I WITH the directness and cruelty of youth we called him Crazy Pashka, at first among ourselves and later to his face. He did not seem to mind it. In his gentle way he followed us around as a man ...

Traditional Easter foods to me, mean ham of some type, browned-butter mashed potatoes, bright green peas, soft white dinner rolls and a big bowl of salad. Dyed hard-boiled eggs, of course, and some ...

1.	Heat cream and vanilla bean, but do not boil. Beat sugar and egg yolks until pale and thick and the mixture forms a ribbon when the beaters are drawn across the top. Remove vanilla bean from ...

Pashka is a traditional pyramid-shaped Easter dessert in Russia Credit: Photo: Christopher Jones Pashka is a Russian Easter tradition, a sort of custardy cheesecake without the biscuit base, ...

In Moscow the winter snow had vanished. Street vendors were selling daffodils at 3 rubles each. Gourmets could buy tiny hothouse cucumbers, small succulent leaves of early lettuce, tiny radishes and ...