A recipe to share

So I've learned this year something I hadn't known previously.  My pioneer spirit is something I did not stumble upon, but rather it was bred into me.  My mom tried {and failed} to post this to my blog, but I thought it was so cute that her and I are kindred spirits in yet another way that I just had to share it!

Me, my sister Stephani & my Mom.

"You come by that Pioneer Spirit naturally. Your Aunt Jill and I used to call this the "squirrel syndrome" because we felt like squirrels, scurrying around to gather everything and put it away for the winter. Your take on it is lots more elegant, but it's all the same idea --- wanting to use what God has provided in the garden to fill shelves and freezer for the winter. We always thought it was because we grew up {up north} where it wasn't unusual for the power to go off for days on end if a heavy winter snow or ice storm came through, but maybe it's just in your genes naturally."

How cool is that?  Why I never picked up on this growing up, I don't know... or maybe I did subconsciously and only to have it emerge now that I'm an adult living in the remote-ness of rural life.  At any rate, I love it!  And I'm glad it's a part of who I am - bred in, learned or whatever!

And with that, I'll leave you with a recipe from the same fabulous lady {a.k.a. My Mom} who was quoted above... We call it CHILI STARTER, but really, it's stew starter of any kind. :)

2 tsp salt
4 quarts peeled & quartered tomatoes
1 cup chopped celery
1 TB sugar
1/2 cup chopped onion
1/4 cup chopped green pepper

Combine all the ingredients above and bring to a boil.  Reduce heat and simmer for 10-20 minutes.  Process in your canner or freeze.

Then just bust it out when you need to add some flavor and filler to your soup or stew !