Ukrainian Borscht (Український борщ)

Borscht is the most important soup in Ukrainian culture, known around the whole world. So if you want to find out a real Ukrainian Borscht recipe from a real Ukrainian, you're on a correct page.

Ingredients:

For the broth:

6 pints water

1 pound beef on the bone

1 onion, cut in half

1 carrot, cut in half

Salt to taste

10 whole black peppers

For borscht:

2 bay leaves

1 onion, chopped

1 carrot, shredded

Half of beet, shredded

1 tbsp tomato paste

1 tomato, peeled and shredded

2 tbsp vegetable oil

3 potatoes, cut in cubes

Half of regular cabbage, chopped thinly

1 tsp sugar

2 cloves garlic

3 tbsp parsley, chopped

1. In a large pot, bring water to boil. As soon as water starts to boil, add beef, onion and carrot. When starts to boil again add salt and 3 black peppers, simmer for 5 minutes. 

2. Take out onion and carrots. Add bay leave and potatoes. Simmer for 8-10 minutes.

3. Meanwhile the broth is simmering, heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add oil, onion and carrot, cook until browned a bit. 

4. Add tomato paste and shredded tomato, mix well. Cook until tomato thickens a little.

5. Take out a cup of broth from the pot and add to the skillet with onions and carrots, simmer for 2 minutes.

6. Add beet and cook until soft.

7. Add "beet mixture" to the pot with broth and potatoes. 

8. Throw in the remaining black peppers and cabbage.

9. Season with sugar and cook until the cabbage is soft.

10. Press the garlic and garnish with parsley. 

11. Let borscht sit for about an hour before serving. Serve with sour cream.

Chinese General Tso Chicken

Easy and Delicious! 

I got this recipe from "Cooking Channel", made by Ching-He Huang, Ching's Everyday Easy Chinese, but changed it around a bit to my own taste.

Ingredients:

1 pound chicken, cut into bit size pieces

1 tbsp cornstarch

Salt and pepper

Sweet sauce:

1/2 cup chicken stock

1 tbsp Sriracha

1 tbsp ketchup

1 tbsp soy sauce

1 tbsp rice vinegar

1 tbsp black bean sauce

1 tbsp honey

1 tbsp vegetable oil

1 clove garlic, left whole and crushed

1 tbsp rice wine

3 whole dried chilli peppers

2 scallions, chopped

1. In a bowl mix chicken, salt, pepper and corn starch. Set aside.

2. In separate bowl mix together chicken stock, Sriracha, ketchup, soy sauce, rice vinegar, black bean sauce, honey.

3. Heat wok over high heat. Add oil, garlic and chicken. Cook for 2 mins until starts to brown a bit.

4. Add rice wine and dried chillies, stir and cook for another minute.

5. Add the sweet sauce and cook for 5 mins.

6. Cook until chicken is cooked through and sauce has reduced and became thicker.

7. Stir in scallions and cook for another minute. Serve with rice.

Russian Napoleon Cake with Strawberries (Наполеон с Клубникой)

This is a very delicious recipe, perfect for valentines day or just a special occasion. 

Ingredients:
6 squares puff pastry dough (5in x 5in)
1 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
1 cup powdered sugar
1 egg, lightly beaten
6 strawberries

Serves 2


1. Spray baking sheet with oil. Spread dough on a sheet, brush lightly with beaten egg and sprinkle with some sugar. Bake at 350F oven for 15-20 minutes.
2. In the mean time, beat heavy cream with powdered sugar until smooth and thick.


3. Slice the strawberries.

4. Cool dough completely.











5. Spread the whipped cream on first piece of dough, lay out strawberries, cover with another piece of dough, continue the same with whipped cream and strawberries. Use 3 pieces of dough on each cake.

Southern Beef Stew with Mushrooms

Ingredients:
1 lb beef, cut in 1/2 in squares
8 oz baby portabella  mushrooms, used whole, if some are too big than cut in half
1 onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, diced
4 tbsp all-purpose flour
2 tbsp butter
2 tbsp olive oil
1/2 cup red wine
1 cup beef broth
1/2 soy sauce
1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
1 tsp dried oregano
1 tsp fresh thyme leaves



1. Cut the meat in bite size pieces.
2. Dredge the meat in 2 tbsp flour, cover completely.
3. In a thick pot melt butter and olive oil over high heat. Add meat and cook until browned. Set aside.
4. Chop onion, and dice the garlic. In the same pot, not adding any more oil, cook onions and garlic over medium heat.
5. When onions start to brown add mushrooms, cook until golden.
6. In a mean time, over medium heat bring to boil beef broth, red wine, soy sauce, and balsamic vinegar. Boil for 2 minutes.
7. Add broth-wine mixture and meat to mushrooms, salt and pepper and simmer for 3 minutes.
8. In a cup, mix 2 tbsp flour and 2 tbsp water. Add to the stew and mix well.
9. Season with oregano and thyme. Cover with a lid and simmer for 5 minutes.

Pasta with Shrimp and Green Peas

This dish is delicious and easy! 

7 oz pasta of your choice, cooked (do not drain the water from pasta, you will need it later)

8 oz medium shrimp, peeled and deveined 

1 onion, roughly chopped

3 oz peas, defrosted 

6 peeled plum tomatoes, chopped

1 garlic clove, finely diced

1 tsp butter

2 tbsp olive oil

Salt and pepper to taste

1. Heat olive oil over medium heat, add onions, salt and pepper to taste, when onions are soft, add garlic. Cook until golden. Set aside.

2. In the same skillet, melt butter over high heat, when butter starts to sizzle add shrimp and cook for 1 min on each side until pink in color, stirring occasionally. Set aside.

3. Cook peas for 2 mins, until heated through and hot inside. Set aside.

4. Over medium heat, cook the tomatoes until thickens a little, salt and pepper. Add onions, shrimp and peas to the tomatoes, cook for 1 min. Add pasta, and 2/3 cup of pasta water ( if needed add some more, you do so to add creaminess to the dish). 

5. Serve with shredded Parmesan on top.