"Wasabi with shashlyk: the Volgograd region in 70 meals from local products" is a recipe collection that a local historian and playwright Anna Stepnova has compiled and published with literally universal support. First, dozens of friends and subscribers would send Anna their families' original recipes (continuously double-checking them with a few more dozens of mothers and grandmothers). Second, the book was published via a crowdfunding platform – that is, thanks to the grants and donations from many more local history and cuisine enthusiasts.

The resulting book can be found in the vast majority of Volgograd's libraries, 'cause it is among them that the first edition was distributed free-of-charge. The variety of the meals inside can throw aghast even the native Volgograd residents. Yes, all the products from the recipes are completely seasonal and affordable (sometimes they literally grow under your feet), but damn us if we ever thought of using them this way. Even if we are OK with oven-dried tomatoes in mustard oil, boiling crayfish in milk _does_ seem off limits!..

…in which case you may just follow the author's good-natured advice to "come off it" and enjoy a different variation of the dish. Moreover, the author outright encourages co-creation: the illustrations in the book are drawn (and signed) by hand, the language is as friendly as can be, and several pages at the end are left intentionally blank for your own recipes.

Let us give the final word to the book's author herself:

"From small stories, I have created a big one: the one about our Volgograd region. About how its people survived in the most dashing years of its history. About how they learned to grow mustard and bake gingerbreads. How the tomato industry was nearly halted in the governmental struggle against "unearned income". How poaching led some of those who practiced it to their deaths, and the others – to their riches."

Are you heading to the library yet?