Artisans in Rakhiv outback know Hutsul crafts

Almost at the bottom of Black Mountain people still weave warm striped "lizhnyk" blankets, embroider fabulous towels and cook corn "banosh" with "brynza" cheese.

A small little room of 87-year-old Hanna Rekiznyk looks like Hutsul museum: all kinds of yarn on the walls, carpets on the floor, colorful striped blankets on the bed and chairs, rugs etc.

It’s not so easy to weave a lizhnyk, says Hanna Mikhailivna. First the wool must be sheared, washed, dried, and teased, then a thread is spun on a spindle, wound on a reel, and painted, and then the blanket is made ​​on the machine. Then the blanket is washed and teased again.To make one wool blanket takes at least a week. Finished quilt is furry, warm and heavy. The seamstress even has "rich" lizhnyks weighing 5 pounds.

Near the checkpoint, on the way to the healing mineral spring, lives Maria Kovachuk. 63- year-old mistress began to embroider incredible beautiful towels when she was young.She shows her wonderful work.One towel, says Maria Yakubivna, takes a week to make.If the work is complicated, it can take even a month.

71-year Paraska Schcherba has a reputation of the best cook in the village.She works in the kitchen for nearly half a century.She is always summoned for weddings, all kinds of parties, christening or wake.

Paraska says she learned to cook by herself because she had a talent.

Above all Paraska Schcherba is praised for her "banosh" which is said to have a unique taste. "One has to shake melayna (corn flour) well – hostess shares a recipe. – It must be cooked not in the water as "kulesha", but in sour cream so it would thicken.And it must be constantly stirred!Cook until butter shows.Then dress with "brynza" cheese.It takes long to cook banosh , but that’s why it is so delicious. "Paraska’s cooking skills were highly rated even by Kyiv guests. "I could live in Kyiv – she recalls – and cook there.Once some gentlemen came for audit here, and I cooked for them.They offered me to work in the capital.But how can I forsake the house with the children, where will I live there? "