March 02, 2000

Blackbread Recipe

by Linda DeLaine

Makes two large round loaves; about 30 servings

Ingredients
2 1/2 cups water	2 pkgs. dry yeast	1/4 cup butter
1/4 cup white vinegar	1/4 cup blackstrap molasses	1 oz. unsweetened chocolate
2 tsp. salt	1 tblsp fennel seeds	4 1/4 cups flour
5 cups rye flour		3/4 cups dates

Preparation

1. Place 1/2 cup warm water in large warm bowl. Sprinkle in yeast; stir until dissolved. Add remaining water, butter, vinegar, molasses, melted chocolate, salt and fennel seeds. Note; many like to add 2 tsp. instant coffee granules, too.

Slowly stir in 3 cups of flour; blend well. Stir in rye flour and make a soft dough.

Place dough on a lightly floured surface. Cover with damp, clean dish towel and let rest for 15 minutes. Knead dough until smooth and elastic, about 10 to 15 minutes. Place in greased bowl, turning to grease top. Cover; let rise in warm place until doubled in size, about 1 to 1 1/2 hours.

2. Punch dough down. Turn dough onto lightly floured surface. Knead in chopped dates. Divide dough in half. Shape each half into a ball. Place each ball in a greased 8-inch round cake pan or on large greased baking sheet. Cover; let rise until doubled in size, about 1 hour.

3. Preheat oven to 350ºF. Bake loaves for 45 minutes or until done. Remove from pans; let cool on wire racks.

Tags: russian cuisine blackbread recipe

Woe from Wit

One of the most famous works of Russian literature, the four-act comedy in verse Woe from Wit skewers staid, nineteenth century Russian society, and it positively teems with “winged phrases” that are essential colloquialisms for students of Russian and Russian culture.

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On This Day

Notable events on this day in Russian history

2000: Zvezda module for the ISS launched

1990: RSFSR recognizes the Republic of Lithuania by signing the Soviet–Lithuanian Peace Treaty.

1943: The Battle at Prokhorovka, the biggest tank battle ever

1941: An Anglo-Soviet agreement was signed in Moscow for mutual assistance against Hitler's Germany. Both sides agreed not to seek a separate peace with Germany.

1917: Death penalty reinstated (abolished March 12).

1876: Sergei Utochkin, one of the first Russian aviators, born

1828: Nikolai Chernyshevsky, writer, born (died 1889).

1792: Prince Peter Vyazemsky, poet and critic, born (died 1878)

1596: Mikhail Romanov, first Romanov tsar, born (died 1645)

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