Everything’s Better with Sour Cream
And it is - if you’re Ukrainian or of Uke descent which I am. Sour cream goes in the soup, on the pierogis, mixed in with cucumbers and dill, and it even makes a nice facial in the evenings just before bed. Unfortunately, a few of our family food traditions have been lost along with the relatives from the old country so that’s why I always keep an eye out for eastern orthodox church festivals where I can get my fix of pierogis, babkas, and holupki (stuffed cabbage).
And so my calendar is blocked out for this weekend’s Ukrainian Festival at St. Andrew’s Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral in Silver Spring, Maryland (15100 New Hampshire Avenue). Last year, I went for the food, but stayed for the jammed packed outdoor stage o’ dancing, singing and assorted other kosacking. There’s also a small little market where you can pick up all your Uke supplies like egg dying kits and little magnets that say “Ukrainian Kitchen” (a most excellent stocking stuffer). And don’t forget to pop in to the church’s indoor eastern european shop inside where you can pick up super-sized Ukrainian beers, kielbasa and bags o’ poppy seeds. Yes, those slavs like their poppy seeds pastries and, apparently, the inability to pass a random drug test.
St. Andrew Ukrainian Festival, September 16-17, 2006:
http://www.standrewuoc.org/festival.htm