January's new dish: Kurkuda soup

There is a number 11 on my list of Resolutions 2012, and it is there to make me try and cook something new at least once a month. You know having the same food for long periods of time can only lead to not cooking them in the next 3-5 years, depending on the variety of meals you usually make. We don't want that, because we love that food, don't we? Here's the first new dish I did in January 2012...

Kurkuda soup is a typical Bulgarian soup, and it is exclusively made in the area of my hometown and the surrounding towns and villages, north Bulgaria. Our grandmothers are proud to pass their recipes forward to us so we keep traditions as they should be - eternal.

If you are a fan of sour cabbage and pork this is a must-try, definitely! Before I start with the recipe, I just want to note that this is my grandma's recipe and it may slightly differ form the recipes of other families, but this is the charm of it.

RECIPE for Kurkuda Soup

Products:

    500g pork meat

    4-5 leaves sour cabbage, pickled home-style

    1 onion

    1 carrot

    salt, pepper, savory

    2 s.f. canned tomato juice

    1l water /could be mixed with some sour juice from the cabbage if you wish for a more intense sour taste/

Preparation:

1. Fill a pot with water and put it on the hot-plate until it boils. Do not add oil, because the meat is going to extract some by itself later on.

2. While the water is heating up, chop the onion, the cabbage leaves, and the meat in small pieces.

3.  When the water boils, add the chopped products altogether and let them cook for a while.

4. Add the spices, and try the soup occasionally in the course, so you know if it needs more salt or sour cabbage juice and add it accordingly.

5. When the meat changes it's color, you can now add 2 spoon-fulls of tomato juice and the carrot. Let it cook.

6.  In the end you can thicken the soup by adding a beaten egg, flour etc., but this is not mandatory. I like it clear, so I missed the last step.

Tip: I added just a little bit of some really hot spice I have, and the soup got a chilli taste, but when it's hot and served with bread and black pepper powder it is the best cold-fighter, I promise!

The whole cooking process took me no longer than an hour, I guess, but it is really simple to make and so delicious to eat. I hope you like the recipe, and if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me and I will do my best to help you.

Nikon D60, 18-55mm.

PS: January down, eleven more to go.

Day 187: Elections 2011 knocking at the door...

It's almost elections time here in Bulgaria...few more days to go...the sooner it passes the better, at least in terms of all the ugly debates and the whole campaign bullshit (excuse me!) on TV.

And here's a common question: Are YOU going to vote?

Below is a preview of Bulgaria's past, present, and let's keep fingers crossed, brighter than ever future! Bulgaria is in the hands of young people now, so can we make it all happen?

I hope so. I honestly think that in order for things to improve there's always a need for a change. So go on, and change something.

Here's a little joke from this past weekend in Tikvenburg ;) Yes, we like to make that kind of fun with our politicians, just the same way they sometimes make fun of us (no offense, of course, please..;) )

Nikon D60, 18-55mm.

P.S. I am not trying to convince anybody he/she should vote for someone in particular, I just think it's important to make a move, no matter what, but to be involved, even if not going to the elections at all. You name it ;)

Day 186: Tikvenburg

My hometown is just lovely. For so many different reasons.

This time I have in mind the annual fall fair in town in the middle of October. Since my hometown's symbol is the pumpkin (in Bulgarian tikva), we cherish it so much that we celebrate with a carnival, with artistic exhibitions, as well as a culinary show, of course, made with the use of pumpkin. Everyone, from kindergarten children to grown ups get involved in all the preparations. It feels like the community here is quite united compared to other parts of Bulgaria. Lucky Sevlievo :)))

It is so beautiful to come back home in autumn and have a little feast, do a little chit-chat with old friends, and simply enjoy your time.

Here's a bit of Tikvenburg 2011. Next year if you wonder what to do in the middle of October you might want to consider a trip to Sevlievo, and celebrate with the people there. They sure know how to make one at home :))))))

Nikon D60, 18-55mm.

Day 139: Bunny in the grass

If you live in a place where bunnies jump undisturbed in the grass around, you must be living in a good place.

Nikon D60, 18-55mm.

Day 121: Karaoke fever

The last day of March I spent in Sevlievo.

We had a karaoke night to remember at one of the popular restaurants in town - "Vinchev" (www.restorantvinchev.com) I am a regular and I happen to know the owner, no recommendation needed for that one ;)
Karaoke can be a really embarrassing experience sometimes, but you shouldn't give up on it. You could be surprised not only by others, but by your own self. And remember, if you don't have the voice of Rihanna this doesn't mean you are not talented. It's just that you need to find the right song for you.

Karaoke is good for you, I promise :))) Just go somewhere and sing a song in front of your friends - if they like it they'll joke about it, if they don't like it they'll joke about it as well ;))

Nikon D700, 50mm.

Day 89 - Joy of ♥ 24: where

Here comes the next one... It's asking where did we first meet, or fell in love with each other. That's hard to tell, first of all, because we come from the same place and we practically have known each other forever. And second of all, it's too hard to determine where and when exactly did we feel those so called butterflies...and maybe too personal to tell aloud ;)

That's why I am attaching a photo of the two of us from Christmas at home in 2008 when we actually met in the real sense of the word, and according to me - we spoke for the first time =D It's been a long journey since then, with ups and downs along the way, but somehow it feels like everything that happened, happened for a reason.

A long story told short.

Author of photo: unknown. (but most probably it's George?! :D)

P.S. Ignore the sober guy behind, he's just a totally different story I'll tell some other time :D

Day 82 - Joy of ♥ 17: staying in...the office

Okay I admit it. I twisted it up just a little. Lately I feel like this assignment is not as challenging as I wished it would be, with the topics overlapping a few times, but I decided I can challenge myself while in motion. The next topic was called staying in...I just added the office part myself, and here's why.

The last few days we spent in our hometown Sevlievo, north Bulgaria, staying at home with our families. This is also where work is for me. It's the mother ship here. It's where my dad's business is, was, will always be I guess...all things well.
And since office feels more like home around here because of the time we spend in it on a daily basis, I think the twist is okay. Besides, sometimes it feels like people there are family.. :)
My dad is at his office every day, Mon-Sun, so this is what it looks like when staying in.



Nikon D700, 50mm.

Day 29 - Dashing through the snow

Dashing through the snow...la-la-laaa-la-la-la-laaaaa...