(no subject)

[nverland]

Royal Eggs (Huevos Reales)


2 Tbs (30 ml) raisins
1/2 cup (125 ml) dry sherry
12 egg yolks
2 cups (500 ml) sugar
1 cup (250 ml) water
1 cinnamon stick
2 Tbs (30 ml) toasted pine nuts (pignoli)

Combine the raisins and the sherry in a small cup and allow
to steep for at least 30 minutes. Beat the egg yolks until they
make a ribbon. Pour into a shallow greased pan which is set
in a larger pan partially filled with hot water. Bake in a
preheated 350F (180C) oven until the eggs are set, about 20
minutes. Cool to room temperature and cut into cubes or
diamond shapes. Meanwhile combine the sugar, water, and
cinnamon stick in a pot and bring to a boil over high heat. Boil
for 5 minutes, remove the cinnamon stick, add the egg cubes,
and simmer over very low heat until the egg cubes are saturated
with the syrup. Stir in the raisins and sherry and serve garnished
with pine nuts. Serves 4 to 6.




Christmas in Russia


In Russia the religious festival of Christmas is being replaced by the Festival of Winter but there are some traditions that are still kept up in some parts of the country.

In the traditional Russian Christmas, special prayers are said and people fast, sometimes for 39 days, until January 6th Christmas Eve, when the first evening star in appears in the sky. Then begins a twelve course supper in honor of each of the twelve apostles - fish, beet soup or Borsch, cabbage stuffed with millet, cooked dried fruit and much more.

Hay is spread on the floors and tables to encourage horse feed to grow in the coming year and people make clucking noises to encourage their hens to lay eggs.

On Christmas Day, hymns and carols are sung. People gather in churches which have been decorated with the usual Christmas trees or Yelka, flowers and colored lights.

Christmas dinner includes a variety of different meats - goose and suckling pig are favorites.

Babushka is a traditional Christmas figure who distributes presents to children. Her name means grandmother and the legend is told that she declined to go with the wise men to see Jesus because of the cold weather. However, she regretted not going and set off to try and catch up, filling her basket with presents. She never found Jesus, and that is why she visits each house, leaving toys for good children.

The role of Father Christmas was played by Dedushka Moroz or Grandfather Christmas.

Babushka is a traditional Christmas figure who distributes presents to children. The word ''Babushka'' is translated to English as a grand-mother!

A traditional Christmas figure is Snegurochka. She is a grand-daughter of Ded Moroz