When I moved to Moscow in 2003, breakfast withdrawal hit hard and fast. There was one place to get a good omelet - an American-themed diner in the center of town. Most of my Russian colleagues - even the burly guy who regularly put away three pork chops for lunch - seemed to subsist perfectly well on tasteless muffins, bits of dark chocolate and bananas. As long as it was eaten with tea, it was fine.

But thatґs only at the office. Breakfast at home is a completely different affair, one that brings out the full range of Russiaґs morning foods. And while the spectrum of flavors might not be as wide as in the West, there are still some incredibly tasty selections, one of the most popular being oladi, traditional Russian pancakes. These staples of the breakfast table are easy to make and versatile, lending themselves well to experimentation. Here is the simplest and most popular version.

Ingredients
1 cup sour cream
2 tablespoons sugar
3 eggs
2 tablespoons butter
2 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
2 tablespoons milk
1 pinch salt

Preparation
1. Separate egg yolks and whites. Mix yolks with sugar.
2. In a small pan, melt butter.
3. In a bowl, combine flour, sour cream, salt, butter and eggs (adding eggs last), stirring vigorously until a batter has been created.
4. Add baking soda to milk, then pour into bowl.
5. Whip egg whites and add to bowl.
6. Mix once again.
7. Once the batter is ready, place a few dollops (not more than 3-4 inches in diameter) on a preheated pan and fry until underside is golden brown. Flip and repeat, being careful not to burn. Weґre aiming for oladi that are not more than 3/4 of an inch thick.
8. Serve with sour cream, jam or honey.