babushka's oladushki
fluffy kefir pancakes from my childhood
I cannot even believe I am writing this as the first snow in NYC is coming down. It’s absolutely magical, beautiful, nostalgic, perfect. I have been waiting for this moment and now that it’s here, the vibes are in fact electric. Waking up to the sound of a shovel in the distance, cleaning snow scratches my brain so good. Is it just me??
I’m also just remembering how when we were younger we would shoot out of bed the morning it snowed and go watch the news half asleep waiting for our schools name to pop up that it’s cancelled lol what a life. And then I’d be at the hills sledding half the day away before coming home to drink hot chocolate and watch a movie. I’m about to cry and I need to go sledding asap.
But it was also days like this that my mom would whip up these pancakes for us. It was either blinchiki or oladi. American style pancakes!? Didn’t know her. And while my sister would always want blinchiki (more crepe like, recipe here) I would be the fighting for the oladi (as the youngin I would usually win)
The other year when I went to visit my babushka in Belarus, she showed me how to make both types. Her oladi are next level and I think it has to do with the dairy there being fattier, fresher and just better. I made a tweak or two to her “recipe” aka measurements of the heart. But after 6 tries and 3 calls to my mom, I ended up with the perfect fluffy light as air oladi, just like I remember :’) cue ratatouille flashback moment. Here’s the video visual of me making them if it’s helpful!
Anyway, not this intro giving quintessential food blog spewing my entire childhood life story and memories on you before the recipe. Here it is, go make it and pretend you’re a kid today.
