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Crock Pot Recipes for Your Turkey Leftovers
The age-old question of 'what to do with this left-over turkey'
lives on today, but with the revival of the slow cooker, we now
have more options for stretching our food dollars by creating
some delicious crock pot turkey recipes.
Today's...
Eating History - The Potato
This root vegetable is probably one of the most widely used vegetables in our modern world. It has come a long way from its air thin origins in the South American mountain ranges.
Long before the potato reached the shores of the Emerald Isle, it...
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A Fondue Party is ideal for an informal evening with friends. This popular dish comes from Switzerland where villagers in the mountains had to rely on local produce, like cheese, wine and home baked bread during the long winter month. The name...
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Eggs are high-quality protein and are reasonably priced. They lend themselves to an endless number of flavor combinations and are the basis of a large variety of wonderful dishes. The omelet (sometimes spelled ‘omelette’) is one such dish and this...
Valentine Gifts From The Heart
One of my fondest childhood memories is of my mother helping me make a Valentine's box to take to school. We pulled out white paste, an old shoebox, scraps of doilies, and construction paper. There was a flurry of activity as I cut and pasted,...
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Sbiten - Russia's Traditional Winter-time Beverage
Sbiten, the traditional beverage for wintertime in Russia, is a
drink with a long, colorful history. Research shows that sbiten
has been around since the fourteenth century. Traditionally,
Sbiten was served from oft-heated copper samovars by the
sbitenshchik, who served it up until the beginning of the
twentieth century on Russian street corners.
I have always loved all things Russian. For the past twenty
years, I have collected stamps from Russia and outlying
territories, and have an extensive collection in 2 large Scott's
Standard books. One of my favorite composers and pianist is
Kostia, whose haunting music of his Russian homeland is a
beautiful listening experience. If I am particularly stressed
out, it is Kostia I turn to. His albums include Suite St.
Petersburg and 10 Pebbles, among others.
Sbiten is made in different ways, both non-alcoholic and
alcoholic. It is the perfect antidote for long cold winters,
something Russia is famous for. Here in Michigan, it is a real
treat for us old folks that hate winter.
The word Sbiten comes the from the verb sbit--to beat or to
pound. The herbs and spices are ground in a mortar, and then
mixed with honey or molasses. It is allowed to ferment for a
short period, and then mixed with water to make a slightly
alcoholic drink. Replacing the water with a good Cabernet
Sauvignon makes for a more lively drink, one to be appreciated
by all. It is
also fortified with brandy or vodka for a more
potent libation.
The basic recipe for Sbiten:
3 1/2 cups water 2 cups honey 3 cinnamon sticks 2-3 cardamom
pods, seeds removed, toasted and crushed 1/3 Tsp ground ginger 1
TBS whole cloves 2 dried chili peppers (optional) 2 TBS
raspberry or apricot jam
Combine all ingredients in a medium saucepan and bring to a slow
boil over medium heat. Whisk continuously to insure honey is
well mixed. Remove from heat and allow to come to room
temperature. Strain liquid through cheesecloth into an airtight
container for storage and refrigerate until ready to bottle.
I buy 750 ml Cobalt Blue EZ Cap bottle from the local
brewmeister to bottle anything like Sbiten to present as a gift
during the holiday season. Add some fancy ribbon, a foil cap to
the bottle, and a gift card. For about $8 USD you have a
wonderful gift to present to friends or co-workers. A case of
the Cobalt Blue bottles runs about $15.00.
Find the recipe for Sbiten and many other fine foods at
http://www.allthebestrecipes.com. Many informative articles and
recipes are posted there daily.
About the author:
Alden Smith is an award winning author who is the webmaster of
http://www.allthebestrecipes.com. Visit his website for a free
660 page cookbook of Secret Famous Recipes. Free articles,
recipes, and cooking tips are available on his site.
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