draugas

A Lithuanian Perspective On Napoleon’s 1812 Russia Campaign

by Henry L. Gaidis TWO HUNDRED YEARS AGO, Napoleon embarked on his epic 1812 Russia Campaign with high hopes of securing his total control of the European Continent. Although the story of this tragic campaign is known by virtually every high school student, few are aware of Lithuanian involvement in …

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Šaltibarščiai and other cool soups for a warm summer

COLD BEET SOUP (1) šaltibarščiai (1) 4 cups cold water 2 cups buttermilk 2 cups canned and diced or 3-4 fresh beets, boiled, peeled and diced 2 small cucumbers, peeled and diced 2 hard-boiled eggs, diced ½ cup sour cream Salt and pepper to taste 3 Tbsps. fresh dill, chopped …

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Tasty appetizers for your Spring entertainment

STUFFED MUSHROOMS Kimšti grybai 10 ounces mushrooms, washed and trimmed 2 Tbsps. butter 3 Tbsps. finely chopped onions 2 Tbsps. fresh parsley 1 cup bread crumbs 1 tsp. mustard ¼ cup grated cheddar or other hard cheese Salt and pepper to taste Dry mushroom caps on paper towel. Chop stems. …

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The British in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania

By Miltiades Varvounis The British in the Grand Duchy  of Lithuania For over five hundred years Britons have visited the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. Some came as warriors, others as diplomats, educators or traders, and still others as permanent settlers BRITONS HAVE BEEN VISITING LITHUANIA AND Lithuanians Great Britain since …

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A Sweet Easter

EASTER BREAD Velykų pyragas 2 cups scalded milk 2 packages active dry yeast ¼ cup plus ½ cup sugar 3 cups plus 3½ cups sugar 3 large beaten eggs 1 tsp. salt 1 cup white raisins ½ cup melted butter 1 large egg yolk 1½ Tbsps water Cool scalded milk …

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The Jesuits in Vilnius

By Antanas Saulaitis, S.J. VILNIUS HAS BEEN THE center of Lithuania, both Grand Duchy and Replic, for seven centuries. For two of those centuries, Vilnius was the hub of a wheel of Jesuit education and ministry from Prussia to Russia, Estonia to northern Poland. The Jesuit heritage in the capital …

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For Your Sweet Tooth

SOFT HONEY CAKE Minkštas meduolis 3 cups flour 2 cups honey 1 cup powdered sugar 1 cup black coffee 1 tsp. soda or baking powder 1 tsp. spices 1 tsp. cocoa 8 eggs Beat honey with sugar until white. Mix flour, cocoa, spices and baking powder and add a little …

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Warm soups for chilly days

DILL PICKLE SOUP Raugintų agurkų sriuba 4 large dill pickles, diced or thinly sliced 2 Tbsps. flour 2 Tbsps. oil 3 cups beef broth 2/3 cup liquid from pickles 2½ cups diced boiled potatoes (optional) 1 cup sour cream Coat pickles with flour. Stir-fry pick-les in oil over medium heat …

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The Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania: Hidden Gold of Lithuania’s Past?

BY JOLANTA KARPAVIČIENĖ THE PALACE OF THE GRAND Dukes of Lithuania, which is now being reconstructed in Vilnius, embodies the whole course of Lithuanian history. The foundation signifies the beginnings of statehood in the thirteenth century and multiple layers of artifacts document the expansion of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania …

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Adolfas Ramanauskas the Hawk vs. the USSR

By Alvydas (Al) Karasa One of the last and best known commanders of Lithuanian armed resistance to Russian occupation was born in Connecticut HE STORY OF LITHUANIA’S ARMED RESISTANCE to Russian occupation during and after World War Two is a long and tragic one More than 50,000 died in the …

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