Have you ever heard of Maslenitsa?

This is a week-long festival when the Russians traditionally make and eat blini (Russian for crepes) served with maslo (melted butter). It usually happens at the end of the winter season prior to Velikiy Post or Great Lent.

This year Maslenitsa falls on the week of February 24 – March 1, 2020.

Blini have always been one of the most ritualistic foods in Russia. In the early days of pagan Russia, blini were considered being a symbol of Sun – round and golden. The Church has kept this pagan tradition – after all, the Russian winter is too long and cold to deprive folks of the buttery and tender blini that provide a sense of well-being.

Blini are made and eaten not only for sun worship and pagan rituals but on many other occasions. Commemorations, wakes, childbirths, birthday celebrations, and marriages – blini are eaten throughout the cycle of life in Russia, even when there is no reason at all but the simple pleasure of eating blini. My maternal grandma, Busya, always asked to be remembered with blini at her wake.

Everybody in Russia likes to make blini and serve them with melted butter, or sour cream, or salmon caviar, or honey – pretty much with anything you crave. Cooked ground meat, grated apples, cottage cheese, mushrooms could also be rolled inside.

Everything goes well with blini!

My grandma, Busya, was a magician when it came to blini, among many other dishes. She would make them so thin, almost transparent, that they melted in my mouth. Hot blini dipped into cool sour cream is a happy and memorable taste reminiscent of my childhood breakfasts. Busya had a special skillet for making blini, that she kept locked away. It was forbidden to be used for anything else. She masterfully flipped each blin on the skillet without damaging it. Making blini requires some practice. A lot of practice. As they say, the first blin (singular for blini) is always ruined or lumpy, and that’s a fact. You have to continue until you have a knack for it.

All you need is patience and, of course, flour, eggs, milk or kefir, olive oil, and a proper skillet. Melted butter goes in between each blin to keep them from sticking together and for the heavenly taste it creates. 

It’s cold outside. So let the Sun worship begin! 

P.S. All the food featured in this post has been prepared and photographed by me.