Leda Schubert * Writer of Picture Books

Most recent apple: April, 2013

First attempt at drawing apples

An Occasional Post

Celebrating THE PRINCESS OF BORSCHT!

November 22, 2011

Tags: beets, Bonnie Christensen, Neal Porter, Recipes

Today, my friends, is the publication day for THE PRINCESS OF BORSCHT. I wrote the first draft almost ten years ago. Bonnie Christensen joined my writing group shortly thereafter, and she drew a picture of Ruthie which I still have (I’ve probably said this somewhere already.). So miracles happen. Keep writing. Keep illustrating. And deepest thanks to Neal Porter, Marcia Wernick, Steven Chudney, and all the folks at Roaring Brook Press.

Lots of people claim they don’t like beets. Read More

8 Comments

Comments

Dec 01, 2011 12:06 PM EST

I came looking for website-building inspiration and found your honest (of course) and encouraging post. Beet cake! How interesting. I've made beet risotto; it was very pretty & tasty. Have fun at Porter Square Books tomorrow, Leda.

- Deborah Kops

Dec 16, 2011 2:48 AM EST

Congratulations on your book release. What a unique topic!

- Linda A.

Dec 16, 2011 2:59 AM EST

Thanks for commenting, Linda and Deborah!

- Leda Schubert

Dec 18, 2011 6:43 AM EST

Hi, my daughter and I just read this book together and enjoyed it very much. We are trying to make the borscht recipe on the back cover. Just to clarify, we boil the beets before peeling and then save that water to use later? That seems counterintuitive so we wanted to be sure.

- Doug, Sacramento, CA

Dec 18, 2011 8:10 AM EST

Hi Doug. Uh oh-- serious question! Yes, scrub beets, boil, cool, peel, chop, and return to the broth. Then let me know how it tastes! And thanks for reading the book and commenting.

- Leda Schubert

Dec 18, 2011 11:09 AM EST

The book was great, but the borscht unfortunately didn't turn out so well for us. The beets tasted very bitter. Maybe it's better to peel them first?

- Doug, Sacramento, CA

Dec 18, 2011 11:51 AM EST

I feel terrible! All that effort, all that mess. Weird. I shall experiment. If you try it again (brave soul), skin them first, which will be even messier but maybe worth it. I don't think I've ever had the bitterness problem.

- Leda Schubert

Dec 18, 2011 1:43 PM EST

Don't worry about it! Maybe we have a different kind of beet here in CA.

- Doug, Sacramento, CA