In Praise of Cabbage and Salt (reiteration)

This was a guest post I wrote for The Best Friend of All Bloggers, kind and knowledgeable Renard of https://renardsworld.wordpress.com. It has come to my attention that some readers ignore links to my guest posts published on a host’s blog, and thus never see my creation. This is important now because I am getting ready…

Chinese Cabbage, Japanese Cat, and a “Frenly” Family Store

Contrary to a popular belief, the ubiquitous Chinese fortune cat is actually Japanese. There are several legends about it, but most agree that it first made its friendly appearance around 17th – 18th century, when Tokyo was called Edo. A samurai was once caught in a rainstorm. Finding shelter under a huge tree, he glanced…

It’s Good to Be the King and Love Salads!

King George I of England loved salads. He was not the only one; at the end of 17th – beginning of 18th century, Grand Sallads were “trending” among all Royal Houses of Europe. You might even say, they “went viral.” You know I couldn’t help but give you a taste of Mel Brooks’ genius! But…

Exceedingly Flavorful Chaos – Baked Wontons

“Where are the hornless dragons which carry bears on their backs for sport? Where is the great serpent with nine heads and where is the Shu-Hu?” (Zhuangzi ca. 3rd-2nd centuries BCE). The dragon, it seems, is right here, but both Shu and Hu have gone visiting. Their host is none other than Mr Chaos, as Confucius…

Alisia’s Quinoa Salad

Among all the recipes that I have posted so far, I consider this one priceless; it’s my granddaughter’s creation! I am repeating it in response to Daily Word Prompt PRICELESS. https://dailypost.wordpress.com/prompts/priceless/ Source: Alisia’s Quinoa Salad

Kolobok, Kolobok, from the Grandma I Escaped…

Once upon the time, in a magical land of great forests, Onion Domes and warrior princes, there lived an old couple, Grandma and Grandpa. One day, Grandpa says to Grandma, “Bake me a pie.” “With what? – sighs the old woman, – we have nothing.” “Sweep the cupboards, scratch the bins, let’s see what you…

Ukrainian Borsht for Sultana

Nobody seems to know where the word borscht came from. The best guess is that it is a combination of schti (Russian cabbage soup) and buryak (beetroot in Ukrainian).  It is first mentioned in the legend about the two-month siege of the Ukrainian fortress Rohatyn by the Crimean offshoot of the Turkish army in the…