draugas

What every little girl wants for Christmas or It takes an artist to create a Barbie

Lithuanian American Sculptor and Artist Jurgis Šapkus BY RAIMUNDAS MARIUS LAPAS. Meet the legend that so many of us grew up with in the 60s and 70s. Her full name is Barbie Millicent Roberts. Her height was 11.5 inches. She made her debut in 1959 at the International Toy Convention …

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Traditional Kūčios Dishes

CHRISTMAS COMPOTE Vaisių kompotas 4 cups water 1 (8-ounce) package mixed dried fruit 1 cup pitted prunes 1 cup dried apples ½ cup golden raisins 4 cloves Juice of 1 lemon 1 cinnamon stick ½ cup fruit brandy or kirsch (optional) In large saucepan, combine water, mixed fruit, cloves and …

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Lithuania On the Map: Cartography in Lithuania From the Sixteenth to the Eighteenth Century

Cartography (from the Greek Khartes, papyrus, and graphein, to write) is a witrecreated at a later date from his writings. We are aware of several fifteenth-century maps of Central Europe that present a topographic image of Lithuania, but they were compiled by Italian mapmakers from the data given by Ptolemy …

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LITHUANIA COMES TO PHILLY

Philadelphia – The City of Brotherly Love, opened its heart to Lithuania this November showcasing a weeklong extravaganza of art, craft, cuisine, music, history, and community events. This Lithuanian Festival, which took place November 2-10, was organized by the Lithuanian Embassy in the United States and the Lithuanian Honorary Consulate …

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American Lithuanian – Nobel Prize winner

Interview with economist at Yale University professor Robert Shiller By Raimundas Marius Lapas.   Yale University Professor, Robert J. Shiller, who is of Lithuanian descent, was one of the recipients of this year’s Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Science. An economist, academic, and author of numerous popular books dealing with …

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Apples – fall’s favorite fruit

APPLE AND PEAR SALAD Obuolių ir kriaušių salotos 6 sweet-sour apples or pears 3 cups water 1 cup sugar 1 lemon 5 cloves 5 aromatic peppers ¼ stick cinnamon Dash of salt Peel apples, cut into quarters and core. Cook 2-3 minutes in marinade, on low heat. Remove apples and …

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Lithuanian Soldiers in Combat in China and the Philippines

Recently, Lithuanian troops have deployed as part of the coalition fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan, but this is not the first time Lithuanians have seen combat in Asia. In 1896-1899, they fought in the Philippines, then in 1899-1901, in China. Lithuanians served as volunteers in the US armed forces, but …

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Stay cool as a cucumber

COLD BEET SOUP Žaltibarščiai 3-4 fresh red beets (canned beets can also be used) 2 small cucumbers 2 hard-boiled eggs ½ cup sour cream 2 cups buttermilk 4 cups cold water ½ cup chives, chopped Fresh dill, chopped Salt to taste Pinch sugar, if desired Cook unpeeled beets in water …

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Captain Cook’s Naturalist, Georg Forster, in Lithuania 1784-1787

Today, Johann Georg Adam Forster is not a household name. This contrasts very much with his own time, when he was the author of a celebrated book about James Cook’s second voyage to the South Pacific, A  Voyage Round the World. As a traveler and naturalist, he made major contributions …

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Cool as a cucumber

FRESH CUCUMBER SOUP Šviežių agurkų sriuba 4 cups prepared broth or bouillon 2 to 3 medium cucumbers 1/2 lb. smoked ham 1 medium onion, sliced 2 cloves 1  Tbsp. flour 1  Tbsp.  butter 1 cup heavy or medium cream 2 egg yolks 1/2 cup cooked barley Salt and pepper Chopped …

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