Ingredients
l 1/2 pounds carrots, cut into scant 1/4-inch slic
21/2 tablespoons unsalted butter, in all 3/8 teasp
1 teaspoon sugar
1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh dill or parsley


Method
Place the carrots in a heavy, nonstick saucepan and add water barely to cover. Add l 1/2 tablespoons butter, the salt, and sugar. Bring to a boil, lower the heat, and cook, covered, for 30-40 minutes, depending upon the age of the carrots. Tasting is

    

Ingredients
2 packages of active dry yeast
1/3 cup of sugar
1 cup of lukewarm milk (110° to 115° F.)
1 teaspoon of salt
4 cups of sifted all-purpose flour
8 eggs, lightly beaten
3/4 pound plus 2 tablespoons of unsalted butter, softened
1/2 cup of dried currants (2 ounces)
1/4 cup of sultana raisins (1 ounce)


Method
In a small, shallow bowl, sprinkle the yeast and 1/2 teaspoon of sugar over 1/2 cup of lukewarm milk. Let the mixture stand for 2 or 3 minutes, then stir to dissolve the yeast completely. Set the bowl aside in a warm, draft-free place, such as an unlighted oven, for 5 to 8 minutes, or until the mixture doubled in volume. In a deep mixing bowl, combine the remaining sugar with salt and flour. Make a well in the center and pour in the yeast mixture. Add the remaining milk, drop in the eggs and, with a large spoon stir the flour into the liquid ingredients. Continue to stir until fairly stiff dough is formed. Knead the dough by pulling it with your hands---as you might be pulling taffy---for about 10 minutes, or until it is smooth and elastic. Drape the bowl loosely with a kitchen towel and set it aside in the warm, draft-free place for 1 hour, or until the dough doubles in bulk. Then punch it down and knead in 3/4 pound of the softened butter, a tablespoon or so at a time. Knead in the currants and sultana raisins. With a pastry brush, coat the inside of a 12-cup mold with the remaining 2 tablespoons of softened butter. Pat the dough into the mold; it should come about halfway up the sides. Cover the mold loosely with a kitchen towel and set aside in a warm, draft-free place for about 1 hour, or until the dough has doubled in volume and has risen almost to the top of the pan. Preheat the oven to 400° F. Bake the cake in the center of the oven for 10 minutes, then lower the heat to 350° and bake another 35 minutes. Remove from the oven, drape a kitchen towel loosely over the top of the mold and let it rest for 5 minutes. Run a knife around the inside of the mold and turn the cake out into a serving dish. Then carefully turn the cake over on the plate.

    

Ingredients


Method
Slice black bread thin and dry the slices in an oven. Pour boiling water over the dried breadcrumbs and strain off the liquid in 10-12 hours. Take ¼ stick of yeast and 1 tablespoon of wheat flour, mix them in some of the strained liquid, place in a warm spot and let the yeast “come up”. Boil 2 teaspoons of mint in the strained water and add 1,5 cup of sugar. As soon as the yeast nearly doubles in volume, pour it into the strained water, cover the mixture with a napkin and let it rest in a warm spot until thick froth appears above. Take it off very carefully, strain off the liquid and pour it into bottles. Do not fill the bottles up to the neck. Cork up the bottles and leave them in a cold spot. Kvass is ready in 12 hours.