Cabbage Borscht

Water

whole black peppercorns

1 T. dried dill weed

1 T. dried parsley

3-5 potatoes, peeled and chopped

3 carrots, peeled and sliced

1 small head of cabbage, chopped

1 onion, diced

2 tsp. salt

3 tsp. beef bouillon powder

1/2 cup pearl or pot barley

2 cans tomato soup

 

Fill a Dutch oven half full of water and bring to a boil. As the water is heating, add the spices. I put the peppercorns in a tea ball. Chop the vegetables and add them, and add the salt and beef bouillon and pot barley. Simmer for at least 30 minutes covered. Half an hour before serving, stir in the cans of tomato soup.

If you would like to add meat to the soup, you can use browned ground beef, or beef short ribs. Add it at the beginning and if raw, let the meat simmer for about an hour before adding anything else, scooping out the foam that comes to the top.

Roll Kuchen

4 eggs
1 tsp baking soda
2 T salt
1 cup sour cream
1 cup milk
5 cups white flour

Mix well; dough will be quite sticky. Roll dough out flat on a well-floured surface (I'm never afraid to use lots of flour!) and cut into squares. Deep fry in oil until browned and puffy. I use my deep fryer with the lid removed and the basket lowered in the oil. Drop in a few, watch them sink to the bottom and then they will come back up as they puff up. When the bottom side is brown, flip them over with tongs and let the second side brown. Then lift them out and let them drain on paper towels. When they are all fried, serve them with watermelon.

This recipe makes a lot; I fill up 4 cookie sheets with the squares of dough and it takes a good half hour to fry them all. But the leftovers are great for breakfast eaten with strawberry jam. :)

Pizza

2 1/2 cups flour
1 tsp sugar
1 tsp salt
1 T yeast
2 T oil
1 cup warm water


Mix well until smooth and elastic. This makes enough dough for two round pizza pans or one big cookie sheet pizza. Spread into pans (I grease my pans with lard) and top with your favourite sauce, spices and toppings. Bake for 20 minutes at 375. I use no name canned pizza sauce, sprinkle on spices like garlic powder, cayenne pepper and oregano, and top with pepperoni and mozzarella cheese. Onions and peppers work well, ham and pineapple is another favourite.

For something really different, you can try what my family has termed "West Coast" pizza (named for my west coast relatives who introduced us to this fantastic version of pizza). Use BBQ sauce instead of pizza sauce and top with chopped cooked chicken, onions, red peppers and mozzarella cheese.

Chicken Wraps

2-3 chicken breasts, chopped
1/4 cup Italian dressing
1 1/2 T chili powder (I am pretty generous with chili powder)
1 pkg. flour tortillas
shredded cheddar cheese
tomatoes, diced
lettuce
salsa & sour cream

Brown the chicken in the Italian dressing until cooked through. Sprinkle with chili powder and heat through. Wrap with cheese, tomatoes, lettuce, etc. in tortillas. Easy and tasty! This is one of my go-to lunches and a family favourite.

Turkey Ranch Club Wrap

1 pkg. bacon
1 pkg. flour tortillas
~ 400 g smoked turkey breast, shaved (or any kind of oven roasted chicken)
cheese slices
Ranch dressing
tomatoes, sliced
lettuce


Cook the bacon the way you like it. Layer in a tortilla: Ranch dressing, smoked turkey breast, bacon, cheese, tomatoes and lettuce. Wrap and enjoy!

Italian Spaghetti

1 lb ground beef
1/2 an onion, chopped
1/2 a green pepper, chopped
1/2 tsp garlic powder
2 cans tomato soup
1 can water
1 T chili powder (I am very generous with the chili powder!)
salt & pepper

Brown the beef with the onions, green pepper and garlic. Add the tomato soup, water and spices. Simmer 30-45 minutes until the liquid has simmered away and it is a good meat sauce consistency. Serve over pasta. It's even better the next day.

Sloppy Joes

1 lb ground beef
1 small onion, chopped
1 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1 tsp chili powder
2 T flour
1/2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
3/4 cup ketchup
1 1/4 cups water



Brown the beef with the onion and spices. Blend in the flour and then add the water, Worcestershire and ketchup. Simmer 15-20 minutes and serve over fresh buns. Also works over pasta.