"As dreams are made on"

(Thanks to Shakespeare for the title and thought behind this rambling today.)

As I have related before, I am now masked during sleep...well, one might argue for me being "masked" during my awake hours too...but that is best left for another day.

The Dr. I work with keeps promising me that with my magical air mask...I will sleep better and dream better.  I will be rested and restored to full function the next morning just by strapping on the silicon monster each and every night.  Hah.  That I will become soooo comfortable with the "Mask" that I will be able to get up in the middle of the night, unhook the tubing from the machine, leaving my mask on, and go let my pupper out. (And since he is middle aged...going outside every 5 or 6 hours is good!) Hah. Hah. Claustrophobia...I now understand. I cannot even get through a full night without awakening to my mask breathing merrily on the pillow next to me. Yup.  I am holding the mask in my hand...all intact and buckled...with the machine now breathing for my pillow. 

(And when I related this information to the Dr, she thought perhaps another strap would due the trick.  Only if homicide is now classified as a "trick!" )

So I am having very odd dreams due to this half breathing, half gasping sleep I am now experiencing.  For the first 3 days of the New Year...I was dreaming of a bucolic little farm with goats....and I was making cheese.  Really.  I mean, I get my obsession with cheese...if you know me...you have heard me wax poetic about fromage.  The local cheese mongers know me by name...and they know their till will be wealthier when I walk out their door.  So I get the cheese part of my dream...but the goat and farm aspect?  Not so much.  Farms are hard dirty work...add livestock to the equation and you just put shackles on your life, in addition to the hard work.  I didn't want to dream after 3 nights of goats!

So I tried reading just before I attempted to sleep with my "Zorro!"  A mystery.  So then I dreamed of a murder...that happens...on a goat farm!  Argh!  And the spunky heroine seems to be me with an acquired southern accent.  (Thanks to my co-worker Jules who drawls all day long!) 

The next night I read the new Rick Riordan "Heroes."  All about Roman and Greek gods and goddesses...the whole pantheon....complete with fauns and satyrs...GOATS!  So now, my dreams had talking goats that walked on 2 legs!

So last night I grabbed a guaranteed snoozer of a book...The Illustrated Guide to Victorian Sterling Silver.  I was safe...no goats...no cheese. 

Aaaaaarrrrrrrgggggghhhhh!

Did you know that the wealthy Victorians had GOATS harnessed to little chariots for their children to ride around in?  And that there were actually sterling silver bells that went on the small harnesses?  Or that the Victorians (I am beginning to dislike these people!) had sterling silver utensils made just to serve and eat certain types of cheeses?  A Stilton scoop, anyone?

So I dreamt of goats wearing leather (hmmmm) with bells attached chasing down rolling wheels of cheese...all at the same bucolic farm.  And how they held the cheese scoops with their hooves...I don't know.

Shakespeare's line "as dreams are made on"...in my case...would be silicon contoured, CPAP infused, click buckled, breathing machine ventilated foundations that somehow inspire (curse) me to have dreams again....but just of the goaty variety!  Wonder if another strap would help?!?!

So when next you see me...just quietly pull the straw from my hair...and accept a gift of farm fresh cheese!  Oh, and watch out for the goats...they like to butt!

I am Back....Welcome to my 2011!

Today is January 1^st, 2011…which by the new calendar on my wall…gives weight to the IMPORTANCE of the date…January 1^st..  A new start…a fresh, un-besmirched page…a new leaf. 

The weird thing is I started my New Year with repeated dreams of….goats and cheese!  I understand the cheese part…I AM FIXATED on cheese!  Hard, creamy, tangy, coy, aged, fresh…you name the cheese…the odds are great that I know it.  But goats?????  Am I destined to become an artisan cheese maker?  But goats?  Milking goats?  Mucking goats?  Gah….gack!  Sheep….maybe.  Crazy, eh?

Well, first I must address the last year…2010…and my thoughts about what has passed.

Losses…they have occurred this year…in my life…in the lives of friends…in the world of humankind.  But the impact is so greatly felt in the personal sphere.  My cousin Mike, a larger than life man with a booming laugh, a quick wit, a gentle bear, the anchor of his siblings…and sad to say…I knew him only on the periphery.  I did not know him as the Renaissance man he was…  My aunt Jean, Mike’s Mom also left this year.  She was a gracious, warm woman with a throaty voice who held the threads of her family together like a weaver.  She wove strength, practicality, un-conditional love, generosity, and, in the last years profound personal sadness (from the death of my Uncle Andy and her son Kurt.) into the life fabric of her family.  My great Uncle Marvin left life on his terms this fall…swiftly with his children surrounding him.  A man of many words and stories…a man of deep faith…a proud veteran…a child of the earth…which he tended with his beloved 1952 tractor.  The last of his generation.  As the “keeper” of my family history…the obits are much more grievous now than 20 years ago…then the obits were just dry facts carved in stone…they now have human faces.

Losses…friends have gone too soon…friends have lost spouses, significant others, parents and children.  I can only say my heart aches for each loss…I would like to say that it gets better…in truth…I can say it gets easier… to remember without falling apart...to put one foot in front of the other and stand upright.  “Better” is a condition that implies the world is the same…which it never is…since each loss creates a new reality.  And yes, in the new reality, there is joy, love, laughter…it is just tempered to a new edge…one that makes you feel keenly the loss.  I still “talk” to my father daily…remembered bits of conversation apply themselves to situations...spontaneous thoughts of “Dad would love this!” burst unbidden into my brain…and I can smile as I visualize his face and crooked grin. 

Toss-ups…there are many…which given my moods can be viewed as either a win or a loss. 

Toss-up:  my career.  I passionately LOVE what I do.  To create pride of ownership and desire, to connect moments in a life, to educate, to celebrate joy…that is what I do on a daily basis.  To match to each client… the right treasure…the perfect jewel… for their moments…for their reasons.  The problem is… decisions have to be made…I have enough regrets in my life…I do not want to sacrifice my avocation.

Toss-up:  I am NOT a good house keeper!  I would rather clean grease traps in diners than clean house.  So I do the minimum.  Note…no dropping by Kimberley’s!  But I will meet you anywhere with coffee and a hug!

Wins, thankfully are numerous this past year!

Win:  I had a major health scare…it started with a simple phone call on a Thursday in October.  My doctor called.  She requested an appointment…I having known her 20 years…said “tell me!’  “Kim…I am so sorry…you have cancer.”  I forgot how to breathe.  Surgery followed 5 days later…after I tried to negotiate putting it off until January…sanity had temporarily deserted me.  Thankfully, I have good friends and a loving family that held me up and sent prayers to God.  (And believe me, I was praying too!)

I woke up with my doctor next to me…I remember her smiling…it was contained and the sentinel biopsies were clear.  Thank you, God!  All checkups since have been good… a true win.

Win:  hand in hand with the above…I was diagnosed with severe sleep apnea.  Apparently during surgery…they had a hard time keeping me breathing.  The “sleep” doctor met with me in the hospital…and in no uncertain terms told me exactly how my life expectancy was decreasing each day.  With my weird sense of humor…all I thought was “Funny…isn’t that expected?  Life is terminal.”  He wasn’t amused. So now I am masked like Zorro!

Win:  I have started blogging.  Well…better late than…later.  It is random…often sporadic (can they be used together?)…semi foodie…but as I see it.  I am at Blogspot.com … http://open-faced-sandwich.blogspot.com  come visit once in a while! If curious to see my thoughts…follow me. 

Win:  (at least I think so).  Relationships…lack of or otherwise.  Some days yes…some days…no.  Those who have known me since college…you were all witness to the devastation of my ended relationship with Andrew.  And the years that followed were shackled by doubts as to “what happened” and “what did I do wrong?”  So, I protected myself with a siege wall…that I never let any one through.  Well, God smacked me upside the head this year!  And His tool was…wait for it…the INTERNET!  I had been aware for some time that a person with a weird email had been searching for me and my postings…so I back-trailed.  It was Andrew.  And from his posting…I realized that I had very little to do with how the relationship ended or even why it ended.  Enough said.  So yes…relationships are possible…but not the only thing to be desired.  So…hopefully you can see the humor in the following blog:

“Attracting the Wrong Attention....Again.

I don't often laze in the swing...however, sun was inducing somnolence...waiting for city water guy...when I realized I was being watched. Cute dark eyes (intent), silver gray hair (a bit messy), and conservatively dressed, plus moving well under his own power.  Hmmmm. The possibilities...

If only it wasn't a SQUIRREL! He was under my apple tree checking out the windfalls, running his little paws over each one searching for the PERFECT apple to squirrel away! (No chance I'd miss that one!) Apparently I was in his territory...and his scolding chatter was deafening!    "Leave! Leave!", "MINE!  ALL MINE!", "First here! I get!", and "Go Away!  I need ALL!"

Oh, well...at least he's a better possibility than the guy in the aisle at Byerly's.”

And that’s the truth of my life...humor.  A gift from God…to be found in the “dailies” of life…it can be cynical…subtle…dry…spontaneous…mercurial…quiet…bubbling…”in your face”…random. 

May the year of 2011 bring you joy and humor.  May there be joy amongst the tears…and humor God-gifted to you daily.



Kimberley

Brussels Sprouts...Woot...Woot!

I have always been challenged by the little green cabbage heads...Brussels Sprouts that is!  How to make them tasty, succulent, and crave worthy.  Well...bring on the celebration....I have achieved "Brussels Sprout Nirvana!"

I took the following recipe to my family Thanksgiving celebration...a little worried...a tough audience...given my relations' cooking skills.  My cousin's husband owns the titles for "Turkey...Not Your Mother's Bird," and "Classic Stuffing," my brother is king of "American Traditional Desserts with a Twist," and my sister rules for "Recipes Remade to Be Healthy and Still Taste Great."  I have held the titles of "Best Salad,"and "American Regional Dessert." (My artfully arranged and carefully selected cheeses with savory nibbles apparently don"t count since I do not MAKE the cheese!  Pah.)  The senior generation still holds several crowns...having grudgingly surrendered others.  A tough crowd to impress...

Here's the grocery list:

3 to 4 lbs Brussels sprouts, rinsed and cut in half through stem
1 lb mushrooms, chanterelles, cremini or oyster, cut into large rough pieces
2 shallots, sliced very thinly
4 oz. pine nuts
1/2 cup chicken broth
1 cup heavy cream
olive oil....please use the good stuff!
sea salt

Heat oven to 450 degrees.

Put Brussels sprouts on large rimmed sheet...drizzle about 3 to 4 Tbsp olive oil over and toss to coat.  Sprinkle with sea salt.  Bake in oven for 10 minutes...stir sprouts...bake another 10 to 12 minutes.  Remove from oven.

While cooking the Brussels sprouts...prepare the mushrooms.  In a large skillet over med high heat...place 2 Tbsp olive oil to coat pan.  Add mushrooms and let them brown...stirring occasionally.  They will get juicy...you want to slowly cook the juices away.  Remove from pan after about 6 to 8 minutes.  Wipe out pan.

Put 2 to 3 Tbsp of olive oil in the pan...add the thinly sliced shallots and the pine nuts.  Saute until onions are limp and the nuts golden.  Pour in the chicken broth and cook until liquid reduced by half.  Add the sprouts and mushrooms and stir to mix.  Pour the cream over the top, turn the heat down to medium low and gently cook until thickened...stir often...about 4 to 5 minutes.  Season with a little more sea salt.

I served in a large enameled Dru pan that I pre-warmed in the oven to keep everything nice and hot on the buffet.

I nervously eyed the table...strong competition...a cold wild rice, squash and dried cherry dish, acorn squash with kale and pecans...a corn souffle with mushrooms, red peppers and olives...a pear, pecan, blue cheese and endive salad.  Yup.  The veggies were a tough crowd.  The mashed potatoes and marshmallow sweet potatoes did NOT count!

The younger group bypassed my dish...noooooo...but they skipped over most of the vegetables except the mashed potatoes and gravy.  The semi-pro judges were next.  "Eh...whose dish is the yellow cast iron one?  What's in it?"  When I told them it was Brussels Sprouts...it was scrutinized with narrowed eyes.  But they were taking a spoonful.  OK...so far.  Last came the real cooks...my cousin and her husband...my brother and sister...

They all hesitated...looking at the table's bounty.  And started spooning from each offering (a rule...in order to vote...you must try every dish...unless sadly...deadly allergic!) My cousin and I were last in line...when...

...two of the seniors came back at the table sheepishly putting their plates out "for a bit more of that Brussels Sprout stuff."  A third came up with his wife's plate (who could tell?), with the same intentions.  I looked down at the table...my dish was EMPTY except for a stray mushroom, some leaves and a puddle of cream!  And that was disappearing rapidly since my cousin was sopping it up with a slice of bread.  She mumbled something about "sampling it" when it was warming.  My dish was clean!  A slam-dunk title for me!!!!!

Good thing I had (like all good chefs) sampled my recipe before putting on the table.  Yup. A winner.  But maybe I'll tweak on it for next year with a bit of added Gruyere!

No sense in resting on my newly won laurels until next year...the family reunion is in July.  Just the thought of the picnic has me thinking about a blue cornmeal cornbread recipe.  Wonder how my farm relatives feel about smoked chilis?  And could I make a poundcake that tastes like peach melba!?  With fresh raspberries on the side?

I'll keep you posted...of course!

Slip Sliding Away...Doesn't Even Begin to Describe the Day

Mother Nature, along with Boreas Rex and Jack Frost, decided to lavish my lovely Minnesota with 1/2 inch of clear ice, freezing rain, and 28 degrees late last night and into this morning.  And then after all their labor...I believe they sat back to watch us mere mortals cope with the gift!

I listened in the dark to the rare car slowly creeping through the intersection outside my snug little house.  Big or little, no one was going anywhere fast!  One small bug tried to start from the stop sign and just spun in a circle...like a dog chasing its tail.  A couple of vehicles thought my sidewalk was a good alternative to the street...a decision made after the fact!  But, surprisingly not a single fender-bender to be heard.  (At least in my corner of the world.  TV showed a far different outcome in other areas of town.)

Morning came...very quiet...I couldn't see any traffic from my windows.  It being Sunday...I don't have to be anywhere early...and having a dog with pleading eyes...I did the only thing a Jeep owner could.  I decided to go to the park and walk my boy.  Yup...officially crazy...I just didn't know it yet.

My first step, if you could call it that, was a wild ride.  The leading boot tentatively touched the top step and  felt secure, so I stepped out.  I remember clutching the screen door and being suddenly 3 steps lower than where I started.  Whoa.  My dog, with his built in traction control, fared no better. I grabbed whatever I could when I saw him skid past me...trying to 1. slow him down, 2. keep him upright, and 3. prevent him from crashing into my big planter.  Sorry about your tail, Watson.

I did the "Minnesota Shuffle"down the sidewalk...never lifting my feet...just pushing one forward, anchoring it, and scarily moving the other foot.  All the while, constantly checking my inner balance.  "Full Alert!"  "Danger! Danger!"

The Jeep was covered in a complete sheet...that should have been my second sign of bad idea!  But being a native-born Minnesotan...I carefully slid in and defrosted, well 10 minutes later, the windows.  Pulling out of my level driveway, I planned on turning left.  Planned.  The roadway and the Jeep decided the opposing snowbank was the true destination.  Sigh...did I mention that I am stubborn?  By gad, I wanted to go to the park...and was going to do just that.

Going straight wasn't bad...until I hit the top of the steep hill past the middle school.  Wheeeeeee...I think I felt what it was like to be a bob sledder!  A novice bob sledder in the middle of a big PANIC!  Thankfully, no traffic coming towards me...since the Jeep seemingly couldn't decide which side of the street was better.

By crawling at a sedate 10 miles per hour...we made the park...my fingers in a death grip on the wheel...and Watson's eyes the size of the proverbial saucers.

I parked by the trees, thinking the ice wouldn't be quite as bad as in the open areas.  Sounded feasible.  Actually was true for 15 to 20 steps.  But only....

The play by play was ugly:

"This aging competitor bravely steps out...a clean start...her confidence grows.  Oh no!  Can't believe what we just saw!  Thompson threw in a crossover that isn't in her program...her leading foot lifted...she propelled herself forward grabbing a sapling...kicking her back foot out too late...Ouch.  That was a landing she'll not forget for a long time...and the sapling needs a moment of silent remembrance!"

Personally, I was thinking it must have looked like a bizarre DWTS dance step...a devilish dervish with an extended arm position followed by a partner-less dip!  Well not quite, the sapling did give partnership its all.

Thank God...I don't think there were any witnesses!! 

However, I laid there for several breaths...until Watson's nose hovered over my face...anxiously "huffing" to check me out.  Yah...I saved his butt earlier...he didn't return the favor...thanks, Pupper.

The lessons offered by the school of hard knocks finally sink in...I was going home to hunker down and wait the weather out...but first, I had to get back to the Jeep.  The knees of my jeans will never be the same...but I have a new appreciation what the snow covered ground looks like from the height of a crawling middle aged woman.

I didn't even stop for coffee ...can't tempt Mother Nature and her minions too many times.  But I'll bet they had a good howler over my antics...probably even had a twinge of sympathy for me...but I'd place no bets.

Long Johns...Disappointed at the Pastry Case

Long Johns are just not what I remember.  

Well, to clarify, neither type of “Long Johns” that I recall (one with fondness, one not.) vaguely resemble my cherished memories.  One disappoints, one happily exceeds.  (Think heavy itchy wet wool...vs. today's light weight miracle fabrics.)

My memories of “Long Johns” always centers around the bakery shop (not shoppe!) on Main Street in Appleton, MN.  If my grandmother was too busy with her gardening, chickens, Sunday School lessons, harvest/ planting, washing, ironing, mending, canning, rendering, butchering,  or she had a houseful of family…she would go to the bakery (after grocery shopping) to pick up some “sweets” for the table.  She made breakfast, mid morning coffee, lunch, mid afternoon coffee, and supper every day of her life.  The only differences came in the amount of food she prepared, which depended on 2 things:  the number of people she was feeding and the weather.  Cold weather, more food.  Warm weather, less food.  No one went away hungry…or ill prepared to return to the fields.   

So, on these occasions, we were allowed to visit the BAKERY and help (?) select.  And if we were very good and helpful, we could choose our very own goodie to have later! 

A huge, sparkling glass window beckoned us…like a hypnotic eye…to peer in and see the gleaming glass cases filled with baked goods.  There was a wide, old fashioned screen door you pulled to open…and as a child I never remembered in my excitement...to “catch” the door so it did not slam.  And when you left, the screen door had a fancy metal and enamel embossed “Thank You” plate where you pushed.  All the cases inside were clear glass…several with fingerprints made while “pointing” out the exact sweet selected.

The fancy items, wedding and birthday cakes, were closest to the window, like beautiful sirens, tempting one to enter.  Then multitudes of cookies and bars, marching like soldiers in perfect formation on the flat trays, followed by doughnuts (not donuts),  other fried goods and sweet rolls.  Crullers, cake (plain or glazed), raised (we called them Polish and they were always glazed), chocolate with frosting and sprinkles, spiced with cinnamon/sugar dusting, bismarks with assorted fillings of cream, custard, jam or jelly, fried cinnamon rolls and frosted Long Johns were present on a daily basis.  (Sometimes the baker got creative and made PUMPKIN doughnuts with coconut frosting.) 

Breads and rolls were across the far end; the bread orderly on the wall with signs as to their genre.  Rolls were in the low case:  parker house, split tops, clover-leafs, horns, hamburger and current.  Seasonal specialties were reserved for the front window:  stolen, lebkucken, peppernuts, divinity, spritz, date bread, sour cream sugar cookies, Russian Tea cakes, etc.  A show piece wedding cake took majestic center stage…drawing admiration for the lifelike quality of the flowers cascading down…and the height it achieved.

Long Johns then:  magical, guaranteed to make your mouth water and the car ride home endless.  A golden brown outside protected the yeasty sweetness inside.  Real maple frosting…still glossy from being swirled on by the baker’s knife covered the top.  And freshly chopped, crunchy peanuts packed the top…melding into the frosting’s sweetness…delivering a sweet and salty morsel in each bite.   

The pastry Long John of 2010 is a tasteless rectangle of oily cardboard with beige frosting (it tastes BEIGE too!), and crumbles of peanuts resembling floor sweepings.  Not the tender pastry that I lusted for as a child.  Today’s version of a maple frosted Long John with peanuts is greasy, doughy and under done.  A commercial frosting overloaded with “maple” flavoring tastes as if made in a chemical lab.  And the peanut topping?...usually not crisp…at worst, rancid.  Even if the bakery is a “good” one.

So, in this case, you can’t go home again.  But a girl can dream…..

Cheese....Glorious Cheese!

Serious and funny thoughts about cheese....

There's nothing quite like a piece of cheese
to nibble upon for pleasure and ease.
No matter the time or state of mind
greater joy than cheese you'll never find.
Served on a cracker or a soft piece of bread
a morceau de fromage will please your head.
Roquefort, camembert, brie or blue
served with fruit or in fondue
God gave us cheese- a bit of heaven on earth
to lift our burdens, providing sweet mirth.
And after all our daily work is done
we enjoy simple cheese just for fun.
But remember the ancient custom of the house
leave behind a kernel for the nocturnal mouse.

C Jim Sitterly

Many's the long night I've dreamed of cheese -- toasted, mostly.  Robert Louis Stevenson

Cheese! Why won't it stop flirting with me?  Joss Whedon

                ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

My favorite contribution to the Thanksgiving table is cheese...I plot and plan which marvelous varieties will be displayed on the board...which morsels deserve to be added...what condiments will reside in my antique cut glass...do I include a homemade pate' or not?  It goes without saying that I will have 2 types of crackers and a bread tucked cosily into a basket.

So as I am pondering this year's tantalizing board...I thought to share a very small bit of the relationship between cheese and me!

My wonderful niece belongs to a "Cheese Society" at her college.  After each meeting she posts her comments and ratings of the cheeses.  The following is a response of mine to one of her posts.

"Which Iowa Bleu? Maytag is the stalwart go-to bleu. There is about 7 or 8 cheese makers in Iowa that produce a bleu. I personally like Golden Ridge's (an Amish coop) Schwarz und Weiss (literally Black and White) a wonderful, full-flavored snappy tangy bleu. But I also love St Pete's Bleu from good old Faribault, MN. A must try with garden tomatoes, crisp bacon crumbles and diced red onion as a chop-chop salad. (of course, you can throw some green leafy stuff in there too!) Oh, and I can't forget Rogue Creamery's Bleu. Hmmmmm.

St Andre Triple Creme Brie...I have served that often enough to you at family events. Can't go wrong there...any cheese that has pure thick cream stirred in during the aging process has to be good! Any of Uncle Mark's jams with this on a baguette makes the world's BEST breakfast!  (Of course with a steaming cup of coffee from the French press!)

Tasmanian Heritage Camembert ... frankly not a typical fan of Camembert since it often served too aged and runny for me. Too young is chalky and not pleasant. A middle aged is okay. Rather earthy or mushroomy on the palate ... not bad. But needs strong foods to stand with it...balsamic marinated baby onions and Smithfield ham slivers on warm biscuits.  Or a great salami with cornichons on a baguette.

Try Cowgirl Creamery's Mt Tam or Red Hawk. They are worth the money ... just be sure they are not too ripe as they taste ammoniated. (A very ghastly taste on the tongue...not to mention the ensuing paralysis to the nostrils!)"
   
                 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

For this Thanksgiving, I am leaning towards:

French Aged Mimolette - broken into shards
Neal's Yard Berkswell - rich, sweet and nutty
Shepherds Way Big Woods Blue - complex, open textured
Donnay Dairy Chevre - mounded with drizzled single source honey and sprinkled chopped pistachios
Cowgirl Mt. Tam
Cave Aged Gruyere - cubed
St Andre Brie - soooooo rich and creamy

Well, at least that is the plan for now.  I still have 3 days before the decision!

Moscow on the Hill...the Gem of Selby and Western.

Wow...wow...wow.  A marvelous leisurely dinner at Moscow on the Hill in St Paul with good friends...again.  Russian food...both peasant and royal...served attentively and warmly. Personally...Moscow ranks as one of my top 5 favorite restaurants in the Twin Cities.  And yet...it consistently is ignored by MSP Mag and the Strib critics. Are they such snobs that they think the only "great" kitchen has a chef with a "name?"

Grab a group of friends...pick those who LIKE to converse and talk while leisurely dining...not those in a marathon to be out the door in 1/2 an hour...pick those who LIKE to share...and go to Moscow.  Enjoy a true Russian meal...

We started the evening as the Russians do...hot and cold appetisers to awaken your appetite.

Assorted savory platter to start (chef changes it daily):  A mounded beet salad perfectly tops a piece of their dark bread.  Chicken liver pate...here I have to take my friends' description..."luxuriously silken on the tongue."  Crisp/crunchy sweet pickles.  Russian style herring (not Grandma's chewy stuff from the jar!) melts in your mouth.  Chicken blini filled with chopped braised chicken, herbs and a tart cheese topped by a sour cream that is reminiscent of creme fraiche, not Old Home.  Pickled vegetables were unusual...piquant, sweet and refreshing.  And of course we have to order a separate side of my favorite, Mushrooms Julienne (rich and creamy, herby with plenteous bubbly cheese) on the side.  And the basket of bread slices to soak up all the juices!

I had Chicken Kolobok...tender breast of chicken stuffed with wild rice, fruits and nuts. The size of a softball ... skin crispy and brown...glazed by a sauce of fruit, honey and herbs (do I taste figs?)... enough to sop each tender morsel of chicken.  Roasted veggies.

I was treated to a couple bites of Beef Stroganoff...and after my girl friend's husband saw my covetous glaze...he slowly slid his plate away from my reach!  Really...I did contemplate a fork war with him...the stroganoff was that GOOD.  Generous strips of tender, simmered beef, rich mushroom gravy/sauce on wide noodles.  Tangy sour cream and herbs dressed the serving...which WAS big enough to share!

Dessert was the homemade chocolate truffles...sigh. Two, each the size of a large marshmallow, on a Belgian chocolate drizzled and dusted plate...I can't do them justice!

Okay, I am going to try to describe the truffles.  The merest molecule ... once in your mouth ... has EVERY taste bud screaming and fighting to experience all the truffle they can.  They are rich, calorie laden ... and I DO NOT CARE!  The density is incredible, not waxen, slow to melt, pure Belgian chocolate.  You have to fight yourself to eat slowly, wanting to inhale greedily, yet desiring the moment to last!  What is a girl to do?

And for a leisurely end...piping hot Russian style tea served in glasses with holders and a bowl of homemade jam.  You take a small bit of jam in the bowl of your spoon...lower it into the steaming tea...let it melt...scoop up a little tea with the now melted jam...bring to your lips and slurp! 

Moscow on the Hill...honest Russian food to share...good friends to enjoy...it doesn't get better.

Na Zdorovie!