The Game Must Go On

Sunday afternoon in Gorky Pork. Nothing stands between these athletes -- yes, chess is considered a sport here in Russia -- and their game.

Pumpkin Fruit Bread or Muffins, Part 2: Advance Prep, and. . . Ze Recipe!

In these parts I have something of a reputation as Muffin Czaritza, that's Princess of Muffins. Having muffin tins and cupcake liners helps *alot* - that's old news to Stateside muffin makers but not around here. Other than that, advance prep is The Key.

While waiting for the breakfast oatmeal to cook, maybe a day or two before muffin-baking day, I use that 15 minutes to organize ingredients as per the photo:
Dry ingredients measured out and combined.

Liquid ingredients measured out, in individual containers: eggs cracked in small container, butter measured out, pumpkin puree – pumpkin already cooked, mashed and in the freezer.

The extras: Dried apricots cut up, raisins measured out. Nuts already chopped and on hand.

Actually that takes a couple of 15 minute sessions. But then on muffin-baking day it's just a matter of combining it. That takes just 15-20 minutes and it's all in ze oven. Ingredients pictued above are for a double batch. Recipe follows.

* * * * *
Pumpkin Fruit Bread - or Muffins

2 cups pumpkin
2 cups sugar
2/3 cup softened butter, margarine (5 ½ oz)
3 eggs

2 ½ cups flour
2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
½ tsp cloves


½ cup hot water
1 cup raisins and/or dried apricots, chopped

1 cup chopped walnuts

1) Bring water to the boil and pour it over dried fruit. Let soak an hour or so. 2) In a medium bowl, use an electric mixer to whip the butter, gradually add in sugar until light and fluffy. Then gradually add the eggs and pumpkin pulp. (I switch from mixer to wooden spoon at this stage.) 3) In a large bowl mix the dry ingredients together then stir in the pumpkin mixture. Mix only until dry ingredients are moist and somewhere in this process, add the fruit and water plus the nuts. Don’t beat or over-mix. 4) Scoop into muffin tins or bread pans. Prep bread pans by oiling and use baking paper on the bottom to prevent it sticking and. . . a broken heart.

Pumpkin Fruit Muffins: Fresh from ze Oven

These pumpkin muffins are so good that I reach for this recipe often when pumpkin is in season. Better still, just heard about a clever do-ahead for serving fresh-from-ze-oven muffins for a holiday breakfast. Thanks to Mary Hunt from Debt-Proof Living for this magnificent muffin hint:

On the weekend make your favorite muffins. . .



. . .through the step of filling the muffin tins you’ve lined with paper cups.




Now instead of baking them, stick the entire pan into the freezer. Later, transfer the little frozen muffins into a plastic bag or something to save freezer space.



Come the glorious morning that calls for fresh, hot muffins, fire up ze oven, pop as many muffins as you’ll need back into the muffin pan and bake according to recipe instructions, adding about five minutes.



To catch a whiff, just run your cursor over the muffins. Can't you just smell them? ;)

Well, this freezer idea works perfectly, which continues to baffle me! Say, would you like the recipe? I'll post that very soon! That recipe Plus my own long-time favorite do-ahead tip for muffins, or any other baking.

How about you? Do you have a favorite, always-a-hit muffin recipe?

First on the Moon: A Russian Mockumentary

This little piggy went to orbit...



This little piggy got to roam...



This little piggy drank some vodka...



This little piggy had none...



This little piggy cried *Oy! Oy! Oy!*



*All this for a mockumentary!*




Ran across these photos at EnglishRussia.com and was really puzzled about this "First Pig in Space." For one thing, in researching for previous articles about the space race nothing was mentioned about launching a pig. Lots of other animals – but no pig. Besides that, the launching of animals was in the late 50’s and early 60's, the clothing of the scientists here is of an earlier era. Bottom line, things weren't adding up.

But the mystery is now solved. According to a Wikipedia entry, these photos are stills from a Russian mockumentary – that is, a tongue-in-cheek documentary -- called *First on the Moon,* (2005) about Russia landing on the moon in the 1930s.

Mr. Accordian Man

*You gotta. . . make your own kind of music,
Sing your own special song!



Make your own kind of music,



Even if nobody else sings along.*



The accordian man probably never heard of The Mamas and the Papas, but today he was making music all his own, serenading drivers at a traffic light for a few extra rubles. I heard his music a block away and when I got closer and saw him adding some dance steps and entertaining himself as much as anybody, all I could do was chuckle. On this cold, drizzly day, the first day of the Russian winter, what a gift, this encounter with The Accordian Man.


Make Your Own Kind of Music

Nobody can tell ya;
There's only one song worth singin'.
They may try and sell ya,
'cause it hangs them up
to see somone like you.

But you've gotta make your own kind of music
sing your own special song,
make your own kind of music even if nobody
else sing along.

So if you cannot take my hand,
and if you must be goin',
I will understand.

You're gonna be knowing
the loneliest kind of lonely.
It may be rough goin',
just to do your thing's
the hardest thing to do.

But you've gotta make your own kind of music
sing your own special song,
make your own kind of music even if nobody
else sings along.

So if you cannot take my hand,
and if you must be goin',
I will understand.

You gotta make your own kind of music
sing your own special song,
make your own kind of music even if nobody
else sings along.

Recorded by "Mama" Cass Elliott, 1969.