Food: Russian pizza, why not?

Not your typical pizza

In Russia, if it’s not homemade, every feasible part of it, it’s not up to par. Thus, everything usually has few preservatives or none at all, is pretty healthy and is all homemade and homegrown. Take this pizza for example: what can be made at home, is. Coming to Russia you might expect bland food and to eat it in the freezing Siberian cold with a fur coat and a building decorated with red stars and pictures of Lenin from the Soviet period. Such is not the case. Instead, food is flavorful, if it’s properly done–by a babushka!

Thus, I present to you, homemade Russian pizza. Trust me, it is completely unlike any pizza you have ever eaten before. Why? Well the toppings are not traditional. What are they, you ask? *Besides the dough, of course*

• Brown tomato sauce–it was incredibly smooth sauce, with just a hint of sugar.
• Stewed-down cucumbers and onions–this was an interesting addition. How to cook? Place finely chopped onions and cucumbers in a fry pan over medium heat and watch the flavors meld together!
• Meat of any kind–the meat on these pizzas was a sausage of sorts, kind of like a ham, but simply cut up into cubes and you’re good to go!
• Chopped tomatoes fresh from the garden–oh yes. Traditional? Not really. Tasty? Absolutely.
• Freshly shredded mozzarella cheese–on these mini pizzas, a little cheese goes a long way. Let the vegetables speak for themselves!
• Dill–what is a Russian dish without dill?! Freshly cut dill sprinkled (or heaped, in my opinion) onto the pizza is the way to go!
• Mayonnaise–definitely the strangest of all the toppings. I have never had a pizza with mayo, but to be honest, it was not that bad, actually pretty good. Make sure though to eat the pizza hot, cold mayo on pizza tastes slightly weird.

This is not a typical American pizza to say the least, as evidenced by the toppings. However, in my opinion, it is probably the healthiest pizza I have ever eaten, as well as the most vegetables I have ever eaten in one bite.

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Had some strange pizza toppings? Love this kind of pizza? Want to learn more? Comment below, I’d love to hear your opinion!

Fall Travel: What I wore

My travel essentials… slightly overexposed

So. Let’s get down to it. A very common question that is uttered by most people every day is: What should I wear? Now, when it comes to traveling, that question becomes oh so important. Why? Because you’re going to have to pack, and you’re going to have to wear what you pack, thus, you’ll have to like what you pack and be able to wear what you pack. Therefore, take it from a girl who just traveled–me!

What are my essentials, when it comes to clothes? KEEP IT SIMPLE.

• Collared shirts, jeans and a belt. I brought with me three collared shirts, two pairs of jeans and one belt. Collared shirts, even if they are wrinkled and worn, are still classy and chic if you don’t tuck them in to your jeans. When you tuck them in, you exude power and oh, by the way, it shows off your waist. 🙂
• BRING A JACKET. Although, I will say, Europe was abnormally cold for this time of year. Some nights on my way home, I was freezing to death thanks to cold rain, wind and a low temperature. Therefore, while in Vienna, I purchased a Loden wool coat, and I could not have been happier and cozier for the rest of my trip.
• *Oh, running shoes, you’re so not stylish, but you’re SO COMFORTABLE* Make sure you bring outrageously comfortable shoes. In the beginning, I sacrificed comfort for fashion, and ended up hobbling around. As soon as I could, I bought a pair of running shoes that I normally wear, and finally I could walk. Don’t hobble, take comfort over fashion (unless you’re going to fashion week).

How about those all important accessories? Bling bling everywhere? HAHA, NO.

• Bring a watch. I am very partial to my watches and I always wear one. I took a very classic watch that could be paired with anything, and could not have been happier. Sometimes, your phone may die (mine didn’t, but hear me out), and thus, you’ll rely on your watch to tell you the time.
• I love, love, love my little mini bag. It’s a trio bag with each compartment completely zipped for added security, and let’s just say, I couldn’t open it very well one handed, so it’s tough to get into. *take that, pickpockets!* It’s the perfect size for cash, cards, a phone, some receipts, a passport and more. Additionally, mine has the ability to come apart, so I technically have two clutches and one bag. Also, it’s very simple and doesn’t scream *look at me! look at me!*
• Finally, take Rhianna’s advice from way back when and get an umbrella. The rain followed me everywhere, and finally, after being soaked 50 times, I caved and bought one. Hoods can work in light rain, but during torrential downpours, break out the umbrella.

At the end of the day, travel is about having fun and creating great memories through amazing experiences. Make sure that you help those along by being comfortable. Uncomfortable clothes or accessories can make you remember a trip or occasion for most of the wrong reasons.

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Travel: Food (Russia)

  
Over the next few weeks, my posts will be largely centered around food, though I’ll make sure to throw in some fashion, don’t worry. It is always a great day/time when I return to Russia, for more than one reason, but the primary reason is FOOD!!!! When my babushka cooks, oh my god, I have died and gone to heaven, even though I’m force fed every two seconds because I look “thin” or “winter is coming” among other reasons. 

Although this post is not about my babushka’s cooking yet, (they will come), this is the amazingness of hotel room service. Thus, may I present to you Siberian pelmeni, which are the Russian version of dumplings with a soft, slightly chewy dough and filled with a mix of meats, onions and few spices–lamb and beef usually (for Siberian pelmeni). 

These (pelmeni) are a staple of the traditional Russian diet, they are served hot, (these are in a beef broth of sorts) and are garnished with everything from dill (super Russian) to sour cream (also super Russian). In my opinion, pelmeni are light, you can eat hundreds (not really) of them, and they are so incredibly delicious! Although I can buy frozen ones at home in America, or make some myself, which is a lengthy, time consuming process, nothing beats свежие домашние пельмени (fresh, homemade pelmeni).

P.S. Oh my god, they were so delicious…. Can I take them home with me? About 100lbs worth? Winter is coming. 

How to: Travel fashion

Blend in with the natives

As you can tell, I love European cities–their charm, fashion, food, and history are so fascinating to me.  I am a seasoned traveler, though I have made some fashion mistakes *gasp* along the way–shorts (especially athletic shorts) are so not en vogue. In preparation for my next travel, I will be making a few adjustments to my travel regimen; I’ll be keeping it simple, seriously.

So, let’s talk travel fashion. First and foremost, dress for the destination. If the place is 90ºF, don’t pack a parka. Similarly, if it’s 20ºF, don’t plan on wearing shorts much. Overall, exercise as much common sense as you can. Secondly, try your best to look like a native or expat, trust me, it helps. Thus, let’s dissect this photo taken in Copenhagen. We can break it down to travel fashion essentials:

1. Neutrals! Greyscale fashion is super hot right now, so take that with you! Creams, maroons, navies, black, grey and brown (classic colors) are always in style all around the world. Keep the tourists guessing if you’re a local or not.
2. Easy clothes! Comfort is everything, especially abroad, but make sure that the clothes you take are easy to maintain, like jeans and collared shirts. You don’t need to wash them after each wear, and the look is very nondescript chic.
3. Be prepared! Even though it’s summer somewhere, that doesn’t guarantee a heat wave. Make sure you take something light to throw over your look, like that fashionable striped sweater!
4. Go mini! Take a look at that bag. It’s manageable, easy, fashionable, and safe. Stay away from pick pockets, and go mini! I admit, I love to buy things and I carry totes, but I make sure to always have a zippered tote.

For men? Same look. Shirts and jeans, that’s all you need. Want to dress the looks up? Keep it in the shoes! A great pair of heels takes a neutral look from sightseeing to let’s party! (on that note, check out our previous post about the importance of shoes!). Guys, a nice pair of dress shoes or a blazer will take your look from lunch to fancy dinner with minimal effort.

Tip: Keep the makeup and skincare simple too–I normally take everything just in case, but guess what, I only use maybe 10% of what I bring.

Another makeup tip: Try the looks a few days before you go… It would be regrettable to bring a new piece of skincare or makeup that you end up having a reaction to. Wasted space, tsk, tsk.

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Photo source: style.com