No Class

Monday morning I was sick with a touch of stomach flu or something like that... so I had to miss class. Hated to do that but better to stay home - sure hated to miss the baking of the croissants...I understand it went well and they turned out great. darn.... and no pictures... although maybe my classmates were glad I wasn't there with my camera.

Haven't felt like baking anything all week (well, it's only Wednesday).. am thinking of making kulich in honor of my Orthodox friends in Russia.

Kulich [in Russian кулич meaning "Easter cake"] is a kind of Easter bread traditional in the Orthodox Christian faith. Traditionally during the Easter service, the kulich, which has been put into a basket and decorated with colorful flowers, is blessed by the priest. Leftover kulich that isn't blessed is eaten with Paskha for dessert. Blessed kulich is eaten before breakfast each day.

It is baked in tall, cylindrical tins (like coffee or fruit juice tins), and when cooled is decorated with white icing (which is slightly drizzled down the sides), colorful flowers, and XB (the traditional Easter greeting of Христос воскресе, "Christ is Risen") is decorated on the side. Kulich is only eaten during the 40 days after (Easter) until Pentecost. 

Making Kulich - short video showing how it's made

When we were there in 2008, it was the week after Orthodox Easter and we were treated to lunch at the home of Nadhezda's (our guide and friend) brother-in-law, Father Valery, who is a priest in the town of Pavlovsk  where they are rebuilding the parish church. Her sister made kulich especially for us and also Pashka.

Paskha or Pascha (Russian: Па́сха, "Easter") is a festal dish made in Eastern Orthodox countries of those foods which are forbidden during  Lent. It is made during Holy Week and then brought to church on Great Saturday to be blessed after the Paschal Vigil. The name of the dish comes from Pashka,  the Eastern Orthodox celebration of Easter.

Paskha is  made from "tvorog" (farmer's cheese, cottage cheese, etc) which is white, symbolizing the purity of Christ, the Paschal Lamb, and the joy of the resurrection. 

Pascha is usually molded in the form of a truncated pyramid (a symbol of the Church; also said to represent the tomb of Christ. It is traditionally made in a wooden mold assembly called пасочница (pasotchnitza) that can be taken apart for cleaning; but more modern materials, such as plastics, are used nowadays.

The pascha is decorated with traditional religious symbols, such as the"Chi Ro" motif, a three-bar cross,  the letters X and B (Cyrillic letters standing for Христосъ Воскресe which is the Church Slavonic form of the traditional Paschal greeting:  "Christ is Risen!"), eggs, and a lance, all symbolizing Christ's Passion and Resurrection.

So, we enjoyed the luncheon and tour of the church and surroundings and getting to know this wonderful family - including their 4 year old son who could already speak English - he watches Sesame Street plus Nadhezda is an English teacher so she helps him learn also. What a treat for us to be in their home and share the great food of Easter. In Russian, Easter is a very important holiday and the celebration really goes on for a couple of weeks so we were fortunate to be there at that time. 

Anyway, I might make the kulich...doubt I'll attempt the pashka but one never knows. 


Happy Easter.