Summer isn’t exactly prime borscht season.
As it turns out, though, I made my borscht six months ago.
Eastern Europe
Russia: Shchi 🇷🇺
Having a blog and a baby simultaneously are hard.
We knew this, of course, but it still bears repeating. Having time to cook sophisticated meals in the midst of my grow-your-own-roommate project is challenging.
Luckily, Russia’s national soup, shchi, was not sophisticated.
Albania: Tave Kosi 🇦🇱
On paper, Albania has the potential to be home to one of the world’s great cuisines.
It’s at that cultural crossroads sweet spot occupied by precious few other places, a meeting point between Mediterranean and Eastern Europe, the Christian and Muslim worlds, Italy and Greece.
Romania: Sarmale with mamaliga 🇷🇴
There’s something about the brassica family that generally doesn’t agree with me.
Fry up the onions and fennel, then add rice.
Whatever you call it, don’t call me late to eat brassicas – because there is no late on “never.”
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Macedonia: Tavce Gravce 🇲🇰
I feel like I undervalue the humble bean in my cooking. They’re so pretty to look at dried, and can taste great cooked even if they lose some of their aesthetic value. But I never try to grow my own beans; I don’t like to use canned beans but it’s a hassle to prep dried beans… at the end of the day, seems like beans just end up taking up space in my pantry looking good and not doing much.
Nation Plates 