Recipe: russian beet soup

Russian Beet Soup (Borscht )
6 cups water
1/2 cup dried navy beans
1 pound beef boneless chuck, tip or
round, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
1 smoked pork hock
1 (10 1/2 ounce) can condensed beef broth
2 1/2 teaspoons salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
6 medium beets, cooked
2 medium onions, sliced
2 cloves garlic, chopped
2 medium potatoes, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
3 cups shredded cabbage
2 teaspoons dill seed or 1 sprig dill weed
1 tablespoon pickling spice
1/4 cup red wine vinegar
1 cup dairy sour cream

Heat water and beans to boiling in Dutch oven; boil 2 minutes. Remove from heat; cover and let stand 1 hour. Add beef, pork, beef broth, salt and pepper to beans. Heat to boiling; reduce heat. Cover and simmer until beef is tender 1 to 1 1/2 hours. Shred beets or cut into 1/4-inch strips.

Remove pork from Dutch oven; cool slightly. Remove pork from bone and trim fat; cut into bite-size pieces. Add pork, beets, onions, garlic, potatoes and cabbage to beef mixture. Tie dill seed and pickling spice in cheesecloth bag or place in tea ball; add to beef mixture. Cover and simmer 2 hours.

Stir in vinegar; simmer 10 minutes.

Remove spice bag.

Serve with sour cream; sprinkle with minced dill weed, if desired.

Yields 6 servings.