draugas

The When, How, and Why of the Lithuanians in Scotland

BY JOHN MILLAR (JONAS STEPŠIS) MY INTEREST IN THE LITHUANIAN COMMUNITY in Scotland stems, firstly, from the fact that I am the Scots-born son of Lithuanian immigrants who settled in Scotland at the beginning of the 20th century. Secondly, from a deep, compulsive desire to find my roots. When I …

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Latvia: a Look At Our Northern Cousins

BY JAMES M. BOUBONIS Lithuanians often refer to their northern neighbors as “the nation of brothers.” But how many similarities and differences can we find between the two countries? THE CULTURE OF LATVIA BEARS A STRONG RE- semblance to that of its ethnic and linguistic sister to the south – …

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Cool salads for those hot days

CABBAGE AND CARROT COLESLAW Kopūstų ir morkų mišrainė 2½ cups shredded cabbage ½ cup shredded carrot 3 Tbsps light mayonnaise 2 tsps sugar 2 Tbsps nonfat sour cream 2 tsps mustard (Dijon preferred) Salt and pepper to taste In a large bowl, combine cabbage and carrot. In small bowl, combine …

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Joninės… or Is It Rasos?

In Lithuania, the midsummer night and day are still celebrated with rituals and ceremonies whose origins date back to pagan times. ROMANCIENT TIMES, PEOPLE MARKED THE time of the return of the sun and the year’s longest day. In olden times in Lithuania this day was called Rasos or the …

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Spring delights

LITHUANIAN BEEF BIRDS Lietuviški riestiniai 3 lbs. tender beef 2 oz. butter 2 onions 1 cup black bread crumbs 4 dried mushrooms 1 egg 1 Tbsp. flour 1 carrot ½ cup sour cream 1½ cups broth Salt, pepper to taste Cut meat into thin square slices against the grain, being …

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Respond With a Song

by Janina Birutė Litvinas The Lithuanian Song Festival tradition in America is almost as old as Lithuanian immigration itself. From its early beginnings in 1914, this tradition has continued almost uninterrupted to this day. MY ALMOST SACRED RELIC, A TRAVEL BOOK from my Father’s library, Lithuania, Guiding Facts for Tourists, …

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Easter Sweets

FLOWERPOT CHEESE Saldus sūris, “Paska” 6 hard-boiled egg yolks ¼ lb. butter 1 cup sugar 2 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese, softened 1 (16-ounce) package firm cottage cheese 2 tsps. vanilla extract Juice from 1 lemon 1 tsp. grated lemon rind ½ cup almonds, sliced ½ cup light raisins or currants …

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Hot soups for cold days

LEMON SOUP Citrininė sriuba ¾ cups rice 2 cups light cream 1 Tbsp butter 2 qts soup stock (chicken is best) 4 egg yolks Juice of 1 lemon In tightly covered pan cook washed rice with butter and several table- spoons of the soup stock. Beat egg yolks till light, …

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Some “Kūčios” favorites

CHRISTMAS EVE BISCUITS Kūčiukai, šližikai ¼ cup warm water (105°F to 115°F) 1 package dry yeast ¾ cup milk ¼ cup sugar 1 tsp. salt 1 egg, beaten ¼ cup butter, melted 3½ to 4 cups flour Dissolve yeast in warm water in large bowl; let stand 5 min. Add …

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Antanas Kaztauskis, From Lithuania to the Chicago Stockyards – an Autobiography, 1904

BY ERNEST POOLE Antanas Kaztauskis, From Lithuania to the Chicago Stockyards – An Autobiography, 1904 Next year will mark the 100th anniversary of the publication of Upton Sinclair’s classic novel The Jungle. The book describes the life of a Lithuanian immigrant in Chicago’s Back of the Yards neighborhood and his …

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