Maslenitsa

Tomorrow should be the last day of Maslenitsa, a week marking the end of winter and the beginning of the Lenten fast on March 14. We are going by the Orthodox calendar right now. I know Latin Rite Ash Wednesday was way back when I was still in Maryland for my granddaughter's birth.

Strictly Orthodox.

I like the blini, or the pancakes, eaten with real maple syrup or with buckwheat honey. Or powdered sugar. Or some sort of fruity preserves. Or fresh fruit... whipped cream is OK, and even sour cream or labne...


Anyway, "Tolle! Lege!"  ("Pick it up and read it!") as the angel said to St. Augustine when asked why the divine messenger had thrown a tome of scripture at him.

Russia and India Report
Some different kinds of pancakes
The recipes for a few unusual pancakes, made with ingredients like beer and beets, are outlined to bring some Russian Maslenitsa festivity to your kitchen.
http://in.rbth.com/arts/cuisine/2016/03/10/some-different-kinds-of-pancakes_574407

... Beer pancakes

This is a good way to use up all your extra beer before starting the Lenten fast, even though some traditions hold that beer is ok to drink, even if you are fasting.

Use dark beer for sweeter taste.

Ingredients:

16 ounces milk
16 ounces beer (lager, or darker beer for sweeter taste)
2 cups sifted wheat flour, or 1.5 cups of wheat flour, or 1/2 cup rye flour
1-2 eggs
2 tablespoons vegetable oil or melted butter
1 tablespoon sugar or white honey
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 potato

Instructions follow...

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