It’s Russian Soul Food!
Borscht is a part of my family heritage. During the year there are times when “I just gotta have some”. When I eat borscht, my Husband says it’s like I am having a religious experience!
The version in my recipe section is not the purple, beety one, it is more of a vegetable soup. Both my Mom and her Sister made it for their families and with some good crusty bread and a bit of cheese, it made not only a nutritious meal but a fairly inexpensive way to feed a family. No meat, just veggies. Funny thing was, they both made a different version. My aunt put tons of butter & cream into hers, it was good but not like Mom’s!
My first job in the Executive Dining Room kitchen, was as assistant to Anne, who ran the place. One day she said, “I am going to make borscht for tomorrow’s luncheon”. My first thought was “oh no…this is quite a rustic soup and how in the world does this fit in with an Executive Dining Room?” The next day, when I arrived at work, she had the big soup pot going. Now, I had never sampled her borscht before, but when we finally sat down to eat once the luncheon was over, one spoonful and I was immediately transported back to my childhood. Her borscht was everything I remembered; vegetarian and oh so good, just like my Mom’s used to be before Dad coerced her into putting some meat into the soup.
The recipe I have been making ever since is the one I got from Anne and I am so grateful for having the opportunity to share it with her! It is one of the recipes I have of hers that I will always treasure. Better go and make some!
If you would like to be transported to a Russian childhood experience, click Borscht.
