December 2020
Letter From Our Board
Dear Friends and Scholars:
Another year is coming to an end. 2020 was a year like no other in recent memory. It was a year that no one could have anticipated or planned for.
The ink was barely dry on all of our New Year goals, resolutions, objectives and expectations when COVID-19 hit.
We all had to make adjustments to almost every aspect of our daily lives. It was a year of delays, cancellations, closures and challenges, but also a year that brought us closer to our nuclear families. Often times, the hustle and bustle of life, filled with long hours at work, school and other obligations, does not allow for enough quality family time.
We learned to feel renewed joy in the simple things like home-cooked meals and lively conversations at the dinner table and family board game nights. The seemingly little things that sometimes slip through our fingers took on a greater and profound significance. Our restricted routines opened up new paths of creativity. We drove out of our way to catch a spectacular sunset; we finally tackled that hiking trail that we had always meant to explore and… hopefully, we all found a layer of Peace amidst all the Chaos.
One of the things we’ve learned during this extraordinary year is that, oftentimes, those small things that we take for granted have a lasting impact on our lives.
The Polish American Congress Charitable Foundation has, and will continue to help the people of Poland and our students here in the U.S., despite the challenges of Covid-19. We are only as strong as the generous support we are provided from so many of you. Thanks to our donors, we continue our Mission, which began back in 1971… almost 50 years of doing good!
In November 2020 we launched our updated website www.paccf.org. Check it out to see the PACCF in action or to make a holiday donation either online or via regular mail.
Least we not forget that Christmas is not a spectator event at which we are merely observers but is a participant event and a part of who we are as individuals and families.
May the closeness of your loved ones, family and friends fill your heart with joy.
We wish you a Healthy, Peaceful and Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
The Officers and Directors
Polish American Congress Charitable Foundation
Polish Christmas Eve Beet Soup
Polish borscht ('barszcz wigilijny') is the highlight of the Polish Christmas Eve meal. It is served as the first of 12 dishes (according to tradition) and its not Christmas Eve without it.
Christmas borscht is a little different from everyday borscht (the one people tend to be more familiar with). At Christmas it is served without any vegetables, as broth really. It contains very few ingredients and is always vegetarian! Polish Christmas Eve is meat free, though not vegetarian, as the meal consists of at least one fish dish.
Borscht – Red Beet Soup
Ingredients:
• 6 beets medium size
• 2 carrots medium size
• 1 parsley root or parsnip medium size
• 1/4 celery root or 1 celery stick
• 1/2 leek
• 4 sprig parsley
• 1/2 onion
• 4-5 dried porcini mushrooms
• 2 bay leaves
• 3 whole allspice
• 3 cloves garlic peeled and crushed
• 5 black peppercorns
• 1 tbsp buckwheat groats-kasha (optional)
• 1 tbsp olive oil or butter unsalted
• pinch of red pepper crushed
• 2 tbsp white vinegar + more if needed
• 1 tbsp lemon juice freshly squeezed
• 1/4 teaspoon sugar + more if needed
• 2 tbsp salt + more if needed
• freshly ground pepper to taste
Instructions:
Peel, wash and cut into chunks the vegetables (carrots, parsnip/parsley root, celery root, leeks). Place your vegetables and onion, bay leaves, allspices, peppercorn, red pepper, kasha, 2 gloves of garlic, olive oil or butter and washed mushrooms in the large pot, cover with 8 cups of water, add a tablespoon of salt and boil for about 35 minutes over medium heat, uncovered. Prepare beets – peel them, wash and slice in ¼ slices then cut the slices again into strips ½ inch thick like french fries. Place beets in a separate pot, cover with 5 cups of water and boil for 5 minutes. After that add 1 teaspoon of salt and 1 tbsp of white vinegar and 1 tbsp of lemon juice and boil for additional 15 minutes over medium heat. Use a strainer to separate and discard the vegetables from the broth. Combine the beets and the beet water with the vegetable broth, add the remaining vinegar and garlic, salt, pepper to taste, and bring it to boil. Serve with Ooshka.