Prime Minister Stephen Harper on Canada’s National Ukrainian Festival

Prime Minister Stephen Harper today issued the following statement to mark the opening of Canada’s National Ukrainian Festival in Dauphin, Manitoba, from July 29 to 31:

Weekly edition of Media Network Plus debuts on satellite radio Saturday July 30, 2011

Last fall Keith Perron of PCJ Radio asked me to co-host a monthly news show on the global media industry. The first 55-minute broadcast aired on November 26, 2010.

From the outset Keith has been receiving requests for a weekly edition of the show. So starting Saturday July 30, 2011 a 30-minute edition of MNP will air weekly on satellite radio on the World Radio Network.

Here are the details:

Broadcasting Saturdays to:

• Africa/Asia Pacific - from 1000UTC to 1030UTC on Intelsat 10 Satellite
• Europe - from 1300UTC to 1330UTC on Eutelsat HOT BIRD 6 Satellite
• North America - from 2100UTC to 2130UTC on Galaxy 19 Satellite

In the US and Canada the show can be heard Saturdays at 2 pm PST on Sirius XM satellite radio channel 120 and in the UK on Sky Digital channel 122.

More satellite information at the MNP blog or at the World Radio Network website.

Podcasts available at the Media Network Plus page on the PCJ Media website.

Audio archives for Nash Holos Ukrainian Roots Radio updated to July 24, 2011

Here's what's on the podcasts for the past three editions of the Vancouver broadcast of Nash Holos Ukrainian Roots Radio:

Canada's New Ambassador to Ukraine

John Baird, Canada’s Foreign Affairs Minister, today announced that Troy Lulashnyk will be the new Canadian Ambassador to Ukraine.

Troy Lulashnyk graduated from the University of Winnipeg in 1992 with a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Political Science], and in 1995

New page for Ukrainian recipes and cuisine on Nash Holos blog

It's just occurred to me that the Nash Holos blog turned five this year. How the time flies!

During this time, it's been my goal to post all the yummy Ukrainian recipes that have aired on Nash Holos Ukrainian Roots Radio

Ukrainian recipe: Ribbon perogies

Both the story and the recipe are delightful. They aired on Nash Holos Ukrainian Roots Radio on June 13, 2010 and come courtesy Judy Hrynenko of Prairie Cottage Perogies in Langley.

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Does anybody remember ribbon perogies?

It was a family favorite at my home growing up. I seemed that whenever Mom had left-over potatoes she would make this special treat as an accompaniment to pork chops. I had actually forgotten about it until a customer came into the restaurant and asked if I make ribbon pyrohy (the "proper" Ukrainian word for perogies).

Wow, his question sure brought back a lot of memories! I remember coming home from school and there was Mom, rolling dough that she would cut into wide ribbons instead of the usual squares or rounds for perogies.

Then she would cut the ribbons diagonally, and drop them into salted water. When they floated to the top, she scooped them out, drained them and topped them with fried onions and bacon. I thought I died and went to heaven. Forget the pork chops!

For you, I have a time saving adaptation for busy families that love perogies. No fillings to prepare or pinching required with this quick and easy recipe!

For Ribbon Pyrohy (Perogies) you will need:

Kyiv Post gets new CEO

American J. Michael Willard has been named chief executive officer of the Kyiv Post, Ukraine’s oldest and top English-language newspaper and one of the country’s leading news sources.

Mohammad Zahoor, owner of the Kyiv Post, made the announcement on July 18.

Willard is

Volunteer Awards program: call for nominations

Here’s a new opportunity for Canadians to recognize the exceptional contributions volunteers make in their communities.

The Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development, has announced the Prime Minister’s Volunteer Awards first call for nominations.

Nominations are open

Updated info on Talents of Ukraine tour

The itinerary and other details of the Honored Academic Song and Dance Company of Ukraine "Donbas" 2011 Canadian tour are now available at the Boen Performing Arts website.

You can find an overview of the group and a video in

Ukrainian Canadian community to honour Prime Minister Harper

The Ukrainian Canadian Congress has announced that Prime Minister Stephen Harper will be awarded the Shevchenko Medal on

Blender Dill Mayonnaise

Mayonnaise is as ubiquitous in Ukrainian cusine as any other European culture. It's indispensible when preparing fish, egg and salad dishes, for starters.

There's nothing like homemade mayonnaise, and when you have the time I think it's worth the trouble of making. We're lucky to live in a time when we have the option of buying it when we're pressed for time.

Sylvia's favourite substitute for homemeade mayonnaise is

Talents of Ukraine – 2011 Canadian Tour

Boen Performing Arts is bringing another fabulous Ukrainian act to Canada this fall.

Just got word of it and waiting to get details from Ken Kachmar of Boen Arts ... this story is so new it it wasn't even posted on their website the last time I checked!

Here's what is known so far:

The show tour, dedicated to the 120th anniversary of Ukrainians in Canada, will feature The Honored Academic Song and Dance Company of Ukraine "Donbas."

The group began its creative activity in 1937 in the city of Donetsk, Ukraine and since then has enchanted audiences with the bright spectacle of the song and dance of their native land.

Many well known choreographers  have worked in this Dance Company, including Pavlo Virsky, Oleksiy Homon, and Valentyn Mykhailow.

Donbas has performed in Poland, Romania, Germany, Spain, France, Greece, Portugal and other European venues. During the last decade, under the direction of Valentyn Kichik and artistic direction of Oleksander Prokopenko, they performed in the USA, China, Syria and three times in Brazil.

I couldn't find a website for them but did come across this delightful YouTube video of a group by that name. If it's the same group then Canadian audiences are in for a real treat!



Featured soloists are violinist Innesa Tymochko and singers Svitlana Sasu and Yevhen Vaskin.

Innesa Tymochko has performed at concerts, banquets, festivals, on television, radio, and in theaters throughout Europe, including Belgium, Spain, France, Netherlands, Portugal, Austria, Serbia, Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia, Germany, Russia and Chernohirja. In 2005 she was a featured performer at the internationally acclaimed Eurovision Awards, Europe's answer to America's Grammy Awards, held in Kyiv.

Yevhen Vaskin has a charming tenor voice and a varied repertoire ranging from folk songs to contemporary arrangements of original compositions. He has performed extensively on the international scene and has won several all-Ukrainian vocal competitions.

Svitlana Sasu is a Ukrainian actress and singer, originally from Moldova, who currently lives and works in Kyiv. She has won many awards, including the International vocal competition "Baltic Trembita" in Tallin, Estonia (2005), the International competition "Perlyna" (Pearl) in Tyraspil, Moldova (2007), an international competition of Ukrainian songs "Hilka Kalyny" (Rasberry branch) in Rome, Italy (2010, and in 2011, she was the winner of the International singing competition of Ukrainian Romance in Lviv, Ukraine, honouring the beloved Ukrainian American singer, the late Kvitka Cisyk.

So far this is where The Talents of Ukraine 2011 Canadian Tour is booked to perform:

Vancouver on Tuesday, October 11 at The Centre For Performing Arts, 777 Homer St. (Tickets)

Vernon on Wednesday, October 12 at the Vernon and District Performing Arts Centre (Tickets)
 
Edmonton on  Friday, October 14 at the Northern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium, 11455 — 87 Avenue (Tickets)

More details as I get them. Stay tuned!

Vancouver audio archives updated to July 03

Here's what on this week's edition of

Congratulations to the 2011 recipients of the UCC Youth Leadership Award of Excellence

The Board of Directors of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress has selected four individuals to receive the UCC Youth Leadership Award of Excellence.

"The Youth Leadership Award is an important instrument to recognize, encourage, and show appreciation for the young leaders of the Ukrainian Canadian community," said UCC National President Paul Grod. "Therefore, the Ukrainian Canadian Congress is pleased to present the Ukrainian Canadian Youth Leadership Award of Excellence to the following recipients:

Old-time Ukrainian favourite: Chicken in Dill Sauce

Dill is an all-time favourite in the Ukrainian kitchen. It is certainly one of my favourite herbs!

The Ukrainian word for dill is кріп (krip). I'm not sure of the Ukrainian etymology, but the English work for dill comes from the Norse word "dilla" which means to lull. It is for this calmative property that dill is best known medicinally.

Dill seeds contain a volatile oil that has a relaxant effect on muscles, especially those of the digestive tract. Teas made with dill seed relieve indigestion and nausea, and produce a lulling effect.

Gripe water is made with dill seed specifically as a remedy for colic in infants.

Even Charlemagne, in the 8th century knew of the curative properties of dill seed. He ordered crystal vial of it placed on his banquet tables to stop the hiccups of guests who ate and drank too much!

Dill is very rich in minerals, vitamin C and flavanoids. The seeds are particularly calcium-rich: 1 tablespoon contains 100 milligrams of calcium ...more than in 1/3 cup of milk!

Dill's soft taste marries well with sweet or sour cream and onion. Here's a delicious recipe for a traditional Ukrainian dish from Sylvia Molnar's collection:

1 frying chicken, cut into serving pieces
1/2 cup flour
2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp ground pepper
4 Tbsp. oil or butter (or a mix of both) for frying
1 small onion, chopped
1 cup water or chicken broth
1 clove garlic, minced
1 Tbsp fresh dill, chopped
1 cup whipping cream
2 Tbsp flour

Mix flour, salt and pepper, and coat chicken pieces.

Brown chicken slowly in oil or butter (or mixture). Add the onion and garlic to the chicken and sauté for two minutes.

Add water or broth and cook over low heat, stirring occasionally.

Blend flour with cream, add dill and mix into the chicken. Heat to cook the flour, about five minutes (but do not boil).

Serve with rice, noodles or potatoes. (Serves 4.)

For a variation use sour cream instead of whipping cream, and add one cup of peas (fresh or frozen) and cook another 10 minutes.

Smachnoho!

Update: This recipe and 300+ more from Sylvia Molnar's collection are published (August 2024) and now available on Amazon.  Link here.

Kubasonics on hold after 15th anniversary celebrations

In 15 years The Kubasonics have gone where few polka bands have gone before.

But then, The Kubasonics are not your average polka band.

Their unique brand of speed-folk incorporates elements of

The 1929 Ukrainian cookbook of Olha Senatovych

As mentioned in an earlier post, we’re presenting Nash Holos listeners and blog readers with a translation of the cookbook of one Olha Senatovych of Lviv, Ukraine, dating back to 1929.

It's really more of a journal filled with information and cooking tips that Olha gathered and compiled, perhaps with the intention of passing them on to her descendants. The recipes she included are both familiar and exotic to modern cooks who know all about Ukrainian cuisine.

Olha's original “cookbook” is hand-written, in Galician Ukrainian. (Galicia is a province in western Ukraine.) Her grandson in Lviv has kindly provided us with a digitized version — also in Ukrainian.

It all started out as a translation project for a writer’s group that Natalia Buchok (fellow contributor to Kobzar’s Children) and I belong to. A few of the members who are fluent in Ukrainian had a preliminary look-see and decided that it was definitely something worth translating and sharing with the world.

Natalka was fascinated with the book and , in spite of an already insane work and home schedule, decided to take on the translation.

Meanwhile, it occured to me that such an ongoing project would be perfect for Ukrainian Food Flair. Mindful of her crazy schedule, I nonetheless asked Natalka (nothing ventured, nothing gained, eh?) if she would be interested in sharing her translated treasured with Nash Holos listeners.

The "radio bug" bit down hard, and she agreed to host Ukrainian Food Flair on a bi-weekly basis.

Admittedly, it was a huge undertaking, and neither of us really had any idea how Natalia was going to find the time to do both the translation and the radio gig.

Enter another member of our writer’s group to the rescue. 

Mila Komarnisky, a native Ukrainian speaker and first-time published author, is our Angel of Mercy. With her novel, Wretched Land, finally completed and now in print, Mila was ready for another project and offered to help us out.

This frees Natalia up to focus on the radio presentation of the recipes as well as the valuable information and fascinating historical and personal anecdotes in Olha's cookbook.

In addition to the translation, Mila is also creating low-calorie versions of Olha's recipes, much of which rely on larger quantities of ingredients like cream, butter, bacon, and sugar than we’re used to these days. (It was written in the 1920s, after all!)

Many thanks to both Natalka and Mila for undertaking this fascinating project. I’m sure you’ll find our journey of Ukrainian culinary discoveries every bit as enjoyable as we do!

So stay tuned as Natalka presents Olha's recipes and Mila's low-cal adaptations on Ukrainian Food Flair every other week, and posts them here on the Nash Holos blog!