My Dad had to drop out of college his junior year. It was the middle of the Depression and they had lost the family farm. He found a job as a first mate on a schooner captained by Col Simone de Korsakoff. Dad was the only crew and only received room and board. Col Korsakoff was Russian Royalty. He was the nephew of Rimsky Korsakov, the famed Russian composer. His family dacha, a Russian home, was the retirement home for Nikita Krushchev. Col Korsakoff was also a Russian flying Ace in World War I. Unfortunately, he was a White Russian and barely escaped with his life during the Revolution.

He made his way to The United States and bought a sailing yacht to live on. He sailed it up and down the Eastern Seaboard making a living by selling his paintings and escorting older women who liked being on the arm of Russian Royalty. After a year as his first mate, my Dad’s Mom became very sick, so he returned home to help.

I met Col Korsakoff when I was in Junior High School and he stayed with us for a couple of months. To show his gratitude, he gave my Dad several of his paintings. He also gave my Mom his recipe for Russian Cutlets.

I remember them as being quite a treat so last night I decided to try and make them. I found a recipe on line that sounded about right. It is basically the same as meatloaf without the ketchup. They are formed into small patties and fried in oil for about 3 minutes a side. I used beef tallow. Finally they are baked for about 30 minutes. I learned a few new techniques that I think will help with my meatloaf and yes, they are as good as I remembered.