In traditional Russian cuisine, the foods and ingredients are reflective of the cold, harsh climate. These foods were meant to give as much warmth and energy as possible to survive the winters, so starchy, high carbohydrate foods and high protein/ fat foods became the main components in the cuisine. This is a wonderful recipe that is a favorite dish in the Russian countryside. It is simple yet so full of flavor, and sure to warm you up on a cold Winter's day!