Salsa!

About a week ago we had a freak snowstorm and even though my son had told me the day before it was supposed to snow, I blew it off. When I woke up and saw snow on the ground I jumped into my clothes and raced for the garden. I ended up picking five buckets of tomatoes, two and a half of which were green! What was I going to do with all those green tomatoes?

Well, I started searching and found a couple of recipes for green tomato salsa, but I didn't like them after I put in the work to make a batch, so I took my sister's red salsa recipe, modified it, and came up with a winner! It's a little more tangy than red salsa but has a nice, smooth flavor. Not too hot, not too sweet, and just the right touch of garlic and onion. I thought I'd post it here in case anyone else is looking for an answer to the green tomato question.

Green Tomato Salsa

2-3 onions, preferably sweet (walla walla or vidalia

4-6 Jalapenos, halved lengthwise and seeded

4 Annaheim Chili peppers, halved lengthwise and seeded

6-8 large garlic cloves

8 Quarts Green Tomatoes

1/2 Cup apple cider vinegar

1 rounded Tablespoon crushed red chili pepper

1 Tablespoon crushed cumin

Juice of 3 limes

1/2 Cup sugar

1/4 Cup salt

1-2 Quarts water (1 makes it thick and chunky, 2 makes it more runny)

2 Tablespoons dry Cilantro

In food processor finely chop onions, jalapenos, annaheim chilies, and garlic. Put into an 8 quart heavy pot. Short and quick, pulse tomatoes to desired consistency (I like them a little chunky. Kind of diced.) Put in pot. Add crushed red chili pepper, apple cider vinegar, cumin, salt, sugar, lime juice, cilantro, and water to pot. Simmer for one hour, stirring occasionally. (Watch that it doesn't scorch the bottom). Pack into hot jars and process in pressure canner for 15 minutes at 15 pounds of pressure.

Yields 18-20 pints.

So there you go. If anybody tries it, let me know what you think. I gave away four bottles and every single person told me the family ate the whole jar in a day. That's a good sign I think! Hooray for green tomatoes!

Quote of the Day: "And by the way, everything in life is writable about if you have the outgoing guts to do it, and the imagination to improvise. The worst enemy to creativity is self-doubt. "

~Sylvia Plath

Writing Again!

So, a friend of mine told me that one of our online groups was starting a B.I.A.M. (Book In A Month) for the month of October and asked if I wanted to join. I've been desperate to write for ages and just needed an excuse, I guess, because I started today and wrote 2,295 words! How cool is that? It feels so good to be writing again, I can't even tell you. It's a great way to fill those sleepless hours I can't seem to get away from. Hey, if my brain is awake at one and two a.m., why not use it?

Quote of the Day: "The reason 99% of all stories written are not bought by editors is very simple. Editors never buy manuscripts that are left on the closet shelf at home."

John W. Campbell

Book Review: The Santa Letters

I must admit, the timing on reading this book was perfect for me. Since I lost my mother I've found myself questioning who I am without her. It's been an interesting and painful process, discovering who I am all over again, and one I never imagined I'd have to go through once I passed the teenage years. It's not easy dealing with the loss of people we love and The Santa Letters by Stacy Gooch Anderson has a wonderful way of showing just that.

I sat down at lunch with this book and didn't leave the table until I was finished. Yeah. It was that good.

The falling December snow brings with it the sadness that has engulfed the previous year for the Jensen family. This first year without their father and husband has been trying. Money is tight, but it's the emotional strain that threatens to snap under the weight of grief. Just as Emma and the children begin to sink beneath the surface, a mysterious package arrives on the doorstep. An ornate wax seal beckons them to open the accompanying note and start on a journey through Christmas. The note is signed simply, "Santa," and each day a package arrives to remind them of the true meaning of Christmas - love, family, memories, and, most important of all, Christ.

As I read the journey of the Jensen family, I found myself wondering how I too could apply the lessons taught in The Santa Letters and how I could serve those in need and those who have served me through my time of trial. If you haven't yet had the opportunity to read The Santa Letters, I would strongly encourage you to take the time to do so. It's a few hours spent that you'll never forget.

Comedic Kindness

I've been going through Mom's things and though I know it's a necessary task, there are days it's a real struggle. The other day I found Mom's calendar and seeing her life planned on the page in her familiar handwriting, the pain hit me something fierce. The kids were upstairs playing and I just laid down on the floor and tried not to cry.

After a bit Birdie boy came down and asked "Mom, are you crying?"

"No." I tried not to sniff.

He immediately came down the stairs and knelt down beside me while I fingered the calendar. "You are crying." Well, I hadn't been before, but his kindness set me off, so I nodded my head. He wrapped an arm around me and put his cheek next to mine and tried to comfort me as best as his nine year-old self could. He patted my back while my tears dampened the carpet and said, "It's okay, Mom. I'm sad too."

Tin-man came to the stairs then. "Is Mom crying?"

Birdie nodded and Tin-man immediately rushed to me and knelt by my head, but instead of trying to comfort me he grabbed the calendar and started to flip through it furiously.

"What are you doing?" Birdie asked.

"Trying to find what made my mom cry!" was his answer. That made me cry even harder.

Birdie stood then and said, "Mom, you don't have to do anything else. I'll clean up for you. Just tell us what to do." He wrapped his arm back around me and, scooting to the side, went to sit down, then promptly yelped and leapt to his feet, rubbing his backside. Startled, I glanced to my left to see what had attacked him to find toothpicks scattered across the carpet, the holder they'd been in tipped on its side. I started to laugh hysterically and both boys joined me rather quickly.

He picked up the toothpicks and smacked them with his hand. "Bad toothpicks. Mom, what do I do with them?"

I answered, "Well, after they've been stuck in your butt I don't think anybody's going to want to use them." I handed him the garbage and, laughing, he tossed them out.

What a joy they are to my aching heart.

Something Light for a Change

You Are Belle!

Intelligent and kind. Your beauty goes much further than your apperance. Also, you make judgements of people based on their personality and not their looks. Attaining all the knowledge that you can is one of your major goals in life, but you are also a person who can make things happen.

Which Disney Princess Are You?

Poetic Grief

Thanks to all who have sent condolences and prayers my way, whether through comments, personal e-mail, a card, phone call, or signing the guest book on the newspaper website. It has been so helpful and meaningful to have so many of you reach out to me during such a difficult time.

Yesterday I was out of town and found myself picking up the phone to call Mom and check on her. When it dawned on me nobody was on the other end, my heart just about broke, but rather than have a melt-down I put it on paper. The following poem is what resulted:

~~~

Poetic Grief

I picked up the phone

to call you tonight

when I remembered . . .

you're not there.

Yesterday, I went downstairs

to talk to you

but only the silent remnants

of your life greeted me with memories

. . . and you're not there.

Tomorrow I'll want to share

the music of this masterpiece

and you won't be there.

I never knew how big you were

until I tried to fill the void

you left behind.

There's not enough stuff in the world

to fill this hole.

The place you lived in my heart

is empty

. . . because you're not there.

And Now . . . I Bid You Adieu

Theda Earlene Gillespie 1931 ~ 2008 Our beloved mother, grandmother, and friend passed from this earthly existence on August 6, 2008 surrounded by those she loved.Earlene was born Sept. 6, 1931 in Tucson, Arizona to Earl Christopher Sipe and Elizabeth Elder. She was a woman full of light and life, a woman who seemed to succeed at nearly everything she tried, from grand gardens to building rooms. Earlene was one of the choice spirits who walk upon the earth seeking to do service for those around her. She had great integrity, a huge heart, and a beautiful spirit and will be sorely missed. Earlene is survived by her six children: Collette Johnson (Washington); Doug Clement (Bountiful); Linda Capello (Idaho); Mark Clement (Oregon); Karen Hoover (Tooele); and Sean Gillespie (Salt Lake). This only child produced six children, 21 grandchildren, and 28 great-grandchildren, and she spent her last few hours surrounded by many of them, sharing stories and joyful memories of our years with her. Services will be held at 1 p.m. on Fri., August 8 at the chapel on 2600 S. and 500 W. in Bountiful. All welcome.

It is not easy to say good-bye to those we love, especially when it is a separation that will last until one crosses from this world to the next. On Wednesday, August 6, at 3:05 a.m., my dear, sweet mother unexpectedly crossed the veil into the eternities.

Farewell, Mama. Thank-you for all the years of love, friendship, and unwavering support. You will be sorely missed. Hugs and kisses for eternity.