Family is not an important thing, it’s everything.
-Michael J. Fox
I was reminded this last week while in a Canning frenzy about the importance of family—yes of course it is helpful when in the throws of a canning frenzy to have additional hands to make the job go more efficiently, but there was a lesson to be learned about what family means.
Izzy came over to make salsa. We had between us, 3 cases of tomatoes and all the stuff that goes into a batch of our delicious goodness.
Estherbegood was in attendance and all of us were busily chopping, dicing or juicing away.
Of course music plays a huge role in our friendship and family, and the songs were blaring. Izzy, Esther and I would break out into 3 part harmony with the likes of Credence to Fleetwood Mac.
We sang and continued to prep the salsa until we were ready to can. Jars were labeled, seals were set and rings attached and into the hot bath the salsa went.
When all was done we left the cooling jars and drove up to the neighborhood watering hole for dinner and conversation.
Later that evening when I was saying goodnight to Izzy and to Esther, I realized that family means more than blood.
All these years of knowing Izzy it had just dawned on me that she was more than my friend, she was family.
Yes—I suppose that isn’t that profound to most of you but honestly, it was to me.
My family, under this definition, is huge. Friends over the years who have become more than acquaintances but threads in the tapestry of my life.
Take for instance Angelique and the ARTIST, Jackie Chan and Roy Rogers, Case of Bass , CoCo and the Texan, The Hippie Clan, The Z family, The Roofer and Blue Eyes, and of course Doc and Irish—all family—not blood you know--- but bound by love and friendship.
Thanks Izzy for the years together-they have not only been memorable but spectacular!!
NOW for the salsa recipe:
WASH all of it thoroughly!!
3 lbs of tomatoes (preferably Roma) Chopped
1-2 onions (chopped)
1 lb Tomatillo's (chopped)
4 Jalapenos (seeded and chopped)
2 bunches cilantro (chopped)
Juice of 2 -3 limes
1-2 tsps salt
THIS will make a bunch so adjust for your use and taste--honestly these are the ingredients--YOU make the quantity's fit your taste buds.
Enjoy and have some family over !
