Let's make the Ukrainian borscht!

Hello Friends! :)
Have you ever tried a genuine Ukrainian traditional first course - borscht? By the way, what type of cuisine do you like? Do you prefer to cook some dishes which belong to your own cuisine or do you relish some typical Mediterranean or Asian dishes?

As we know, Polish and Ukrainian cuisines have quite a lot of similar dishes and recipes. Both cuisines share many similarities, e.g. the dishes are quite fatty and nourishing, there are many braised products, the cabbage is in wide use and cooked in different ways, a meal for dinner consists of three parts: the first course is a soup (like cucumber soup, cabbage soup, sorrel soup), the second course is entree consisting of meat with potatos or kasha and vegetables, and the third one is a dessert and a hot dring or a cold beverage.
As to Ukrainian borscht, there is one recipe with fixed ingredients, but realised in plenty of ways depending on regions and even families, where it is cooked. So in this post I'm going to share with you my beloved granny's recipe of a true Ukrainian borscht!
You will need following ingredients:

• 1,5 kg of beef;
• 2-3 beetroots;
• 8-10 potatos;
• 0,5 fresh cabbage;
• 2-3 carrots;
• 1 onion;
• tomato puree;
• bay leaf;
• beans:
• salt, pepper.

1. Cook meat for 1,5 hours;
2. Cut an onion and fry it for 5 min.;
3. Over time rub carrots with a big grator and add to the onion, fry it for 5 min;
4. Then add 2 glasses of cooking bouillion;
5. Slice the raw beetroots and add to the frying onion and carrots, brase the vegetables for 20 min;
6. After 20 min add the tomato puree (not too much) and brase it for 20 min, add 2 spoons of cream;
7. Over time cube potatos and add them to the bullion, cook it for 25 min;
8. Shred cabbage and add it to bullion, cook it for 15 min;
9. The braising beetroots add to the bouillion, cook until it boils for 15 min; 
10. Then add some bay leaves, salt and pepper;
11. Take the pot from the tile and leave it under the cover for 20 min;
12. The borscht is prepared! Good appetite to you ;)

I hope you'll try to cook the dish using this recipe and enjoy a delicious Ukrainian barscht! :)

I recommend to serve the dish with pampushky (typical Ukrainian doughnuts) embrocated with garlic. :)

An only child = selfishness?

As it's widely known, a popular stereotype about only children makes us think they are generally all selfish. This ascertainment tends to be true and to be justified by several reasons. First of all, they say, only children feel the bee's knees from the beginning of their childhood, as they are accustomed to achieve what they are eager for (e.g. sweets, toys, money) without an obligation of sharing it with anyone, in contrast to those children who have siblings. Secondly, only children are surrounded by their parents' love and attention, so again, they don't have to think about anyone and to bother themselves with siblings' problems. Another reason to affirm that this stereotype is true, reffears to long periods of time only children are accustomed to spend alone, e.g. at home, when their parents are at work. Even if only children have got friends, it is a significantly different case if they had siblings, simply because we can't choose relatives, but friends.
 I could agree with a statement that stereotypes are based on some true observations and tendencies, but, as a matter of fact, probably all stereotypes are exaggerated or ignore some significant real facts about a discussed subject of any stereotype.
So, firstly, much depends on childrens' upbringing and values and priorities being taught by their parents. If parents pay attention and explain to their child (most effectively by their own example) that, for instance, everything should be shared with others or it would be a nice gesture at least to offer something to somebody, a child starts to behave so, and later it comes natural to share what he/she has got with others.
What is more, there are many cases, when children who have got siblings, are selfish and stingy thoughout their life. Secondly, it can be true, that only children love to be in the spotlight and to be surrounded by somebody's attention (but not necessarily), nevertheless, everything depends on a personality of such children and on their character. I have met many only children who pleasantly astonished me with their sincere caring about others and dedicating their time helping to resolve others' problems.
 Lastly, it is somewhat true when it comes to preferring to spend time in isolation, since only children are accustomed to act on their own, not depending on somebody's plans, and I would add that comparing to children who have elder sinlings, only children become earlier more self-relient and take care about themselves with much ease.
In conclusion, there are some aspects, that make us think only children are generally selfish, but we shouldn't forget, that a stereotype, like a first impression, is frequently misleading.

Learning English

Hello, my Dear Friends! :)
Let's talk about a very often discussed and all-important topic when it comes to learning lenguages, in our case learning English. So, do you agree with the statement that people who haven't learnt English in an English-speaking country are at a disadvantage when trying to master their English?

 

As for me, I definitely agree, and I regret so much about not being able for now to go e.g. in England and spend there at least several months, in an English-speaking environment. So, why do I consider these people to be in a disatvantage? First of all because, when practicing English by watching films, listening to music in Egnlish, having lessons with the best teachers of English (native or non native speakers), it takes them rather much more time to learn to speak fluently and accurately. They are bi- or multilingual people, and they do still have problems with expressing of their opinion in English. Actually, it occurs because they think in their mother tongue and try to translate the sentences, obviously, with some errors, which are a consequence of the calques/loan translation of some phrases. In constrast to this, people who are submerged in the language in an English-speaking country, listen to people speaking English, they are forced to try to speak as fast as possible to communicate with others, and they use the language in an everyday life and observe (consciously or not) how does language function in common situations. So, it's obvious that, despite the difficulty of aquisition of English among native speakers, it comes naturally for them to express themselves, as they simply start to speak automatically, without reflecting, applying the phrases used by native speakers.
In conclusion, there is nothing left to say but that you definitely will be at a huge advantage if you decide to mater your English in an English-apeaking country! ;)

The book's death?..

Hellooo there! :)

We live in times when an ordinary paper book we became accostumed to is gradually startng to be  replaced by it's competitors - computers, laptops, tablets or simply by cell phones. Some supporters of the products of the advanced and developed technology believe that thank's to these modern devices we will make do without the traditional version of books and probably it could cause the total extinction of the paper books. They also claim that in this case many trees that serve as a material for creation of books could be saved from cutting. Moreover, according to them, we could eliminate some main problems paper book readers have to face: a difficulty for students to find in libraries a copy of a book they need (as the quantity is limited) and to carry heavy or enormous books and manuals in their bags.
Of course, on one hand they are right, I regret very often for not being able to take so many books with me that I would like to. In addition, so much paper is being used for printing photocopies...Anyway, I wouldn't agree with the statement about the book's 'death'. I simply love to read books in the traditional version, because I can enjoy turning each page, making notes and some comments with a pencil on the pages, I love the fresh smell of a new book, it is not only the content that counts, but also its form. On the other hand, when we are are speaking about sources for the printing of books, we should also admit that all electronic devices need to be recharged very frequently, so the electicity is also being consumed which doesn't give positive results for the environment. Yes, a smartphone or a tablet is much more comfortable and practical in use, but I think there will always be many paper book lovers who will put the lid on the extinction of the real touchable books...

Supernatural powers

Hello there! :)
Have you ever thought about possessing some supernatural powers? Which ones would they be?
As for me, I have been thinking about it since I was a child, specially when I have watched fantasy or science-fiction films. It isn't hard to imagine - to fly without any use of material constructions, to be invisible or to create something only by thinking of it, but unfortunately it's not so easy to make it possible in real life... I would really like to be able to communicate only by thought also in distance and to be at several places simultaneously.

The greatest inspiration for me to dream about having supernatural powers were the well-known amazing series of books and then films about Harry Potter. I still can't help wondering what a fantastic story like this one was created! On the one hand it would be wonderful if everyone could choose such unusual powers. On the other hand, however, it could cause unpredictable and dangerous consequences for all humanity in case someone wanted to use their supernatural forces for some wrong or dirty purposes. 

Anyway, I'm overjoyed that we have opportunity at least to dream and to use our imagination for creation of endless amount of pieces of art, making real our desires at least partially.

Travelling = happiness

Hello my Friends! :)
What a wonderful thing travelling is, don't you think so?
I would like to share my latest experience with you as yesterday I went to one of the most visited cities in the world - Berlin! It was the first time I have ever been there, and I definitely want to go there again! I went to Berlin with a big group of Poles accompagnied by our guide and we stayed there only one day, but it was truly intensive and full of amazing emotions trip. First, we went to East Berlin and passed the East Side Gallery, where among other graffities a famous painting of Brezhnev and Honecker's fraternal kiss is depicted. Then we had an occasion to see the apple of Berliners' eye - the famed Fernsehturm (The Berlin Television Tower), which is the tallest structure in Germany. Then we visited the Lustgarten, one of the numerous parks in central Berlin, where is situated the huge and astonishing Berlin Cathedral.

 To our common joy, we entered a store of one of the best-known German brands of chocolate - Ritter Sport, situated in Französische straße in Berlin. We were all just stupefied by the endless amount of different types of chocolate, so everybody could find something for themselves!

 After that, we passed the main street of the capital - Unter den Linden, that leads to Pariser Platz, where we could see the Russian (a bit in front of the square), the American and the French Embassies and the most expensive hotel in Berlin named Adlon. Moreover, the square is well-known also due to the Brandenburger Tor (Brandenburg Gate), one of the most famous landmarks of Germany. 

 Afterwards, we visited the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe, which is presented by numerous slabs vary in height and organized in rows and located near the Brandenburg Gate.

 Later on, we visited the renowned and monumental Reichstag building in Platz der Republik, which now is the meeting place of the German parliament. The building amazes by its ineffable magnitude and grandeur, so there is nothing strange that so many tourists are always eager to visit this edifice.

After that, we also went to Potsdam, a city situated approximately 30 kilometers from Berlin. There I met my lovely friend who studies in Berlin and we continued the trip together passing through the Sanssouci Park with Sanssouci Palace in there, which earlier was a residence of the Prussian royal family.

At the end of our trip we went to the Christmas market in Potsdam, a street known as Weihnachtsmarkt, with numerous cubbies along the street all decorated with bright and lucid light chains. It was truly crowdy as there were many German and tourists who were walking and buying delightful sweet things, all different Christmas toys, decorations and souvenirs. There we had a rest and ate a simple but deliciously prepared dish of roasted potatoes, smothered cabbage and a saussage.
To sum up, in spite of little time that we had to visit all the main places of Berlin and Potsdam, I really enjoyed the trip and the atmosphere of the imminent Christmas that I experienced there!

An occasion for some riflection

My dear Friends,

what is forgiveness and should people always forgive their wrongdoers? Probably the answer of many of us is quite obvious when it comes to everyday life situations like having arguments, insulting others and being insulted, lying to each other etc. But what about such cases like murders, betrayals and infringements? Is it possible to forgive such delinquencies and continue to live without persistent sense of hatred and grief? 

This kind of reflection has come into my mind and completely broke my heart when I was visiting Auschwitz concentration camp last Saturday. I was familiarized nefore with the history about a ferocious treatment and extermination of people by the Nazi German, but it was extremely hard experience to realize that I was physically present in a zone where such horrible things had taken place. When I was walking there, I really couldn’t believe that everything that had happened was true. It was like a horror film, but based on real facts and evidences. Considering hard conditions in which prisoners had to live and work, the ferocity and brutal inhuman behavior of the Nazi German executors, there immediately appears a question, could they be forgiven by their numerous victims and members of the victims’ families?

I can hardly imagine myself in a place of these victims and try to forgive, but I know that forgiveness is an utterly powerful thing that can miraculously reconcile people, giving them an inner peace and happiness.