DRAUGAS NEWS Lithuanian World Wide News in English

by Al (Alvydas) Karaša Who were the people that comprised the tribes which Mindaugas united and ruled as their first king? BEFORE THERE WAS A LITHUANIA, AND BEFORE her first Christian king united her people in the 13th century, there were tribes. Made up of clans, and families extended to …

LITHUANIAN DOUGHNUTS Spurgos ½ cup milk 1/3 cup sugar 1 tsp. salt 1/3 cup butter, melted 2 packages active dry yeast ½ cup warm water 3 egg yolks, beaten 3¾ cups all purpose flour, sifted Jam of any type (raspberry, cherry, prune, etc.) In a large bowl dissolve yeast in …

BEET SOUP Burokėlių sriuba, “barščiai” 2 quarts beef stock 3 cans drained (or 3-4 fresh boiled and peeled) beets, grated 1 large onion, chopped 1 celery stalk with leaves, chopped 1 carrot, grated 3 Tbsps. oil Salt and pepper to taste In stock pot or Dutch oven, heat oil and …

by Gloria Kivytaitė O’Brien LITHUANIA IS A LAND OF MANY LAKES AND, IT seems, even many more hills. The oval, flat-topped shapes and looming aspect of many hills identify them as hillforts (piliakalniai), or the remains of ancient fortified places. There are more than 800 places in Lithuania that are …

LITHUANIAN STEW Lietuviškas šutinys 2 lbs. lean beef for stew 2 Tbsps. flour for dredging 4 Tbsps. butter 1 medium onion, sliced 3 medium carrots, sliced 2 stalks celery, sliced 1 leek, sliced 1 parsnip, sliced 1 bay leaf 2 cups broth ½ cup sour cream Salt and pepper to …

By Henry L. Gaidis “What am I if not a Lithuanian, one of your chosen countrymen?… Whom should I defend if not you and myself?… It angers me to be away from Lithuania and serving in Poland…” –Thaddeus Kosciusko I RECENTLY ATTENDED A SEMINAR AT THE U.S. Military Academy in …

by Alvydas (Al) Karaša WITHOUT DOUBT, THE MOST PROMINENT PERsonality of the 14th-15th centuries Lithuania is Vytautas the Great. He stands as the most astute and powerful ruler, who suppressed enemies and negotiated alliances beyond any his immediate predecessors or followers could manage, and led his nation to become the …

SQUARE WITH FRESH FRUIT Plokštainis su žaliais vaisiais 2 cups flour 4 oz. butter 1 egg ½ cup water Some milk Various sliced fresh fruit or berries Knead all the ingredients to mix them together, roll out a thin layer and spread it in a prepared baking sheet. Make a …

PLUM DUMPLINGS Slyvų virtiniai 25 prune plums 3 Tbsps. sugar 2 large potatoes, peeled and quartered ½ tsp. salt 3 egg yolks 2 Tbsps. shortening or butter, softened Dough 2½ cups all-purpose flour 1 tsp. sugar ½ tsp. baking powder Sauce ½ cup butter 1½ cups dark brown sugar ¼ …

By K. Paul Žygas A TRIP TO ROME WITHOUT VISITING ST. Peter’s Basilica would be like going to a birthday party but missing out on the cake. This great church, one of the Eternal City’s principal monuments, is continuously open, even during repairs and restorations, and admission is free. But …