Elena's Gift Shop

16/02/2020

NEW!
Our wonderful tailor Diana can now make customized Kazakh style pillow for you!
You can send her a picture or explain your wished design/ colors.
Look at her recent work!

15/03/2019

Political instability could open the door for either Beijing or Moscow to expand their influence in Astana.

04/03/2019

Special Nauryz offer!
March prices for the doll size Kazakh clothes:
Outfit (3 pieces) - $ 18
T-shirt - $ 7

02/03/2019

Bringing Nauryz spirit where you are! Step 3: Noodles for Beshbarmak

02/03/2019

Kazakh Beshbarmak (Boiled meat with noodles)

Kazakh Beshbarmak basically means “five fingers” in Kazakhstan. It is the most popular dish in the land.
Ingredients
• 2½ lbs. lamb or beef with bone
• 1 large onion peeled and sliced into rings (divided)
• 1 bay leaf
• ground pepper
• Water to cover
• For the noodles:
• 2 eggs,
• ¾ to 1 cup water
• ½ teaspoon salt
• plain flour - about 600 grams
• or you can use ready noodles.
Instructions
1. Put your meat and ½ the onion in a deep enough dish to cover it with cold water leaving enough space on the top so that it doesn't boil over.
2. Bring to the boil, constantly removing the foam, Reduce heat to simmer when it starts to boil. Cover it.
3. Let it cook for about 2½ hours or until the meat is tender and falling off the bone.
4. Meanwhile, prepare your noodle dough.
5. In a bowl mix the sifted flour (300-400 g), the eggs (whisk the eggs before you add into flour), add salt and pour water until a dough is formed.
6. Knead pastry, adding flour or water as needed.
7. Knead the dough well, wrap in plastic wrap and leave for 20-30 minutes.
8. Sprinkle the work top with sifted flour and divide your dough into a few small balls
9. Then keeping the worktop lightly covered with flour roll each piece of pastry into a fairly thin layer.
10. Keep sprinkling with flour so that it doesn't stick to your hands or work surface.
11. Cut into squares (10x10cm). Leave them on a worktop lightly covered with flour. The pieces should not touch or they will stick together. By the time you are ready to cook the noodles it should be dry a bit.
12. minutes before your meat is ready, add the other half of the onion (cut in ring shapes), salt and pepper to taste, into your stock.
13. Remove the meat and bones, separate as you will only serve the tender cooked meat.
14. Bring the stock to a boil for about 7 or so minutes.
15. Now cook the noodles in batches in the same stock for about 7-8 minutes. Sieve them out on to the big plate leaving the space in the center for meat. Then add your meat chopped in bite size pieces and put it in the center of the dish. Pour some broth over the meat.
16. Sprinkle some chives and parsley to garnish over the top.
17. Strain the broth and serve in bowls as shorpa alongside the platter of Beshbarmak
18. Beshbarmak is served.
19. Enjoy!

26/02/2019

https://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2019/02/21/world/asia/ap-as-kazakhstan-government.html?fbclid=IwAR3GZ-z-62hsLyU8VxLrXs9t3ZLqt7DwDsMJM5BvOjcYUrtj6cXDFg-v3FY

Kazakhstan's president fired the government Thursday over what he called its failure to raise living standards and diversify away from oil and gas in the Central Asian nation.

19/02/2019

A traditional yurt is a portable, round tent covered with skins or felt and used as a dwelling by nomads in the steppes of Central Asia. The Kazakh yurt is easy to assemble and disassemble. It retains heat well and protects from the wind, as well as from the excessive heat in the summer. When it is hot, felt flooring is removed to make the inside cooler. For the winter, the yurts were insulated with double covers, surrounded with snow, hedged with sheaves of reeds, and dug round with soil.

Bringing Nauryz spirit where you are! Step 2: Yurt chocolate (see below.)

19/02/2019

17/02/2019

In Kazakhstan spring arrives fully on 21 March – on the special day when Nauryz is celebrated, signifying not only the spring equinox but also renewal of nature. Nauryz in Kazakhstan symbolizes fertility, friendship and love. On this special day people dress up, visit close people and keep wishing well. For eastern nations, Nauryz is the same as New Year, as both holidays are messengers of a new life.
We can help you to bring Nauryz spirit where you are. Step 1: Kazakh chocolate (to be continued.)

04/02/2019

As promised, more works by Oleg Drozdov

02/02/2019

Many of the families who adopted from Karaganda have met Oleg Drozdov - a talented artist and a very nice person (and also a husband of Ludmila Drozdova - a doctor from Nezabudka Baby home, and a favourite person of so many of you.) Difference in living standards allows you to get high-class art at a low price (USD 70 for a painting, about 15x16 inches.) More of Oleg`s paintings soon!