Mama Malkin’s Borscht

Since it’s playoff time again, ThePittsburghChannel’s web editors are reprinting Becky Emmers’ blog post from June 9, 2009. You can check it out below. 

(The free offer was only good back then, but the recipe is still the same!) 

Evgeni Malkin

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The 17th Street Cafe in the South Side is giving away free cups of Red Borscht Soup tonight, for Pens fans who show up to watch the game. Borscht is the kind of soup that Natalia Malkin makes for her superstar son, Evgeni Malkin. Here is the recipe that the restaurant sent out in a mass email. Yummy! Let’s Go Pens! 

1 pound any kind of meat, cubed (approximately 1 1/2-inches)
3 medium baking potatoes, peeled and cubed
1/2 medium head cabbage, cored and shredded
8-ounce can diced tomatoes, drained
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
3 medium beets, peeled and shredded
3 carrots, peeled and shredded
1 teaspoon white sugar, or to taste
3 cloves garlic, minced
6-ounce can tomato paste
3/4 cup water
Salt and pepper to taste
1/2 cup sour cream, for topping
1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley for garnish 

Fill a large pot halfway with water (about 2 quarts), add the meat and bring to a boil, reduce the heat and cover the pot. Add the potatoes and bring to a boil. Add the cabbage and the can of diced tomatoes and cook until tender, about 15 minutes. 

Heat the oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add the beets, and cook until tender. Add the carrots, the white sugar and the raw garlic. Stir in the tomato paste and water until well blended. Add skillet contents to the soup and bring to a boil, cover and turn off the heat. Let stand for 15 to 20 minutes. Taste, and season with salt, pepper and additional sugar, if desired. 

Ladle into serving bowls, and garnish with sour cream and fresh parsley. 

Playoff Beards/Open Arena Roof

It’s that time of year again fellas! Time to grow playoff beards for the Pittsburgh Penguins! There is another Penguins Beard-A-Thon to benefit the Mario Lemieux Foundation. Fans who are willing to put down their razors are asked to enroll online and upload photos of their shaved faces. Throughout the playoffs, growers can ask their peers to pledge their beards while updating their profile pictures. Prizes will go tot the top three beard growers.

Iheartpgh.com reports Double Wide Grill in the South Side is also hosting a playoff beard competition. Stop by the restaurant and get your before photo. The best playoff beard grower will receive a $500 cash prize!

While we’re on the Pens topic, check out my favorite Facebook group of the week. Open the Civic Arena Roof One More Time! The group wants the Mellon Arena roof to open at least one more time if government officials decide to tear it down. I’m not even sure it that’s possible, but sure is a fun idea! As of Friday afternoon, the group had more than 130 members.

I hope everyone has a FABULOUS weekend!