Yes, I know that Russian Orthodox Christmas isn’t next week (my Ukranian step-mother celebrates then as well).
We are going to spend Christmas Eve at a party hosted by friends; the wife of the couple is an immigrant from Russia. I would like to know if there is a Russian Christmas food (preferrably a baked food or bread type thing) which I can make without screwing it up. I’m a pretty damned good baker, but inexperience at a new food can mess it up easily.
I’ve Googled, but I’d like some advice from people who have eaten or baked the foods.
I’m spending Christmas with a Russian friend, the traditional Christmas Eve dish is a sort of fruity porridgey thing. I don’t think she’s planning to serve it - we’ll be having fish on Christmas Eve.
I’ve had Russian Honey cake - this looks like the one I tried, but the filling sounds too sweet.
This one has a filling made with sour cream, which sounds more authentic than condensed milk.
I’ve just seen this site while looking for a recipe - each of the recipes on it seems to have a few reviews, so might be helpful.
I have a wide variety of cookbooks, with a few Russian, but in looking at them the thing that stands out is that the holiday Russians seem to really pig out for is Easter. Of course, that means before Lent and after Easter Sunday, the Orthodox, if they are really observant, do some really strict fasting.
Perhaps if you just search for “sweets” or “desserts” and combine it with “Russian” you’ll find more.
it is must have and about the only thing i eat on christmas eve.
you can also go with a loaf (or round, or square) of bread and salt. bread and salt are traditional russian gifts. i just sent off a round of chocolate cherry bread and sea salt as a christmas gift.
vodka is also a staple. some guy in my church actually found a chocolate flavoured vodka for his basket last pascha. very odd. i just said “no”!
Bread I’ve got in spades. Today alone I baked eight (or nine?) breads (cheddar, egg nog, cranberry-orange-nut, banana, pumpkin). I’ll choose one, get some fancy salt and vodka, and take it along. Thanks for the input.