MAMA'S BORSCH...

Mama was a southern lady so I'm always surprised when I remember her love for borsch & the enjoyment she had in making it. In her later years, there always seemed to be borsch in the refrigerator & if I dropped by a lunch time, there was always a small bowl by each of their luncheon plates. I have no idea when she got "a hankering" for it, or even how she came to made up her own receipe for it (I really like what she made) but none the less, she did.

Mama had her "ways". She & Daddy had a little place in Ocean City MD. They spent most of their time there instead of the Washington DC home. When we visited, which was VERY often, we always teased her about the way she did things at lunch time. Mama, Daddy, Dave, the children & I would come back from the beach at lunch time & Mama would rush right to the kitchen & start to prepare lunch. I don't care how hot or tired or how casual the meal (hot dogs & chips), Mama would put out the complete table service. Forks, knives, spoons & every condiment in the frig., properly folded napkins - THE WORKS! We would laugh & tell her a paper plate would be fine, or we could just wrap a napkin around the hot dog & go on our way but she wouldn't hear of it. We'd all have to sit at a proper place setting, say grace, & be "covered up" decently if we wanted to eat. She was quite a lady & I think about her & miss her each day.

THE RECIPE FOR MAMA'S BORSCH...

4 qts of beef stock
2 carrots, chopped
Boil 'till done.

Add:
6 or 7 potatoes, peeled & chopped
1/4 head shreaded cabbage
Boil an additional 30 minutes or so, uncovered.

Take 4 large, cooked beets & mash.

Chop an onion and saute in butter.
Add a teaspoon of flour, & tomato puree. Mix well and heat the mixture through. Stir the mashed beet and 2 chopped garlic cloves into the onion mixture.

Add this onion & beet mix, salt and pepper to taste and 1 or 2 bay leaves to the soup and let the simmer for 15 - 20 additional minutes.
Add 8 oz sour cream & heat but don't boil.

Garnish with a drop of sour cream.

Serve with dark bread.