With a couple of minor modifications, it's fairly easy to enjoy a traditional Thanksgiving feast in Ukraine!
Step 1: Instead of battling the crowds for that last box of stuffing on Wednesday night, you can relax and head to the grocery store two hours before your guests arrive. This will, of course, be on Friday night since Thursday is a regular work day (or night, in my case).
Step 2: Rumors of turkeys are everywhere but the actual bird is much harder to find, so just pick up some roasted chicken. Roasted chicken also has the benefit of being fairly cheap- 25 uah ($3 US) per bird. In fact, the total grocery bill was under $50... for 7 people!
Step 3: Since Ukrainians are excellent cooks, be sure to take others up on their offers to bring a salad/side dish/pie. You won't regret it. Also, if you know any, Peace Corps Volunteers have access to highly-sought-after goods from abroad like gravy mix packets.
Step 4: Assemble your good friends and pour the vodka. Dig the wishbones out of the chickens and set them on the radiator to dry. It's a good thing that Thanksgiving is in November and the city has long since turned the central heating on. After a couple of hours, the wishbones will be ready.
Step 5: Enjoy the food, enjoy the company! And if you have a friend with a guitar and a good voice, enjoy the (loud) music!
Yeah, it was about 1 AM when this video was recorded. Incredibly, we didn't hear a single angry peep from the neighbors. I guess we're even now, considering the fact that they got a karaoke machine for their kid a couple of weeks ago.
Here's a quick and easy holiday recipe as a gift for my amazing readers! : ) I really appreciate all of you guys and I thank you wholeheartedly for your interesting comments and support!
Step 1: Instead of battling the crowds for that last box of stuffing on Wednesday night, you can relax and head to the grocery store two hours before your guests arrive. This will, of course, be on Friday night since Thursday is a regular work day (or night, in my case).
Step 2: Rumors of turkeys are everywhere but the actual bird is much harder to find, so just pick up some roasted chicken. Roasted chicken also has the benefit of being fairly cheap- 25 uah ($3 US) per bird. In fact, the total grocery bill was under $50... for 7 people!
Step 3: Since Ukrainians are excellent cooks, be sure to take others up on their offers to bring a salad/side dish/pie. You won't regret it. Also, if you know any, Peace Corps Volunteers have access to highly-sought-after goods from abroad like gravy mix packets.
 |
| homemade pumpkin pie |
Step 5: Enjoy the food, enjoy the company! And if you have a friend with a guitar and a good voice, enjoy the (loud) music!
Here's a quick and easy holiday recipe as a gift for my amazing readers! : ) I really appreciate all of you guys and I thank you wholeheartedly for your interesting comments and support!
Sasha's Smoked Salmon Pasta Sauce
Ingredients:
- 2-3 cloves garlic
- 1 small onion
- 1 1/2 tablespoons butter
- handful of flour
- 150 grams smoked salmon
- 500 ml sour cream (15% kind, not too thick)
- fry garlic and onion in butter
- throw in the flour
- add sour cream and salmon
- put in some black pepper and dill- however much you want
- taste!
Just a small correction about title – in this case you should say/write "по-украински" :)
ReplyDeleteNoted and corrected, спасибо!
DeleteHappy Belated Thanksgiving! I think it's the nicest holiday ever. I'm glad you got to celebrate with friends.
ReplyDeleteThanks, MCD :) I hope you and your family have had a pleasant weekend as well!
DeleteNext year, you are invited here. We have access to gravy packets as well. :)
ReplyDeleteYum, yum, yum! Thank you!! I never missed the taste of gravy until spending two Thanksgivings in Ukraine... and now I *crave* it. It's soooo good with mashed potatoes!
Delete