It's the little things...

Our move to Russia has provided me with many opportunities to grow, and expand my knowledge of how vastly different parts of the world can be.  I have said this before, and Ryan jokes about this quite often, I am a small, Midwestern girl that moved from Indiana to Houston, and is now living in Russia.  Even after a year, there are still moments, when I am walking somewhere, shopping in the grocery store, or just sitting in our apartment, that it hits me, "I live in Russia!?!?!"

Life here has been very different, but it's the little things that truly make this experience memorable.  I am so thankful I decided to write this blog.  It not only gives me the opportunity to ramble on excessively (if I do not meet my spoken word quota each day, I at least know I have fulfilled my written word quota), but it provides me the opportunity to write about small, daily things that make our lives memorable.  Yes, the big trips are exciting, the traveling is remarkable, but when it comes to life, it's the little things that truly make up our lives.  I don't want to forget the little things about our life in Russia.

Did you think this entire post was going to be warm, and sentimental.  Yes, it did start that way, but then I include a picture of quinoa, tofu, and cottage cheese.  Really?  Remember, it's the small things. :)

I have caused some scenes in the grocery store.  My friend Kim was present when I first found quinoa.  She didn't know what it was, but decided that since I was buying it, she should also.  If you remember, while in the States I made turkey quinoa chili, and I said that when I found quinoa in Russia, it would be the first thing I made, I stuck to my promise.

Oh, cottage cheese.  You either love or hate it, there is no middle ground.  I love it, and I miss it dearly.  My Mother always has some in the refrigerator, and I eat a disgustingly large amount of cottage cheese during my States visits.  I have finally found, a decent cottage cheese in Russia.  My first Russian cottage cheese experience took place about a week after our move to Russia, it was such an awful experience, that it took me until this week (over a year later) to give it another try.  I found this new brand, and to my amazement, it will do.  It is drier than the cottage cheese I am used to, but mixed with fruit or veggies, it provides me what I need to answer my cottage cheese cravings.

Tofu.  Not much to say here, besides the fact I received strange looks from local shoppers as I began squealing when I found it.  The cashier looked at it funny while she was ringing it up (maybe it's because me bought 4 containers).  I decided to use some of our newly purchased tofu, and made tofu stir fry.  It turned out much better than I thought, the tofu held up nicely.  I would have taken a picture, but I upset the stove top.  I think it overheated, so I was stressed about a broken stove top.  No worries, once it (the stove top) was able to cool down, it decided to work again. :)  Anyway, I will finish this blog with a quote from my loving husband.  He always eats what I make, even when I feed him "rabbit food."

After finishing his (large) bowl of tofu stir fry:

"I think I just expended more calories eating and chewing that meal than I actually consumed."

The Continuously Growing Obsession...

My previous blog consisted of a new attempt at entertainment.  If you remember correctly, I mentioned cooking as a form of entertainment that has grown exponentially since our move to Russia.  It is definitely a continuously growing obsession.  I have become completely obsessed with finding new ingredients, new ideas, new anything, to add some entertainment to my day, and to provide a variety of culinary creations.

Allow me to set the scene:

Friday Night
Boredom is present
Cinnamon roll recipe calling my name (a recipe I was going to make on Ryan's birthday, but it fell on a weekday, so I passed on breakfast cinnamon rolls)

I asked Ryan if he would like to help.  He claimed he had never made dough made from scratch, and I thought it would be fun to have him help.  You will see from the pictures, his assistance quickly moved from baking to photography.

The cinnamon roll baking adventure sprang to life after Ryan came home from work Friday, and said he would need to go into the office on Saturday.  In an attempt to make the Saturday office a bit more exciting, I would send warm cinnamon rolls.  Also, as you read previously, I had wanted to make cinnamon rolls for Ryan's birthday breakfast. AND, since Ryan and I would not be able to fit into our pants if we ate everything I baked, I like to share baked goods with others.  *I am still waiting for the day our drivers ask to join me at the gym.  I have fed them a large amount of baked goods since our move. 

Dough had already sat, and doubled.  I rolled the dough flat, Ryan helped spread the yummy cinnamon filling.  Then I rolled the flat dough into the log shape.  Let the cutting begin!

First slice.  "Oh, wow, it actually looks like a cinnamon roll!"

All cut, and ready to rise some more.  This is where I decided to alter the recipe/preparation.  Instead of allowing the rolls to rise for 45 minutes, prior to baking, I decided to put them in the refrigerator, and bake them in the morning.  Cinnamon rolls are not too difficult to make, but the amount of resting/rising time makes it too long of a process to complete in the morning.  

Next morning, pop them in the oven.  Whip up the icing while they are baking.  Go crazy about how fantastic the apartment smells.  Spread gooey icing over hot cinnamon rolls.  And you have yet another culinary creation. :)

Too good for our own good...

Life in Russia does not provide us with many options in the entertainment department.

Our entertainment options are:

*Movies.  DVDs brought from the States, and numerous movies purchased through iTunes.
*Spending time with other expats, and occasionally Russians.
*Cooking (my food and cooking obsession has grown exponentially)
*Others that do not currently come to mind, but I really think I have hit the major ones.

In our never-ending quest to find new entertainment options, Ryan and I sorted through the boardgames we brought in our shipment.  Much to our disappointment, the games are all focused on multiple players, and not two.  Ryan and I were brainstorming games that would be fun for the two of us.  We decided Jenga would be a fun game.  Easy for two people, competitive, and not too intense.

How hard could it be to find Jenga in Novorossisyk?  Vitaley was our driver during our search for Jenga.  We had a picture of the game, I explained (charades style) how the game was played, and even with all of Vitaley's skills and connections, he could not locate the game.  Luckily, our friends Kim and Ed brought the game from the States.

All was set for our new form of entertainment, only to be disappointed.

We are too good for our own good.  

No other options, besides a guaranteed collapse.  Both of us were too stubborn to pull the loosing block (I should mention, it was Ryan's turn). :)

So we decided to continue our turns, and begin to rebuild the tower.  One of us would definitely get clumsy, and knock it over.  

Hmmm, that didn't work either.  Now we were back to the beginning.  

Maybe a thumb war?

Let's try this again.  I heard some people play the game by pulling one block, and placing it on the top layer, essentially building the tower higher.
*Observe our other form of entertainment in the background.  Ryan has become obsessed with Shark Tank, and has downloaded all available shows.  

About time.  Our "pulling and rebuilding" method worked.  We were actually able to get the tower to fall.  Oh, I need to mention; Ryan caused the tower to fall.  :)  

An Easter Story...

No pastel, frilly dresses, or elaborate hats were present.  The chocolate bunnies found refuge outside the Russian boundaries.  Babe (the pig) was pardoned, and survived Easter 2012.  And I did not attempt to hunt, but, no colorful eggs were found.

Our Easter, in Russia, did not involve spring dresses, chocolate bunnies, goody filled eggs, or ham, but, none the less, it was a delicious experience.  A favorite of Ryan's (I am coming to learn there are many) is pineapple, cherry chicken.  I figured it was a "Springy" meal, and decided to make it the starring role of our Easter dinner.

We also did not attend an Easter brunch, but our blueberry, ricotta pancakes were plenty worthy.

You may have missed attendance to our dinner, but allow the photo to give you a glimpse.  I cannot wait for the day we can invite family to our home to celebrate the holidays.  I love cooking for dinner parties, and in the future, I look forward to entertaining, and sharing with our families.

Pineapple Cherry Chicken.  Ginger Roasted Carrots.  Spinach Buckwheat Salad.  

Oreo Cheesecake Cups.  

Wishing you all a Happy Easter.

Love,

Ryan & Virginia 

Weekend in Moscow

Last week, Tuesday, Ryan left for Moscow.  Wednesday, Ryan realized he would remain in Moscow until this upcoming Saturday.  Rather than spending almost two weeks apart, he booked a ticket (Wednesday night), and I was off to Moscow (Thursday morning).  I spent Thursday-Tuesday in Moscow.  My friend Linda was in Moscow with her husband, Brad (you may remember them as the couple we visited in Utah), so Linda and I were able to spend time together while the guys were at the office.

On Saturday, we spent time with Brad and Linda.  Both, are extreme Harley fans, so it was only appropriate for us to visit the Harley Dealership.  Ryan was able to show me a bike he has been looking at. After his Ducati was "borrowed" (stolen) he has missed not having a motorcycle.  I know a motorcycle is a definite in the future, just not in Russia.

I do not remember the exact model name.  Personally, I preferred the orange color (bike in the background) over the yellow.  I believe this model also comes in a completely blacked out version, which is my favorite.  I will encourage Ryan to make a comment on this post, to clarify any incorrect or missing information.  He has been studying his motorcycles. :)
P.S. Don't we look super cute?  DEFINITELY need to get another motorcycle.  

Sunday, Ryan took me on a tour of Moscow, and his different work offices.  Not only did I get to see the different office locations he goes to, but I was able to experience the Moscow Metro.  Now, I have been told that some of the Moscow Metro Stations are some of the most beautiful in the world, and after our Metro adventure, I would agree.  I only saw a few stations, and I am sure they were not the best in the city, but I thought they were beautiful.  I loved the London Underground system (and I still think London is the greatest) but Moscow wins for station design and style.

*Again, excuse the poor photography skills. 

All this, under Moscow.  1 point Moscow.
Too bad Moscow weather equals negative points (possibly -100). 

The name would be pronounced "arbatskaya" The P sounds like an R, the lowercase b makes a B sound (not to be confused with an uppercase B that makes a V sound), C is an S sound, and backwards R makes a "ya" sound.
Welcome to the Russian language.  Just a small tip of the iceberg that causes headaches after each Russian lesson.  :)

Since I have come to the realization that I do not blend in, and numerous people recognize that I am not Russian; I decided to be a tourist.
"Here sweetie, take the camera!  Get a picture of me." tossing the camera to Ryan

I titled this station, "Athlete Station"

My last minute trip to Moscow was a great decision.  It was nice to see more of the city, and even better, to spend time with Ryan.  He is scheduled to return Saturday (the 7th) which means he will not be in Novo long, before we leave for HOUSTON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Look out, Houston, Ryan and I land April 12th.  We are so EXCITED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Not like you could tell? :)