30 | frozen

and a feeble attempt to unpause

At the start of the month when I paused for jelly donuts I had optimistically, selfishly hoped I could wait out this war. Now I don’t know how to continue here in the midst of it.

In January’s letter 26 I covered Ukrainian poet and activist Serhiy Zhadan and the work he’s been doing since the Revolution of Dignity in 2014. Over the last month he’s been using his Facebook page to cover the situation in Kharkiv and to support the role of volunteer militias.

Last Friday he called for donations to support purchases related to his organizing efforts. Funds are used for everything from vehicles, helmets and bullet proof vests to food and first aid support. These aren’t the type of direct donations you might be accustomed to, but it is the kind of grassroots organizing that is desperately needed.

DONATE HERE:

Serhiy Zhadan’s Patreon: www.patreon.com/serhiyzhadan

PayPal transfers from outside Ukraine: Serhiy Zhadan - sirozhazhadan@gmail.com

Learn more about the development of volunteer militias since the Revolution of Dignity by streaming the film Myth which follows Ukrainian opera singer, Vasyl Slipak, who left Paris to join the ranks.

nalysnyky (налисники) - Ukrainian-style filled crepes

A food fit for any part of the day, nalysnyky travel well if you pack them snugly or wrap in wax paper. This recipe yields 6 filled crepes, but they are filling so that may be all you need. NOTE: Kefir is the rising agent, so don’t skip it.

what you need

filling: 1-14oz package of farmer's cheese ◾ 1-2 handfuls shredded carrots ◾ 2 cloves garlic, minced ◾ kosher salt to taste

pancakes: 2 eggs ◾ 1 tablespoon sugar ◾ 2/3 cup all-purpose flour ◾ pinch of salt ◾ 3/4 cup milk ◾ 1 1/2 tablespoons kefir ◾ 1 tablespoon vegetable oil

what to do

Mix together filling ingredients and set aside.

Warm a 7-8" non-stick frying pan over medium heat.

In a medium bowl, whisk the eggs with the sugar, then incorporate the salt and flour. Slowly add milk while continuing to whisk. Then pour in kefir and oil and mix until all the lumps are gone.

Pour 1/4 cup of the batter into the frying pan, using the back of the measuring cup to quickly spread the batter across the bottom of the pan. It should be very thin, almost see through. Cook for 1-3 minutes, until light/golden brown. Flip with a large spatula and continue cooking for another 1-2 minutes. Repeat with the remaining batter.

Spread 1-2 heaping tablespoons of the filling into the center of the pancake and roll up like a burrito.

My recipe request cupboard is bare. Help refill my coffers by sending in 5 recipes you’ve enjoyed, your name and current hometown.

• Reading 

  You don’t get by on being original. You don’t get by on being bright. You don’t get by on being strong. You get by on being a subtle crook.

  • Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel (2009) for my annual two-person book club.

• Listening - a lot more train conductor announcements than I’ve heard in the last two years.

• Watching - House of Gucci by Ridley Scott (2021) which probably got harsher reviews than it deserved for being such a straightforward biopic.

• Smelling - Bloom by Gucci (2017) because I’m just a hamster in the marketing wheel.