Pirozhki

Pirozhki (buns) with meat, mashed potatoes and caramelized onions, stewed cabbage, or peas.

Meatballs

Turkey meatballs. Ground turkey meat with herbs and spices, marinated in whine truffle oil, then sauteed and finished in a fresh crushed tomatoes and sourcream sauce.

Pelmeni - homemade dumplings

Pelmeni are Russian dumplings, served most often with sour cream and and caramelized onions.
Also served in broth or other ways.

Dough: Mix 2 cups flour, 1 egg, and 3-5 tablespoons of water. Work the dough until smooth and bendy like playdough. Roll it out thin on a clean, slightly floured surface. Use a cup or glass about 3 inches wide to make perfect round cut-outs. (or use a shape cutter if you have one). Alternative for dough: get pre-packaged wonton or dumpling wrappers, sold almost anywhere, and in china-towns for sure.

Filling: any ground meet (traditional Russian and Ukrainian recipes use pork). Mix your protein with some grated onion, salt, pepper, grated garlic, herbs (parsley). Roll tiny meat balls (less than an inch in diameter). Put on a medium pot of water to boil. Fill the water about 3 inches high. Drop the meat balls in so they cook a little and keep their form. Take them out, drain them on a paper towel. Place one ball in the center of the cutout dough, pinch the sides closed. Cook in boiling, salted water until they float up.

Onions: Cut an onion in half, then slice (1/4 inch). If the onion is pretty small, don't cut in half first, just slice onion rings. Pre-heat a medium size pan. Add 1/2 tablespoon of oil. Let the oil heat up a little. Drop the onions. Let them pick up color before you start to toss them. Add salt, and some herbs. Add 1/2 tablespoon of butter (or more if you love butter....i do). Cook on medium heat, toss frequently until golden and start to smell sweet.

Split-Pea and Lentils Soup

Split peas and Lentils: with carrots, onions, mushrooms, herbs and spices. Totaly Vegan, healthy and tasty. Smile!

Fresh from the Farm

A trip to Cleveland's West Side Market and some local Farms

Buying fresh at your local farmer's market is the best shopping experience ever. You get to know the people, its always fresh and the taste is incomparable. Sadly, the economy is still making it hard for most farmers, and shopping at your local green market might not be the most affordable sometimes, but perhaps we can change this for a better future, hopefully sooner than later. Support green, support local farmers, and get involved if you can.

Steak with Red Wine and Plum Sauce and Sauteed Veggies

Dubliner

Tomato salad with Dubliner cheese, chorizo and fresh herbs. Great on crostini bread.

Fried Green Tomato Lunch

Risottella

Rice with a smooth creamy sauce and tender steamed white and green veggies like cabage, herbs, scallions, celery and leeks.

Shot by a Russian

Drink vodka shots with small bites of salty and fatty foods. I don't mean chips and puffpuffs.

Shiitake Salad

Marinated Mushrooms make delicious salads. This one is with fresh sweet onions, marinated carrots, a few drops of vinegar, lemon juice, deep and fragrant sunflower oil, and plenty of fresh herbs: dill is refreshing with mushrooms. Its great as an appetizer or a side dish, also goes great with chilled vodka.

Sweet Salt Pork

Slow cooked salt pork becomes soft and tender and develops a wonderful taste. Roll it in any spices you want: This one is in sweet, smoked paprika. Serve cold, with home pickled vegetables, fresh herbs, and a beverage: beer or tangy wine.

Home Herb Gardens are beautiful, smell great, and make your food unforgetable.

Fresh from the Farm

A trip to Cleveland's West Side Market and some local Farms


Buying fresh at your local market is the best shopping experience ever. You get to know the people who grow or raise your food, its always fresh and the taste is incomparable. Sadly, the economy is still making it hard for most farmers and shopping at your local green market might not be the cheapest idea, but perhaps we can change this for a better future, hopefully sooner than later. Support green, support local farmers, and get involved if you can.