Blini

     The original blini are similar to French crêpes, if only a bit thicker. This is the kind that you will be served 99% of the time in Russia. There are even cafés dedicated to them, the blinochnayas. They can be paired with anything you can think of: ground meat, cheese, smoked fish, fish roe, sour cream, jam, honey, etc.

• 12 oz flour
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1/4 tsp powdered orange peel (optional)
• 3/4 tsp salt
• 2 tsp sugar
• 12 oz milk
• 5 eggs
• 12 oz water
• 2 oz butter, melted

     In the bowl of an electric mixer, mix the flour, baking soda, powdered orange peel, salt, sugar, milk and eggs with the paddle attachment on medium speed until smooth. Add the water and melted butter and mix again. Cover with plastic wrap and let rest for 30 minutes.

Серге́й Васи́льевич Рахма́нинов

Hey everyone! Did you know yesterday (April 1st) was Rachmaninoff's birthday?

Серге́й Васи́льевич Рахма́нинов

(1873-1943)

Russian composer, pianist, and conductor. Considered as one of the finest pianists of all time, and as a composer, one of the last great representatives of Romanticism in Russian classical music.

Early influences of Tchaikovsky, Rimsky-Korsakov, and other Russian composers gave way to a personal style notable for its song-like melodicism, expressiveness, and his use of rich orchestral colors.

Rachmaninoff was born at a family estate of Semyonovo near Veliky Novgorod in north western Russia.

His family was Russian and distant Moldavian descent who was part of the Russian aristocracy, having been in the service of the Russian tsars since the 16th century, and had strong musical and military leanings. 

Rachmaninoff began playing the piano at age four; his mother gave him casual lessons before his paternal grandfather, Arkady Alexandrovich, brought Anna  Ornatskaya, a teacher from Saint Petersburg, to teach him formally in 1882.

Prelude Op. 3 No. 2 in C# minor

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YOx710drHnw  

This piece is also known as 'The Bells of Moscow'. It is the second of five 'Morceaux de Fantaisie,' or Fantasy Pieces. This work, in terms of gravity of tone, is the most Russian of the five, and Rachmaninoff is at his best when composing heavier music. This is considered to be one of his best works.

Putin orders start of Russian military withdrawal from Syria

On the 14th of March, Putin ordered the start of the withdraw of their military forces in Syria. Russia claims that they have been able to help the Syrian Army to a point where negotiations for the peace talk process will be able to start now.

“I consider the objectives that have been set for the Defense Ministry to be generally accomplished. That is why I order to start withdrawal of the main part of our military group from the territory of the Syrian Arab Republic starting from tomorrow,”Putin said on Monday during a meeting with Shoigu and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.

"In a short period of time Russia has created a small but very effective military group [in Syria]... the effective work of our military allowed the peace process to begin," Putin said, adding that with the assistance of the Russian Air Force "Syrian government troops and patriotic forces have changed the situation in the fight with international terrorism and have ceased the initiative."

Russia plans to keep their naval base in Tartus and the Khmeimim airbase in Latakia operational with military forces and will continue supporting the Syrian forces with airstrikes. Russian airstrikes & advising support have helped the Syrian government to be moved into a position where they are currently stable and not at risk of falling and can now begin negotiations with some rebel groups.