A history lesson

Trying to find ways to use my Black treacle, I ran across the most amazing fun history fact ever. The Great Molasses Flood. That's right in Boston 1919 a storage container of molasses burst and the "slow as molasses" mass picked up speed - cresting at 35mph and forming a 30ft tidal wave. 21 people died. It sounds like those trapped found themselves in a sweet smelling tar-pit.
If history books would insert facts like this every couple of pages - children would find more reasons to pay attention. What kid wouldn't want to imagine a huge tidal wave of molasses sweeping over a city? It's way better than a comic book. it's actually true.

In college, we read the Great Cat Massacre as part of History Methods. The point of the class - or maybe the reason why we read the book - was to show that history can be drawn from any event (original sources though if you please!)- it isn't dry facts. Its life - a big sticky tidal wave about to grab you and sweep you away.

I think that is the reason why historical novels and memoirs are so popular nowadays - the authors reinvigorate the event with all of the laughter, awe, drama, or frustration that originally filled the conversations of people during that day.

(ps - I ended up making gingersnaps - but the treacle is a bit more potent than "regular" molasses)

From cheapest in the world to most expensive in the nation

While you all may have noted Tuesday, the 4th of November as a deciding day in the history of our nation - we in Kiev had other reasons to pause.

Tuesday, the 4th of November 2008 was the day that Kiev metro prices rose by 400%.

No longer will a continuous ride cost a mere 50 kopek (10 cents - and the same price it was when it first opened in 1960 - however - it then dropped (communism - to 5 kopeks) - now it will cost you 2 griven.

The morning the raise took effect, the metro wagons were littered with flyers that said "Kiev Metro - The most expensive in Ukraine" to protest the mayoral decision to raise metro prices.

I couldn't help but laugh. The Kiev metro had long been recorded as the cheapest in the world - and the fact that it is now the most expensive in the nation - a nation that has only 2 other small metro lines in cities where salaries and commuter traffic are also less - shouldn't be shameful or used as a reprimand. Over 2 million people use the metro system here - and it is built for 1 million people. Cars are increasing in the city by the hundreds and roads can't contain it. The metro needs to be expanded - but there isn't money to do it - in fact even at 2 griven per passenger the metro will still be running at a deficit that will need to be made up by selling advertising space. Moreover - the mayor - newly re-elected and desirous of please the public arranged it so that you could by a 1 year metro card for 365 UAH - which means that if you live and work in Kiev - riding the metro twice each day - you'll pay . . . that's right 50 kopek per ride. AND - the cost of the metro is shouldered by the working class because children, students, pensioners, and disabled all get ride either for free or at a reduced cost.

If you ask me - I say bravo for the increase - esp if it means that they finish the orange and the purple lines and let me travel around Kiev with traffic - free ease. And if you ask me again - I think you should add a few more stops to those two lines and connect them across the river with an interchange at Vidibichy and the new Dymiska station at the bus station.

Life's delectable pleasures

Today in Velika Kishenia I found a coupon for buy 5 Siriki and get 90% off. Talk about a coupon. Siriki aren't expensive anyway - and they are definately tasty --like bite size cheese cakes. My favorite are Fanny - with cherry syrup and a cookie crust.

Buy 5 for a fraction of the price? Don't mind if I do.

Columbia Crest

Walking thru the supermarket, I caught sight of something familiar . . . .

Columbia Crest wine is in Ukraine!!!

Ok - so the picture is awful - but really you can only expect so much when trying to take a covert picture on a cell phone.

I'm not actually a huge fan of Columbia Crest - It is ok - but not spectacular - but more, I am just proud to have a Walla Walla area wine being sold internationally to the everyday Joe (ok in Ukraine the price is a bit above everyday - but still . . .) And for those of you wondering about the numbers - its NOT dollars - but hreeven (pronounced grieven - like i'm a grieven for my lost dog . . .) At today's exchange rate - that makes the Chardonay a Washington wine bargain at $13 (In the US you can buy it for about 10 - but most of our wines are double that price) and the Shiraz converts to $22. Amazing that all the transport and tax only amount to a $3 per bottle increase.


(ps - sorry to not support the local economy - but when we splurge for wine - we normally go for the $5 bottle of Georgian Alazanskaya Dolina. Depite what you may think of how wine at that price should taste- its really nice.

Cats and Heights

We have almost given up trying to train our cat to stay off the tables, counters, and upper shelves of the bookcase. My last cat learn after two sprays of the spray bottle - but this guy I think sees the water as a bonus.

I have never seen a cat drink so much. Not only are all of our water immediate glasses targets (not coffee or tea - pretty much just the water), but in the morning he jumps up on the window sill and laps off the condensation on the window until he can see out. The he moves hown the window and does the same think all along the sill.
We even added vinegar to the water - but it doesn't work. Sometimes we have sprayed him as many as 7 times (with frustrated tsks and "bad cats" accentuating the ordeal) before he finally gets/ or is pulled down.
I tried putting saran wrap on the table. He responded by jumping up and falling asleep on it.
For the most part we are avoiding the problem by trying to keep him out of the kitchen unless we are there too - but still - as soo as our backs are turn to wash the dishes or put something in the fridge he is up on the table again. Any ideas?

Sbeet Apple Crisp

We had group last Friday and I bought 2 kilos of beets. I figured that it would be enough for salad and a few left over for Blue Cheese Beets. Well I definitely had enough for all that . . . and then some.

I also had some apples left over from chutney (My mother-in laws recipe - It turned out wonderfully!) and figured there would have to be some sort of apple/beet crisp/cobbler/pie recipe of sorts out there somewhere on the internet. Wrong - while I ran into apple and beet salad recipes - there was nothing for my sweet tooth that called for both apples and beets.

I tried searching beet desserts - and came up with a few more options - but by the time I ran into Beet Mousse I decided enough was enough and I was going to make my crisp - recipe or not.

The trick to making unusual dishes is to make sure that those who you want to eat it don't know what is in it until after they have tasted it. It worked in high school when I served Chicken Liver Pate and it normally works for me as well with Alister when he asks what we're having. "Something tasty", I reply.

My vague answer didn't serve me today though - he caught me in the middle of preparation. "I like beets, but in dessert?" He did promise to try some and I even said I would add whipped cream to sweeten the deal.

The crisp turned out FANTASTIC. I borrowed the idea of cardamom from the mousse recipe and also added allspice and about a 1/4th cup of white sugar and a dash of flour - coating my 3 chopped beets and 4 chopped medium apples. I didn't have any lemon, but if I had I would have added a tablespoon or two of juice. I threw this mixture in a baking dish and made my crisp topping. Flour, brown sugar, butter, oatmeal, allspice, and chopped walnuts mixed together and sprinkled over the top.
Half an hour later - the crisp was out of the oven and ready to be topped with whipped vanilla cream.

Obviously, if I'm putting it on my blog - it was fantastic. Alister actually asked for seconds. Not only are the colors beautiful but the flavor is delicate, tart, sweet, and woody (the nuts) all at once. When you throw in the beets' added Vitamin A, C, calcium and iron this dessert is one that you can even feel good about having seconds.

Budget Air is Here!!!!

This last summer, Wizzair opened up budget flights within Ukraine. Starting in January they are expanding.
You will be able to find flights to Ukraine from
London
Dortmond
Cologne
and Krakow

for as little as $50 one way (taxes included).

(You can also come via Italy on http://www.flyonair.it/index.aspx?lang=it or via Romania on http://www.carpatair.com/ but they aren't all that budget )

This is great for us, because it means that for Visa renewals and such we have a cheap way out of the country ($100 round trip to Krakow instead of $200 and 18+ hours by train), but also because we hope that you'll be more inclined to visit now that you can budget hop all the way to our doorstep. :- ) Did we mention that Euro Match 2012 is in Ukraine/ Poland ???

If you want to expand your trip possibilities - check out http://www.thebigproject.co.uk/budget/ or http://www.flycheapo.com/flights/. These EXCELLENT site lists almost all the budget airlines serving every european destination. They are fantastic travel tools!
Remember - the key to budget airlines is too book in advance - and BUY when you see a cheap price - it can literally disapear before your eyes.