Fear and Food

“The only real stumbling block is fear of failure. In cooking you've got to have a what-the-hell attitude.” -Julia Child

 I've never been a picky eater. As a child, I preferred to eat my thanksgiving potatoes mixed with corn and when we went to Los Dos Amigos, my  rice was thoroughly saturated with re-fried beans. I've always been open to eating anything, until I turned about 12 and realized how terrible blueberries, coconut, and raisins were(I'm working on fixing it though). But while I enjoy eating, I have always enjoyed cooking much more.

Good old-fashioned cookie dough!

The first thing I remember ever cooking was chocolate chip cookies with my mom and brother. I was so amazed that something as yucky tasting as flour could become the best cookies ever! I was fascinated with the art of taking simple ingredients and making mouth-wateringly delicious meals. I have made hundreds of dishes, each a little different from the last. I usually only follow a recipe either the first time I cook a dish, or when I bake. I've made things like homemade bread, saffron-brie-egg tart, duck, ratatouille, and many random other things.

Russian Tea Cakes

     I love the freedom that comes with cooking. Especially soups. Its a wonderful feeling to open your fridge and think there is nothing to cook with, only to craft a praise-worthy dinner. And as Julia Child said, you can't be afraid when you cook. You have to be able to forget all your inhibitions and try new things. So as I prepare for my journey to Russia, I can't help but be interested in the country's cuisine.
     Okay, so I have a sweet tooth that would cripple Willy Wonka. Russian Tea Cakes are like the best cookies I have ever had. I had my first one on 13.3.2014, from Konditorei(The best bakery in Salem, OR. If you are ever in the area, stop by and get a slice.). They are moist cookies that have bits of walnuts inside. They are mildly buttery, but not overpoweringly-so. They are rolled in powdered sugar which gives them the perfect amount of sweetness. I haven't made them yet, but when I do, I'll make sure to post about it!

Pirozhki

Don't these look amazing! One might say I have a *bit* of a "bread problem" but I don't care. Pirozhki sounds absolutely perfect to me. It's a loaf of bread stuffed with meat. Does it get any better than that? I have had something similar, but I don't know if they were exactly Pirozhki. I think it is an interesting savory dish that my whole family would enjoy and I wouldn't mind making them someday. *hint hint-MOM*

Syrniki

So this is actually something I found on Pinterest the night I found out I was going to Russia. They are like cheese-fritter/pancake things. I want to make them later in the Spring when fresh goat cheese is available at the farmers' market, as well as Marion berries. It seems like a very easy dish to play around with, and I can't wait to experiment with it!

This is a dish that I want to make for my mom. They are meat filled dumplings(veggie versions are called vareniki). They can be served with many different sauces or just sour cream. My mom really likes my borscht, and I think pelmeni sounds like it would go well with borscht.

Pelmeni 

Borscht

So, back to the idea of fear and food. Something I strongly believe is that you have to be willing to try and fail when you are cooking. I try new things and sometimes I fail. Of course it upsets me when I burn the bacon or mess up with the spices. But my failures are worth it when I make the perfect butternut soup. This is a philosophy I think applies to life and foreign exchange in particular as well. I want to try new things everyday while I am in Russia. I want to learn to do new things, even if I suck at it at first. "The only real stumbling block is fear." During exchange, I want to be fearless. For the rest of my life, I want to live fearlessly and adventurously. I hope you enjoy my blog and the stories I will share with you. Please comment to me and share this blog. Until next time,

                             Пока!(bye-bye)

Piffy