It's that time. For those of you who really love tomatoes, you will understand how I feel. If I could only plant one thing in my garden, it would be tomatoes. Chris and I share the love of these wonderful fruits and will happily eat more than our share of tomato sandwiches until they are all gone this fall. Even then I hope to have some wonderful salsa and sauce canned to enjoy this winter. I even love the smell of the vines when you pick the sun warmed tomatoes, so warm and earthy and wonderful. In the past few years I have discovered the joy of heirloom tomatoes. They definitely have the taste of "real tomatoes" that I remember as a young person. My Grandfather would drink homemade tomato juice and it was so good. I have memories of my Grandmother canning all the garden veggies and freezing, breaking beans, picking corn. Oh, but those tomatoes, they were the best.
Chris and I enjoy homemade salsa this time of year. It's really easy to make and you can make it as you need it or you could can some for later. I don't really have a recipe I follow, just a sort of guide to how I like it. Goes something like this:
Green onions and sweet onions diced small.
Tomatoes diced small with juice
Garlic chopped fine
Hot peppers of your choice chopped fine (remove the seeds)
Lemon or lime juice
Salt
Cilantro roughly chopped
I mix all these things together until it we like the way it tastes. I would say I probably use 1/2 the amount of onions to tomatoes and garlic and peppers to taste. A good bowl of homemade guacamole is always good with this as well. We use mashed avocado with a bit of sour cream, lemon juice and salt.
All the tomatoes and canning plans really make me think of growing up, my old hometown and where this journey of life has taken me. I know that there are plans for all our lives, and that God has led me along this journey to help me acquire the skills I need for the rest of it. I believe that it is that way for all of us. Sometimes He asks things of us that are difficult, uncomfortable and that truly we don't want to do. So having faith that His way is best and that he knows the big picture and what needs to be done we follow His lead. Along the way, He provides reassurance that we are His and He will care for us. God is really very cool that way. In the end, maybe we will see the whys and whats and it will make sense, or maybe not. Whatever the outcome, we know we are where we need to be. There is a peace like no other that comes from the act of faith and knowing God is there. A young lady at church today shared this verse that helped her through a week of missions. Thanks Lyndsey, I needed this today too.
Proverbs 3: 5-6
5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
6 In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths.
Much Love and Many Blessings,
Stace
