KylinarockaFrom the oven: a home baking guide

An independent reference on home baking and oven cooking. It does not sell food or appliances and is not connected with the former site on this domain.

Drinks

Drinks

A pie fresh from the oven calls for a cup of something hot, while pizza wants something cool and slightly tart. This section brings together simple family drinks to serve with baking, plus one compote recipe.

The sweeter the baking, the simpler the drink beside it should be: unsweetened tea or a tart berry drink sets off the flavour of a pie rather than competing with it.

— Editor's note

Only drinks for the whole family, made at home from simple ingredients: tea, cocoa, mors and compote.

What to serve

Four drinks that most often end up next to home baking.

Tea with pie

Unsweetened black or herbal tea goes well with apple pie and sweet buns. We won't go into brewing in detail — it's enough that the tea isn't bitter or stewed.

Recipes

Cocoa with buns

Cocoa is made with milk, sugar and a pinch of salt, stirring all the time. Serve it to children warm, not scalding.

Seasonal

Mors with pizza

Mors, a traditional Russian drink of sweetened berry juice and water, made with cranberries, lingonberries or currants, is refreshing after hot pizza and a cheesy crust. The berries are crushed and the juice pressed out, then the pulp is simmered with sugar and mixed with the juice.

Seafood pizza (in Russian)

Compote with lunch

A compote of apples or dried fruit is lovely warm in winter and chilled in summer. It goes well with meatloaf and roast vegetables.

Meatloaf (in Russian)

Apple and cinnamon compote

A simple compote, a light fruit drink made from fresh apples, which you can make while a pie is baking in the oven.

Makes: about 2 lTime: about 20 minutes, plus 1–2 hours to infuse

You will need

  • Water2 l
  • Apples4 medium
  • Sugar4–5 tbsp, to taste
  • Cinnamon stick1, optional
  • Lemon zest1 strip

Method

  1. Slice the apples

    Cut the apples into wedges and remove the cores. You can leave the skin on — it gives the compote its colour.

  2. Bring to the boil

    Cover the apples with the water, add the sugar, cinnamon and zest and bring to the boil.

  3. Simmer

    Turn down the heat and simmer for 5–7 minutes, until the wedges are soft but not falling apart.

  4. Leave to infuse

    Take the pan off the heat, cover with a lid and leave for 1–2 hours. Strain before serving.

Tip: If the compote has turned out too sweet, add a little cold boiled water or a couple of spoonfuls of berry juice.

Pairings for the table

  • Open apple pie — unsweetened tea or warm compote.
  • Sweet buns and cake — cocoa or milk.
  • Pizza — chilled berry mors or water with lemon.
  • Meatloaf and roast vegetables — dried-fruit compote or mors.
  • Recipes

    An open apple pie, herb-roasted vegetables and a simple homemade loaf, with weights and timings.

  • Seasonal

    Summer vegetables on a tray, autumn apple and pumpkin pies, winter baking and the festive table.

  • Seafood pizza (in Russian)

    Seafood pizza in an ordinary oven: thawing, a really hot preheat and a juicy topping that doesn't dry out.

  • Tips

    Short, practical tips on the oven, dough and baking trays, plus our catalogue of articles.

  • Questions

    Answers to common questions about dough, oven modes, cooking meat through and kitchen safety.

  • Home

    A guide to cooking from the oven: dough, pizza and pies, bread, meat and vegetables on a tray, for people just starting to bake.

What we draw on

  • cookery reference books and home recipes
  • the guide's own editorial material

Times and temperatures in our recipes are a guide, not a rule: every oven heats in its own way, and flour and other ingredients behave a little differently each time. Go by the colour of the crust, the smell and the signs of doneness, not just the timer.