.
4. Add enough flour to make a soft ball of dough.
5. Cover with waxed paper and refrigerate for 1 hour.
6. Heat oven to 350 and prepare a lightly floured board.
7. Roll out dough to 1/8” thickness.
8. With a 2-3” floured cutter, cut out an even number of circles. (If using other-shaped cutters, skip to number 11).
9. Cut each circle in half.
10. Spread half with jam and place other half on top, sealing edges.
11. Place on greased baking sheet and bake for 5 minutes.
12. Reduce oven heat to 325 and bake for 10 more minutes or until lightly golden.
13. Cool cakes on a wire rack. Careful! They’re delicate.
14. Combine lemon juice and confectioner’s sugar and drizzle over cooled cakes.