Borscht

Beets create a beautiful gem tone colored broth. It's as pretty to look at is it is good for you. Beets are loaded with folate, manganese and potassium. Choose firm small to medium beets, when they get too large they get woody and tough. They can be shredded and eaten raw in salads. One of my favorite salads- Orange Beet Salad  uses cooked beets To cook them- remove the leaves and the roots, wash and boil 20 -30 min. till easily pierced with a fork, then remove the skins- they will slip right off. Beets can also be roasted or steamed. Don't forget to eat the nutritious greens as well- they can be cooked like any other greens or put into smoothies. This is a vegan recipe unless you add the sour cream.

Borscht

2 c. sliced cooked beets (I used a bunch from my garden-about 6 should do, or you could sub canned)

1/2 of a red pepper, diced

3 carrots, diced

1 onion, diced

2 stalks celery, diced

28 oz. can of diced tomatoes

8 c. water

1 T. red wine vinegar

1 tsp. sea salt

freshly ground black pepper

sour cream, opt.

Combine all ingredients except salt, pepper and sour cream in a large soup pan. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer 1 hour. Add salt and pepper to taste, serve with a dollop of sour cream if desired. Goes great with a nice crusty whole grain bread and a green salad. Reheats well.

I almost forgot to add that I got my stitches out and this  Wedderspoon Raw Organic Organic Manuka Honey Active 16+, 17.6-Ounce Jar  worked amazingly well on my cut, as I discussed in my  Tips for Natural Wound Healing. The doctor was very pleased with how well it healed, although because of the location on my knuckle I have to be careful with it for the next month. Since I no longer have to wear the splint, I can now wear a glove and get back in the kitchen cooking, yay!