All Downhill From Here

In the last few days before Christmas I did a little more shopping, a lot of wrapping, some baking and no running.

One of the things I baked was the traditional Ukrainian Koloch. I am not Ukrainian, but I married one, and many years we celebrate a Ukrainian-style 12 course Christmas Eve at his parents’ house. I have enjoyed making the Koloch for several years and think I am getting the hang of it.

Here, in the bottom of a cake pan, are one braid of 3 (in the middle) and one strand of two intertwined (around the outside).
Here are 5 more strings ready to braid, and one more piece to be rolled. They’ll be intertwined in twos, and then braided in a special way for the top of the bread.
The three intertwined ropes of two are braided this way. Start in the middle and put the two left ropes over the right one. Then take the two on the left and put them over the right one again. Repeat and do it again for the other side. It sounds a little complicated, but it works.
Once the bread is assembled it is left to rise for a while, and then brushed with beaten egg just before baking.

Here’s what we ate with the borscht Christmas Eve!

Editor’s note: I took the pics out to shrink them, so they fit in my new format better. Hopefully I’ll put them back in soon.

We had a lovely evening with family. Glenn’s cousins recited the Ukrainian grace, and we ate 12 dishes in celebration of the 12 apostles. We listened to how the traditional Ukrainians celebrated this holy time, and we sang Christmas carols.

Then it was time to go home, leave out some cookies and eggnog for Santa, and tuck the kiddos into bed.