Russian sweet cheese fritters (syrniki)

I grew up with a mum who worked full-time, so my brother and I had pretty simple breakfasts before heading to school. But she loved to spoil us on the weekends by making something special for breakfast. Syrniki (seer-nee-kee) were one of these treats and I missed them terribly when I moved away from Russia. Syrniki are fritters made from a farmer’s cheese called tvorog and I couldn’t find a good substitute in the US or Canada for the longest time. It’s very similar to cottage cheese and ricotta, but is drier and has a tangy taste. I have used well-drained cottage cheese in the past, but you can find tvorog in any Russian or Eastern European store. If you have ever attempted to make pancakes, you will manage this recipe with ease.