Svekolnik (Russian beetroot soup)

"Svekolnik" is originated from Russian cuisine and it is great soup for a hot summer! Try to use sweet and deep red beetroot for achieving beautiful color. I use different greens for this soup-coriander, parsley, celery or even beet tops and spinach-it's up to you. My favorite is with coriander-I just love the smell and taste! You can also add in potatoes boiled in skin, peeling and cubing them. Some add in sour cream for extra taste.

Ingredients:

2 medium sized beetroot

3 eggs, hard boiled

A bunch of greens (I love coriander)

2 medium sized cucumbers

500 grams of natural yogurt-"Qatiq" or "Suzma"

200 ml of clean drinking water

Salt to taste

Put beetroot in boiling water and cook until soft or half soft (to your taste). Let them cool completely. Peel off the skin and cut in medium sized cubes. Cut cucumbers in smaller cubes. Chop up greens.

Finely mix yogurt and water. Add in beetroot, cucumber, greens, salt and mix again.

Serve putting egg halves on top.

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How to Make a Quick Italian Spaghetti

Spaghetti is a delicious dish that can be made with a few simple ingredients, perfect for a family dinner or a big party. This article will teach you how to prepare a quick Italian spaghetti, and will have you serving up fantastic plates of pasta in no time.

Ingredients

• 1lb of Ground beef or Italian sweet or hot sausage cut up in 3/4" pieces
• Two large cans of crushed tomatoes.
• 4 cloves fresh garlic, diced.
• 1 medium onion, diced.
• 1 tbs dried parsley flakes
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• 1 tsp dried basil
• 1/2 tsp salt and 1/4 tsp ground black pepper (adjust to taste)
• Olive Oil.
• 1 lb dried spaghetti
• Optional flaked Parmesan cheese
• Optional 1 diced bell pepper
• Optional 4 ounces diced mushrooms (or an 8 ounce can)    

Steps

1-Put on a pot of water to boil with 8-12 cups of water. While it is heating, cook your sauce

2-In a separate pot heat up 2 table spoons of Olive Oil on medium heat.

3-Sauté your sausage or ground beef until browned (drain and return to pot), then add bell peppers and mushrooms and cook until lightly browned.

4-Add onions into the pot, continue sautéing until edges are browned. Then add fresh diced garlic and cook another minute (overcooked garlic is bitter and loses its flavor).

5-Add the tomato sauce and spices, stir and let it simmer for 15 to 20 min.

6-Once the water in the first pot boils, add 1tbs. olive oil, spaghetti noodles and a 1 tsp of salt.

7-Stir gently and constantly until the water boils again to keep it from sticking together.

8-Let the spaghetti boil for 10-12 min (once spaghetti is done, rinse and drain).

9-Mix with sauce and serve immediately.

Tips

• Consider including a garden or Caesar salad and warm garlic bread slices.
• Freshly grated parmesan cheese is the perfect complement to spaghetti.
• If you substitute ground turkey or chicken meat, stirring in 1tsp Worcestershire sauce into the meat before frying it improves the flavor.

From  wikihow

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