By Kazys Almenas A Tale of Two (Small) Cities Actually, when our story opens , one of these is just a charming town, the other — a picturesque village. The town is called Krantas, Cranz in German. Located at the spot where the Curonian Spit begins, 33 km by train …

LET’S COOK LITHUANIAN with Dana Siliūnas RED  BEET  SALAD  WITH  ONIONS Bu rokėlių  salotos  su  svogūnais 4 medium red beets 2 medium onions 1/2 cup wine vinegar 1 bay leaf 6 peppercorns 1 tsp. sugar Salt to taste Boil  unpeeled  beets  until  soft,  peel, and grate coarsely. Add chopped onions. …

LET’S  COOK   LITHUANIAN with Dana Siliūnas Easter is a very special event for Lithuanians.The Easter meal usually includes a variety of meats to celebrate the end of long fasting during Lent. ROASTED   DUCKLING Kepta  antis 1 duckling, 5 to 5 1/2 pounds, excess fat removed 1 orange, quartered 1 tart …

By Tračevskis Rokas In western Lithuania there is a group of people who speak a different dialect and sometimes claim a different nationality. Still, they remain a part of Lithuania. Rokas M. Tračevskis reports on how the Samogitians became a “sub-nation” of Lithuania. WE ARE AN INTERNATIONAL FAMILY, SAID Vilma laughing, …

By Jeanne Leita Stump Lost & Found A lengthy, exhaustive, and meticulous search for Lithuanian roots on two continents culminates in a joyful meeting with long-lost relatives. It seems impossible that just last August I was sitting at a table filled with savory Lithuanian food and surrounded by Leita cousins! …

HOT SOUPS On cold days like those we are having this winter, nothing warms you up better than a bowl of hot home-made soup. CHICKEN DUMPLING SOUP Viščiuko sriuba su leistinėliais 1 cup onion, medium diced 1/2 cup celery, medium diced 1/2 cup carrots, medium diced 1 stick butter 1/2 …

By Arnold Voketaitis PERHAPS MANY OF LITHUANIAN, HERITAGE readers or opera/concert goers will remember my name from my 45 year international/ national operatic/concert career. Well, this article is not about my career, but about Lithuania’s great internationally acclaimed, honored and brilliant pianist Muza Rubackyte. When Chicago’s premiere classical radio station …

LET’S COOK LITHUANIAN with Dana Siliūnas. HONEY COOKIES Meduolėliai 4 1/2 cups flour 1/2 tsp. baking powder 3 egg yolks 3 Tbsps. honey 2 Tbsps. melted butter 2 Tbsps. sugar 2 Tbsps. sour cream 1 tsp. spice mixture 1 Tbsp. caramel (burnt sugar liquid) Add honey, spices, and butter to …

BY JULIE SKURDENIS Prehistoric Lithuania a New Museum Dedicated to the Past IN THE HEART OF VILNIUS, LITHUANIA’S CAPITAL, rises Gediminas Hill. At 158 feet it towers over the city spread out below. Here — so legend says — King Gediminas founded Vilnius in the 14th century, making it his …

LET’S COOK  LITHUANIAN with Dana Siliūnas APPLE  CRISP Traškus obuolinis  pyragas 4 cups apples, peeled, cored, andsliced 1/4 cup orange juice 1 cup sugar 2 cups flour 1/2 tsp. cinnamon 1/4 tsp. nutmeg Dash salt 1/2 cup butter Preheat oven to  375°.  Lightly oil or spray with nonstick vegetable oil …