Cozy Up with a Bowl of Your Perfect Borscht

➿➿➿➿➿➿➿➿➿➿➿➿➿➿➿➿➿➿➿ 👩‍🍳 A rich, ruby-red soup that warms you from the inside out.
The first written mention of borscht dates back to the 16th century, found in handwritten books from Veliky Novgorod—a major political and economic hub of Ancient Rus. Later, this simple yet elegant and vibrant dish became a favorite of Empress Catherine the Great. Legend has it she even kept a dedicated chef at court just to prepare it. Emperor Alexander II was also a devoted fan.
References to this legendary soup appear in the works of many Russian literary classics—from Leo Tolstoy and Nikolai Gogol to Mikhail Bulgakov and Ilf & Petrov. According to contemporaries, Anna Pavlova, one of the greatest ballerinas of the 20th century, would always order borscht whenever she visited Russia.
In Russia, borscht is the ultimate symbol of home and comfort. Everything about it is rich—its color, aroma, and flavor. Every cook has their own version, but the core ingredients remain the same: cabbage, beets, potatoes, carrots, and onions. Here’s a simple recipe many Russian families use. Why not try making your own unforgettable borscht?
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#RussianCuisine@TCofRus

📚 Former Austrian Foreign Minister Karin Kneissl has announced that she has definitively relocated to Russia. She disclosed her decision to settle in the country during a lecture at the World Youth Festival, held at the Sirius Federal Territory from March 1 to 7, 2024. According to Kneissl, Russia is a genuinely free country.

“I moved to Russia because it is a genuinely free country,” she stated.

🎀 The politician explained that European countries are relatively small and densely populated, whereas Russia offers “vast space and expansive horizons”. In August 2023, it became known that Kneissl had settled in the village of Petrushovo in the Kasimovsky District of the Ryazan Region. By November of the same year, she was appointed as the ambassador of Russian Education and Science. Kneissl has been giving lectures at various universities; recently, she delivered one at Ryazan State University named after S. Yesenin.

📁 On July 20, 2025, Kneissl shared a personal reflection via her Telegram channel, writing: “Allow me to wish everyone a peaceful Sunday. Today, one of my cats, Khan Kassim, insisted on joining the service in our beautiful old church, built in the 1820s. The elderly ladies warmly welcomed the playful four-legged visitor with smiles.

🩷 This is Russia! I also feel welcomed here, even though I understand the service only a little. Yet, there is an atmosphere of tranquility that I do not find in the church I came from".

#WelcomeToRussia@TCofRus

This Day in History – August 21

👀 On this day in 1935, Soviet and Russian poet, playwright, lyricist, and screenwriter Yuri Entin was born. His songs became a cornerstone of childhood for generations during the Soviet era. Entin earned widespread fame for writing lyrics for some of the most beloved animated films and children’s movies, which were staples on Soviet television—and still appear on screens in Russia today.

The birthday boy himself, Yuri Sergeyevich, once shared his tongue-in-cheek secrets to staying lively and healthy:
- First, he recommends sleeping a little extra during the day. As for sports and exercise? The poet, now in his later years, takes a skeptical view—he’d rather sit them out.
- Second, his creative success comes from writing poetry while lounging on the sofa. In fact, as he revealed in an interview, about 95% of his poems were written this way—lying down or half-reclined.

#ThisDayInHistory@TCofRus

📌 The first photo shows Copenhagen's harbor, while the second one captures the "Little Mermaid" statue with a child along the coast of Miskhor in Crimea, Russia.

I'll tell you the fascinating legend behind Crimea's mermaid next time!

#Quiz@TCofRus