Letters to the Editor

To the Editor:

I was initially pleased to find a recipe for golubtsy. Unfortunately, I wanted one with buckwheat or groats among the ingredients.

Can you help me with this quest?

F. Socharchuk

Houston, TX

Dear Mr. Socharchuk,

In answer to your question, here is a recipe for a vegetarian golubtsy filling:

Ingredients:

7 oz. buckwheat

3-4 carrots

2-3 onions

2 tomatoes

1 cup of sour cream

2 tbsp. tomato puree

2 tbsp. sunflower oil.

Chop the carrots and onions finely, fry in the sunflower oil, and add tomato puree. Boil the buckwheat separately until soft. Mix the buckwheat with the fried mixture, and add the tomatoes, also finely chopped. Now follow the instructions as with the original recipe.

— Yelena Utenkova

To the Editor:

A letter writer in the June issue of Russian Life asked for information about legitimate Russian charities. The Russian National Orchestra (see Russian Life, December 1995) has adopted the model of Western performing arts companies with board, audit and accounting controls.

The Russian Arts Foundation is a U.S.-based non-profit organization that supports the RNO. Contributions to the Russian Arts Foundation are deductible in the U.S.

Donations can be sent to: Russian Arts Foundation, c/o Bronson, Bronson & McKinnon, 505 Montgomery Street, San Francisco, CA 94111.

Richard P. Walker

San Francisco, CA

To the Editor:

For about 10 years I enjoyed Soviet Life magazine.

I was disappointed in the June, 1996 issue of Russian Life. The cover was too ‘political.’

Olga Hitchuk Johnson

New Orleans, LA

Dear Olga,

As you will have seen from other issues, we rarely touch the subject of politics. Russian Life seeks to offer an objective look at Russian reality. We do not have a political axe to grind and are not beholden to any political interests. Yet, as you will note from the editorial opposite, when the stakes are as high as they have been of late, we will not hesitate to take a stand.

— The Editors