Prianiki

Russian ginger breads (Prianiki).
Recipe (here in Russian):

Rye flour- 2.5 cups Honey - 1 cup Sugar - 1/3 cup Zest of half orange Vodka - 1/3 cup (well, in the original recipe they mention pure alcohol, that one, which is 90%vol and transparent) Cinnamon powder  - 1/2 tea spoon Clove - 1/2 tea spoon Nutmeg - 1/2 tea spoon Pepper - 1/2 tea spoon
Boil honey, cool, stir in spices, orange zest, mix well with spatula, gradually add sugar, alcohol, flour, and when the mass has cooled, knead the dough. After this process the dough, folding and stretching it till it turn white. Leave for half an hour, then cut into round cakes of 1 cm (half inch) thickness and bake on a floured baking sheet for about 15 minutes in mid temperatures.

The Honey Fair in Manezh

Twice a year, August and February, Moscow is indulged by the honey from all over Russia. The fair gives the opportunity to buy fresh, real honey directly from the producers, who can talk about honey for hours explaining all the nuances and details of utility, collecting and storing, you can taste as many samples as you want, honey is delivered from Middle Russia, high mountains of Altai,  Far East, etc.
I did not know that when you plan to try many types of honey you need to be equipped with bottle of water to wash away the previous taste. Or to take a bite of apple for same reason. I choose water, looks like this way I can try more honey...
Click to enlarge:

Honeycombs

Honey fair

Find a bee!

To continue my yesterday's story, let me show you a piece of 'open' honeycomb. Amazing construction, isn't it? I'm always fascinated by a view of cells.

And.. try to locate a bee in this picture!

Cutting honeycomb

Honeycomb is quite popular in Russia. Children like chewing it, and cells themselves (wax, in fact) contain a lot of healthful elements for all ages. Since a whole frame is usually too large, people buy small pieces. Here you can see the way those pieces are made: a beefarmer uses thick wire to cut out a brick of honeycomb, then carefully puts it in a plastic box. Some farmers sell 'sealed' honeycombs (like the one you see in this picture) and you can store it for quite a long time. And others offer 'open' honeycomb, which is either not old enough to be sealed by bees or 'shaved' by farmer.

Honey fair, part 2

Moscow fair offers both clear honey and honeycomb. Here is an example of latter. And, obviously, it's not only people who's fond of honey!

Honey Fair

Every autumn Moscow hosts a Honey Fair. Hundreds of bee farmers come to the city to sell all kinds of honey and joint products. This week-end I went to Tsaritsyno park where the fair was held to buy some honey and make some photos. I was wandering among honeymen's tents when I suddenly saw the one from the little town in Southern Russia where I spent every summer of my childhood. I couldn't but take a picture, and those people were kind enough to pose for me. Moreover, they made me say 'Hello' to their camera so they could show a clip on local TV. Well, and I am showing their photo in my blog :)