• Russian Gourmet: Stuffed Bell Peppers

    During my conversation with George Detsios he mentioned that his restaurant had a very short menu which included stuffed peppers and stuffed cabbage. Stuffed peppers are not hard to make and if you purchase the peppers at the City Market like I did for 3-for-a-dollar they are also very inexpensive. I am not sure if they will be as good as George’s but you wouldn’t know any better anyway.

    First, assemble the ingredients and equipment. You will need 6 peppers, lean ground beef, a carrot, few stalks of celery, an onion,a handful of rice, a can of tomato juice, cooking (olive) oil, salt, pepper, large pot to hold the peppers, smaller pot to boil tomato juice and a skillet. If you have a choice pick the peppers other than green, they are sweeter.

    Put a handful of rice into a small pot of water, heat it up until it just boils then rinse. Remove the tops from the peppers, clean out the seeds and wash the peppers inside and outside. Do not discard the tops.

    Chop an onion, and saute on the skillet with (olive) oil until translucent and soft. Shred a carrot into the skillet and continue sauteing on the low heat.

    During that time boil a pot of water, turn off the heat, put peppers with tops in the pot and let them soften up for a few minutes. Drain the water and remove peppers.

    While the peppers are cooling, boil tomato juice. Adjust salt/sugar levels to taste.

    Mix ground beef, onions and carrots from the skillet, shredded celery and a couple of handfuls of water. Add salt if needed.

    Stuff the mixture into peppers. Do not try to fit as much meat into a pepper as you can, this is not a meat-stuffing contest. Place peppers into an empty pot and cover with tops.

    If you still have leftover meat  – roll it into a meatball and place it in the pot with peppers.

    Pour boiling tomato juice over peppers, bring to boil, then simmer for 20-30 minutes. The goal is to have the stuffing cooked without letting the peppers disintegrate.

    Serve with sour cream.

    Here are the rest of my photos.


    Disclaimer:this blog assumes no responsibility if the words “stuffing meat” got you excited. Please move on.

    Continue reading →
  • Old Photos: Glamour in Kansas Court

    This set was published in the April, 1959 issue under the heading “A beautiful parole worker,Pat Rice, brings glamour to the grim proceedings in Kansas City, Kansas municipal court“. Hopefully Ms.Rice, who should be about 70 years old now is alive and well and still has this old magazine.

    Bonus question:what’s on TV?

    20 yr. old parole office aide Patricia Rice at home.
    20 yr. old parole office aide Patricia Rice at home.

    The rest of the set.

    Continue reading →
  • Things You Probably Never Heard Of: Eurovision 2009

    In the country where the “World Series” usually include such world powers as New York and Arizona, it’s no wonder that a musical competition in Europe is not front page news. I feel it’s my duty to inform those of you who haven’t heard the news that this year’s Eurovision 2009 was won by a Russian-born singer representing Norway.

    httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fBFFlL58UTM

    I actually had more fun watching the compilation of all the winners in the previous 50 years where many songs sounded very familiar.

    httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4G0eiFxEiIU

    While you may want to take a look at poodle-looking Celine Dion somehow representing Switzerland, I like the following song from 1975 a lot better.

    httpvh://youtu.be/5fG09fmsQB8

    Continue reading →
  • Old Ads: Alcohol

    Some vintage ads for alcoholic beverages.

    Beer manufacturers had a dream. We can now safely say they didn’t dream big enough.

    ©Time/Life
    Continue reading →
  • Old Photos: Feeling Pretty In A Soviet Beauty Salon

    When I was growing up® beauty salon employees were not dressing up as nurses any longer, although this seems to be a fancy establishment in 1956 Moscow.

    A woman getting her hair curled.©Time Lisa Larsen
    A woman getting a facial.©Time Lisa Larsen
    Russian women having manicures.©Time Lisa Larsen
    A woman getting a facial.©Time Lisa Larsen
    A lady receiving a pedicure.©Time Lisa Larsen
    A lady getting her hair cut.©Time Lisa Larsen
    Continue reading →