DRAUGAS NEWS Lithuanian World Wide News in English
LET’S COOK LITHUANIAN
with Dana Siliūnas.
IT’S APPLE PICKIN’ TIME
Today you see all kinds of tropical and exotic fruits in stores and markets of Lithuania — bananas, oranges, kiwis, etc. But for centuries, only fruits and berries that grow in northern climates were known. These — and particularly apples — made up an important part of the Lithuanian diet.
RICE-STU FFED BAKED APPLES
Obuoliai idaryti su ryžiais
1 cup uncooked rice
1 cup water
3/4 cup apple juice
6 large baking apples
3/4 cup raisins
1/2 cup fresh or frozen cranberries, chopped
1/2 cup chopped dried apricots
1/2 cup chopped pecans
1/4 cup maple syrup
3 Tbs. brown sugar
1 Tb. lemon juice
1 1/2 tsps. ground allspice
1 tsp. vanilla extract
Combine rice, water and apple juice in a 2- to 3-quart saucepan. Bring to a boil over high heat; stir once or twice. Reduce heat to low; cover and simmer 15 min., or until rice is tender and liquid is absorbed. Set aside. Core apples leaving 1 Viinch walls and bottoms intact; set aside. Peel top halves, if desired. Combine rice, raisins, cranberries, apricots, pecans, syrup, brown sugar, lemon juice, allspice and vanilla in large bowl. Stuff apples with rice mixture and place in shallow glass baking dish. Place remaining rice mixture around apples. Cover with foil; bake at 350° for 50-60 min. or until apples are fork-tender. Makes 6 servings.
APPLE & COTTAGE CHEESE PANCAKES
Obuoliniai blynai su varške
4 egg whites
1 cup cottage cheese
1 cup grated apples, Granny Smith or another not-toosweet variety
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 to 2 tsps. lemon juice
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
Oil or butter for frying
Salt to taste
Thin apple slices (optional garnish)
Maple syrup, sour cream or yogurt, berry sauce (optional toppings)
Using an electric mixer or whisk, beat the egg whites with a pinch of salt until stiff. In a mediun-size bowl, combine the cottage cheese, grated apples, flour, lemon juice, cinnamon and Vi tsp salt and mix well. Fold in the whites. Heat a griddle or skillet with a light coating of oil. When hot, ladle lA-lh-cup portions of the batter onto the griddle without crowding. Cook until firm and browned on one side, turn and cook the other side. Transfer to a warming oven while cooking the remaining batter. Serve on plates or a platter garnished with optional apple slices. Pass syrup, sour cream or berry sauce — or all three — at the table. Serves 10- 14.
APPLE OR PEAR SALAD
Obuoliu ar kriaušiu salotos
6 sweet-sour apples or pears
3 cups water
1 cup sugar
1 lemon
5 cloves
5 aromatic peppers
1/4 stick cinnamon
Dash of salt
Peel apples, cut into quarters and core. Cook 2-3 min. in marinade, on low heat. Remove apples and place in a dish. Boil remaining marinade to desired taste, and when cool, pour over the apples. Let stand 24 hours. To serve, place apples into salad bowl and pour marinade over them.
Sweet Marinade:
2 cups water
1 cup 6% vinegar
2 cups sugar
4 cloves
6 aromatic peppers
1/4 stick cinnamon
Simmer water with sugar and spices for 15 min. Remove foam, add vinegar and a dash of salt (optional). This marinade is used to marinate fruit and berries, or to make a sweet salad. The amount of vinegar and sugar depends on the sweetness of the fruit and berries used. This method is also used to prepare pear salad. Apple and pear salad is served with poultry, veal, or rabbit dishes. APPLE CRISP A LA M ODE Obuoliu traškuciai 8 apples, peeled and diced V4 cup water IV2 cups uncooked oatmeal 1 cup flour 3A cup brown sugar 1 tsp. cinnamon V2 cup margarine 1 quart low-fat frozen yogurt
APPLE CRISP A LA MODE
Obuoliu traškuciai
8 apples, peeled and diced
1/4 cup water
1 1/2 cups uncooked oatmeal
1 cup flour
3/4 cup brown sugar
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 cup margarine
1 quart low-fat frozen yogurt
Place apples and water in an 8-inch baking dish. Combine flour, oatmeal, brown sugar and cinnamon. Add margarine and blend until crumbly. Spread over apples. Bake at 350° for 45 min. Spoon apple crisps equally into eight dessert dishes and top with frozen yogurt. Serves 8.