Borscht

This is my Grandmother's recipe. She didn't give it to me because she doesn't have it written down. Last time I visited her I had to watch her make it and try to take notes (so that's why it's a little strangely worded). I've tried making it myself but it didn't taste quite as good as when Grandma makes it (isn't that how it always goes). This is one of my favorite dishes. I distinctly remember asking my mom to make me this for my birthday one year (I think that's like the third time I've said that about a dish).

Grandma B’s Ukrainian Borscht
½ onion
1.25 lb beef (chuck stake) w/ bone in - cut off fat before cooking
salt

1 beet (for color)
2 potatoes
1 carrot
1 lb cabbage - cut into 4 wedges then slice
32 oz tomato juice
1 T Parsley
1 small onion
1 clove garlic
paprika

veg. oil

Boil meet with the 1/2 onion in salted water (6-8c) until cooked and tender.
While meat is cooking peel and chop veggies.
Remove beef from pot- discard onion. Pour beef stock in another pot and add veggies. Cook until tender/soft. While cooking, clean (from bone) and cut up meat, then add to pot.
Add cabbage and cook for 5 min. then add tomato juice.

Fry a small onion and garlic in veg. oil with paprika, then add it as well.
Boil a couple more minutes. Garnish with sour cream and pressed garlic if you like.

Tastes even better the next day.

beef broccoli

When it comes to meat I don't usually deviate from my habit of chicken breasts and ground beef. I just don't really know how to cook meat, so it intimidates me.

But I felt like doing something different and saw a package of 'stir fry beef' at the grocery store so I brought it home and found this Broccoli Beef Stir Fry recipe at Allrecipes.com and followed the suggestions of the first reviewer listed. It's really simple and really fast.

1/8 c flour

1 (10.5 oz) can beef broth

2 T sugar

2 T soy sauce

1 lb boneless round stake, cut in small pieces (I bought about 1/2 lb stir fry beef)

1/4 t ginger powder

2 cloves garlic, pressed

1 head broccoli cut up (4 or 5 cups)

Whisk together flour, broth, sugar, ginger, and soy sauce. Set aside.

In a large skillet cook meat on high heat for 2-4 min. just until browned. Stir in broth mixture, garlic and broccoli. Bring to a boil then simmer for 5-10 minutes, until sauce thickens.

Swedish Meatballs

Mom's Swedish Meatballs

1 lb ground beef

1/2 c bread crumbs

1/4 c milk

salt and pepper to taste

4 Tbspoons finely chopped onions

1 egg, slightly beaten

butter to fry in

Mix together bread crumbs, milk, onions, egg, salt and pepper. Let sand for 5 minutes. Add ground beef and mix well. Form into small balls (1.5 in) and fry in butter, turning frequently. (I found I usually make them too big and then they don't cook as well. If they're falling apart or burning before they're done cooking, try making them a little smaller.)

Gravy

After you've fried the meatballs. Add about 1 or 2 cups water to pan along with some bullion cubes (enough for amount of water). Stir together 2 or 3 tablespoons with some water -just so it's pour-able. Slowly pour into pan while whisking. Bring to a boil and then simmer until thickened. Add 2 or 3 teaspoons soy sauce (for color).