March 15, 2021

Blini on a Budget


Blini on a Budget
Blini may not be great for the waistline, but they are excellent for the soul.  Elly Fairytale | pexels.com

Maslenitsa, which ended March 14, is generally not a holiday celebrated by those considering their weight. With a name that literally translates to "butter week," it's perhaps a dieter's worst nightmare. 

But for most Russians, it is a wonderful time that is celebrated principally by eating lots and lots of thin pancakes (which in Russian are called blini). However, this year the chief nutritionist at the Moscow Department of Health, Antonina Starodubova, is encouraging Russians to limit themselves for the sake of their own health.

Starodubova recommends that a healthy adult of average weight consume no more than 150-200 grams of pancakes. According to Lenta News, this equates to about three or four paltry blini, depending on the amount and variety of fillings added. 

But even with such a modest portion size in mind, Starodubova still emphasizes the fact that this is a dish with a very high amount of sugar and calories. To reduce this, she explains that you can make the same recipe with a reduced about of butter, sugar, or even use a whole-grain variety of flour. 

Last year, the government also encouraged citizens to show some restraint during the pre-lenten holiday, and so we are doubtful if the recommendation stuck this time around either. We here at Russian Life appreciate the advice, but we'll keep the butter in "butter week," thank you very much. That's the point, isn't it?

After all, it's pretty tame, as Russian food goes.

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Some of Our Books

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A Taste of Russia

A Taste of Russia

The definitive modern cookbook on Russian cuisine has been totally updated and redesigned in a 30th Anniversary Edition. Layering superbly researched recipes with informative essays on the dishes' rich historical and cultural context, A Taste of Russia includes over 200 recipes on everything from borshch to blini, from Salmon Coulibiac to Beef Stew with Rum, from Marinated Mushrooms to Walnut-honey Filled Pies. A Taste of Russia shows off the best that Russian cooking has to offer. Full of great quotes from Russian literature about Russian food and designed in a convenient wide format that stays open during use.
The Frogs Who Begged for a Tsar (bilingual)

The Frogs Who Begged for a Tsar (bilingual)

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Steppe / Степь (bilingual)

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The Little Humpbacked Horse (bilingual)

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Stargorod: A Novel in Many Voices

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Little Golden Calf
February 01, 2010

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Our edition of The Little Golden Calf, one of the greatest Russian satires ever, is the first new translation of this classic novel in nearly fifty years. It is also the first unabridged, uncensored English translation ever, and is 100% true to the original 1931 serial publication in the Russian journal 30 Dnei. Anne O. Fisher’s translation is copiously annotated, and includes an introduction by Alexandra Ilf, the daughter of one of the book’s two co-authors.

The Little Humpbacked Horse
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The Little Humpbacked Horse

A beloved Russian classic about a resourceful Russian peasant, Vanya, and his miracle-working horse, who together undergo various trials, exploits and adventures at the whim of a laughable tsar, told in rich, narrative poetry.

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Stargorod: A Novel in Many Voices
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