This blog is all about me......I come here for respite in between caring for JoJo (our Daughter who has Special Needs)......I am addicted to starting new projects......I am becoming a fabric-a-holic... I love to try out recipes... take a beach walk and breathe in that salty blue air......love to have coffee...sip a glass of champagne......read a book......I am Queen of the Armchair and am inspired by all the wonderful blogs out there!!!

Friday, May 15, 2009

A Surprise Package...and some warming Winter Soup!!!

It's Friday night and the lights are low...as the ABBA great hit Dancing Queen starts...
We are taking JoJo to see the tribute band BABBA tomorrow night...she's off to the Hairdresser to have spikes put into her hair (like Rod Stewart's)...then sprayed blue!!!
Meanwhile we have a little visitor here for the weekend...hence the low lights...
our Grandson is here as his Mum and Dad are off to a Wedding...
Our BABBA tickets were purchased before we knew Ryan was coming here and our Dear Son... to the rescue and he will watch his little Nephew while we sing along to Dancing Queen...Fernando, Mamma Mia and a host of other ABBA hits!!!
Meanwhile...yesterday a surprise package in the mailbox from Simone...
Simone and I have been regularly in touch with each other and she mentioned she had seen some Tilda fabrics...I had never seen any but had seen Tilda mentioned through Blogland...
which led to Simone sending me some...along with a little stitchery...
First of all the above card which she said reminded her of me...(can't be with the cooking course can it!!! I have been posting our weekly menus and pics on my other blog My Dolce Vita)...the little card on the top left has the stitchery all done and coloured in...and all clipped together with this happy little wooden peg!!!
I know the pic is not too clear...
cakes on a stand...with a heart on the bottom...
Tilda fabrics...and I thought I would use this variegated thread...
Simone also has the same fabric and pattern...and we are going to be stitching this together!!!
Thank You so much Simone...and how very thoughtful of you!!!
I look forward to doing our little project together♥
I had to add this pic into this post...
Tripod set up by DH to take a pic of Borscht (beetroot soup) simmering on the stove...
Every time I took it all you could see was steam coming up out of the pot!!!
Simmering away...

Chopping dill (dillweed)...a favourite of Latvians.
Added flavourings in Latvian dishes come from cream, caraway, onions, nuts and seeds.
Exotic spices are usually added to special dishes on special occasions...

Dill used to garnish this hearty soup...along with sour cream.
Add a piece of dark rye bread...

A little while ago Natima asked for a beetroot recipe and I have taken this one from this very well worn recipe book...

BORSCHT (Beet Soup)
1lb beef short ribs - boneless, cut into bite sized pieces...(I used a slow simmering steak)
6 medium beets...pre boiled, diced
1/2 sm cabbage, shredded
2 carrots, diced
2 cups tomatoes or tomato juice
1 medium onion, chopped
2 stalks celery, diced
1 T fresh dill, chopped
1 Bay Leaf
4 peppercorns
1 T lemon juice
1 T salt

Place meat in saucepan... cover with about 8 cups of water/stock
Add 1 T salt, Bay Leaf, onion, peppercorns and cook approx 45 m
Add rest of prepared vegetables...cook another 30 m
Add more water if necessary
If desired add 1/2 c sour cream - before serving.
This is a lovely soup...beaut flavours, and one of my favourites!!!


Back cover of the little book showing traditional sweet yeastbreads...pussy willow in the vase...and a little carved box with lid...

A little interesting excerpt from the book:

Riga (capital of Latvia) during the years of Latvia's independence was very proud to have one of the largest produce markets in all Europe, second only to the famous Les Halles in Paris...


'Klinger' in the back left...
Recipe from: Latvian Cooking
Recipe Collection from a Baltic Cuisine
Published by the Ladies Auxiliary of the Latvian Relief Society of Canada Inc.
Special Thanks to: Livija Grinbergs, Astrida Robez, Tonija Kruka and all the good cooks who helped create this book
Covers: A. Robez: Photography J.L. Davis
Printed by Campbell-Barry (1984) Ltd. Hamilton, Ontario, 1985

I am so grateful I came across this little book in the late 1980's...many of the recipes in there remind me of my dear Grandmother's/Vecmamina's cooking!!!

I'm looking forward to the concert tomorrow night...
And if any of you try this recipe let me know how you go with it...
there are probably a few variations out there!!!

Have a great weekend...Dzintra♥

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

The Dancing Queen song reminds me so of my college days. It was so popular and was always playing on the radio. Whenever I hear it now, it brings back such fond memories. I know Jo Jo will look fab with her hair style! Hope you all enjoy. Love your package you received and the soup is so very colorful too. What a fun post today.

Kath said...

Have a fabulous time, our dancing queen and dancing princess! much love Kath

Vicki's Bit-o-earth said...

What a great post Dzintra! Have a wonderful time with JoJo. I think Kath is right... perfect titles for our Dancing Queen and a Dancing Princess! Please give us a report on your fun time at the concert. (:

The borscht looks delicious and I can't wait to try the recipe. I have beets growing out in my garden. I know exactly where they will go straight into the pot, using your recipe.(: I love the book too. What a treasured find. Have a great weekend. Love from here, Vicki

Susan McShannon-Monteith said...

First the soup sounds yummy.
When I went with my daughter (whose 26 now) to see Mama Mia she had to keep telling me not to sing so loud. It was a wonderful trip down memory lane. I know JoJo will love the music and her spikey blue hair will be the finishing touch. Have a great time!
As for Tilda I love her goodies. Her new book is out here in August.
xo Susan

Micki said...

Have a great time with Jo Jo! I will try that soup...it sounds yummy, and the surprise package was lovely of Simone to send you!
Micki

Simone de Klerk said...

And how was The Dancing Queen? Did you have a good time? How lovely that JoJo let her hear do for this lovely happening (O:
Your soup looks special ...
I love the Latvian cooking book! How nice it must be to have this. Have a lovely Sunday!

Nat Palaskas said...

Hope you enjoy the ABBA concert and a visit from family and how lucky to get a parcel as well. I like the stitchery kit too.

Jeni said...

you will have a great night at the abba show...I love to put abba on with my little grandson and we sing and dance through the house.....
and that soup looks so yummy
I have recipe's that were my great grand mothers and they are so special I treasure them so much....
Jeni

a good yarn said...

I used to be *Frida* (my BFF was Agnetha because she had blond hair). Our stage was the balcony of her house, hairbrushes for microphones and we imagined that the fans were below. Okay, we were 14 after all!

Love the stitchery - how sweet and the Tilda fabrics are lovely. What a delightful gift.....Ann :)

Kimonos and Sushi(OLD BLOG) said...

What a great post, it made me feel like I was right there in your kitchen. Must get hubby to make the soup as I dont do vegetables...LOL

Sea Angels said...

oooh I hope you all had a fun night, and Jo Jo's hair looked fantastic....I adore the smell of Dill and would happily sniff it till the cows come home, I know worrying ha ha ..Loved your package those fabrics are soo gorgeous how kind was that...
Have a lovely weekend
Hugs Lynn xxx

Kate/Massachusetts said...

I visited your blog last week and found your borscht recipe. I made it today and it has to be one of the best soups I've ever had! It was delicious. Thank you for posting it!

Welcome To My World

Hello, my name is Dzintra Ingrid ... have been known as Ingrid and since our Sea Change I have started to use Dzintra ... pronounced without the D ... (but still known as Ingrid, I know, it's confusing ...)

Welcome to my world ... a journal of our Sea Change ... Mum to three wonderful children ... bringing up a daughter with a disability and seeing life through her eyes ... being a new Nanna ... photos ... inspiring quotes ... taking on a cookery course ... the odd recipe ... and trying to get some stitching done amongst all this ...