I myself Russian and was born in the Pskov region, but in 6 years I moved to Dnepropetrovsk. Then I grew up and fell in love with this country, so I want to tell about Ukrainian Christmas traditsiyah. They are in many respects similar to Russian, but has its own peculiarities. In Ukraine, the evening meal on Holy night, January 6, is accompanied by many traditions and rituals. On Christmas eve the Church had prescribed a strict fast – a pre-Christmas day believers could not eat and drink. The supper on Holy night was their first meal that day – they ended a 40-day Christmas fasting. At the table you could go with the appearance of the sky the first star, in memory of the star of Bethlehem, announcing to the shepherds about the birth of Christ. Main dishes for Ukrainian Christmas eve are kutya – wheat or rice porridge with honey, poppy seeds and raisins, and uzvar – compote of dried fruits. Just on the table in the Holy night should be 12 meatless dishes, among which in the old days cooked vegetable soup with mushrooms, peas, skit, fish dishes, dumplings with cabbage, buckwheat porridge, stuffed with rice, vegetable pancakes, mushrooms, pies. Let's start with the compote. Actually, traditionally, it is prepared from sohrokov, but to be honest, I don't like.

I found another option: cranberry and fresh apples. Personally, I love it. I hope You will like it! In fact, it is the "highlight" of this recipe!

Cranberries grind into a puree.

Using a sieve Express the juice.

Cake put in a pan,

Fill with water and bring to a boil.

Meanwhile, cut the apples in cubes.

A decoction of klucinova of the filter cake, the cake throwing. It is now exactly nothing!

Add the sugar and apples. The original recipe was suggested to put a Cup of sugar. To me this seemed a lot and when I prepared first time, put a half Cup, but even that seemed very sweet. Next time put 3 tablespoons. But I don't like sweets, and my family also drinks prefer not very sweet, so be guided by your taste. In the end, sugar can always be added.

Cook the compote until ready apples. It took me about 20 minutes because the apples are finely chopped.

Add otrajeny first cliquey juice and mix well. Here apples are still swirling after mixing, so the photo came out slightly blurred.

Cool. Uzvar is ready! Plus its that at the end adds a fresh cliquey juice without any heat treatment that preserves all the vitamins! True, and you should drink it in 1-2 days.

Christmas pudding is traditionally made of wheat, as it is considered a symbol of eternal life. But there are recipes Kuti rice and even pasta. I still prefer wheat. Wheat in the evening rinse well several times until, until the water is transparent. Leave in water overnight.

In the morning drain the water and again cover with water in a ratio of about 1:3. Add a pinch of salt and cook over low heat, stirring occasionally until tender wheat. Everywhere it is written that the wheat is cooked for 1-2 hours, but I got it within 30 minutes was ready. Ready wheat to cool.

Raisins and poppy seeds steamed with boiling water.

Mac small portions to grind in a mortar.

Mac needs to give "milk". Sorry for the creative mess on the table.

Dried apricots cut into cubes.

It's certainly not a traditional ingredient for Kuti, our ancestors would put, perhaps, candied fruit. But the world does not stand still. Once I added the marmalade to the pudding and my Mala demanded to do so in the future.

It is best to take lemon and orange slices, they are denser and not "smeared" on the pudding. Marmalade, as well as dried apricots, cut into cubes.

Nuts I wanted not ground in a mortar, and minced with a knife. I took quite well, non-traditional cashews. Still festive dish and "call" him to put what tastes better :D

Combine with the wheat, raisins, dried apricots, marmalade, poppy seeds and nuts.

In a glass compote dissolve the honey.

Add the compote with honey to pudding and mix well. Leave to infuse.

Put the pudding in a pretty dish, pour the compote in a pretty pitcher or carafe and put it on the table next to ten more meatless dishes! Yes, let Christ descend into every home in this Holy Night!