A Bowl of Borscht for the new year

  I can’t wait to make a big pot of borscht for the new year. My whole family LOVES it. Our first encounter with borscht was at a Russian restaurant, just a one-room small space on the back of the Russian hospital in Ulaanbaatar. 

At that time, in the early 90s, Russians were leaving for Moscow and to relatives abroad. Few had a “home” in the previous Soviet Union to return to. Their entire lives were lived in Mongolia. I’d be curious to know all the reasons they emigrated. Factories were closing left and right, and perhaps they found themselves persecuted or marginalized.  In any case, they left family by family. When we came in 1995, only a few families remained, along with the Russian Hospital, a Creamery, and borscht!

The soup arrived as an appetizer in blue and white china dishes. A dollop of sour cream was added on top. That’s how I learned that somewhere in the city I could find sour cream–quite a happy thought. With the last drops licked off our spoons, Russian cabbage rolls appeared like magic before us.

To this day, I make cabbage rolls once a month in my own kitchen. Every part of the cooking process is full of love: I remember my first Ukrainian friends who sought asylum in the USA in 1992 as well as and my new friends, Vitaly, Alina and their lovely children, Makarii and Sofiia,  who recently returned to their homeland from their scholarly education at Missouri University.

My fixation on dishes from the Ukraine would also include my own German ancestors who left Russia (very close to Belarus) in the years between 1910-1915 to escape great troubles. Knowing a portion of their story since a young age, I’ve been drawn to all things wonderful and delicious that come from the East. Ballet, Tolstoy, and classic cuisine.

Today, let’s celebrate our heritage and friendship. I’ll make the Olivier Salad and a big pot of borscht to celebrate the new year.

My friend Alina’s borscht recipe

Read about how all travelers to the Eastern Bloc nations have similar experiences in the piece called Ever Been to Russia?

 

 

 

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About Lori

Ever since Lori Younker was a child, she’s been captivated by her international friendships. She is mesmerized by the power of short works to inspire true understanding of the cross-cultural experience and expands her writing skills in creative nonfiction, guiding others to do the same. These days she helps others capture their life history as well as their stories of faith.