The Silage Pit

For some reason I have been thinking today about the old silage pit that was on the farm in Chester. It looked a lot like this one.

Every fall, my dad would cut the corn, turn it into silage, and fill the pit to the brim! It made a great place for Carolyn and I to play, we spent hours running up and down the newly-made mountain of corn, tarp, and tires, which now laid claim at our farm

But, aside from the fun, there was something that was added to our farm --- that terrible smell! It was horrible, at least until your nose got acclimated to the smell and then it was hardly noticeable --at least to us. But as the school bus came down the road, everyone would hold their noses and say, "EW! We must be at the Dickinsons!" We didn't care one bit, we just hopped off the bus and headed to the silage pit to play until we were called in for dinner. Dinner! We were always excited to see what yummy food mom had made for us that night, things like Goulash and homemade dinner rolls.

Hungarian Goulash

1 T. oil

1 chopped onion

1 clove garlic

Cook the onion and garlic in a frying pan until the onion turns clear. Take out of the pan and set aside.

1 lb ground beef

Cook the ground beef until brown and drain the fat. Season with salt, pepper, and a dash of chili powder.

1 can tomato paste

1 or 2 cans

tomato sauce

Coat the ground beef with one or two cans tomato paste and sauce. Add some Italian seasoning and paprika. 

1 1/4 cup water

1 ½ cup elbow macaroni (uncooked)

Add the onion mixture into the hamburger and mix. Add the water and macaroni to the pan, stir and bring to a simmering boil. Let the mixture cook until the pasta is tender.

1 c. Cheese

Sir in the cheese.

Scalloped Potatoes

I love my mom's Scalloped Potatoes that she put in the skillet and then baked in the oven. Of course, she had the heavy duty stainless steel pans they had back in the day, I cook mine in a rectangular baking dish, or "dripper" as my mom called them.

To make the dish, chop up an onion (the amount you would like because I was taught by my mom to never measure), and place in a pan with about 2 T. of butter. Stir and cook over moderate heat until the onions turn clear. Wisk into the mixture, about 3 T. of flour until it is well mixed without any lumps. Add to this mixture about 3 ½ cups of milk. Simmer the mixture and prepare the potatoes.

While the sauce is simmering, peel about 4 large potatoes or more if they are small. Slice the potatoes very thinly! Butter the bottom of your baking dish and layer the bottom with the first layer of potatoes. Cover that layer with some of the sauce mixture. Continue the layering process leaving the top layer as sauce. Cut ½ cube of butter into bits and place around the top of the mixture.

Cover the baking sheet with foil. Bake at 375 degrees for about 20 minutes. Take off the foil and bake for another 20 minutes or until the potatoes are tender and golden (press a fork into the potatoes to check tenderness).

*You can grate cheese and add to the top if you like the last 5 minutes of baking.


When my mom wasn't baking she could be found cleaning, canning, doing embrodry, sewing,  quilting, or painting. I never saw my mother sit still much except to read the daily paper or watch our nightly dose of "Perry Mason" on late night TV (during my sleep deprived teen years).  She did get hooked on the show Dallas, but I doubt she would ever admit it!

This beautiful painting, I believe, is in the possession of her son Ellis or Ed as her prefers to be called. It is a rendition of Horseshoe Mountain, a favorite spot for all us North Sanpete folk.

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Mom's Pot Roast

This is a picture of my Aunt Effie Hansen VanBuren, known as "Aunt Faye." Because my maternal grandmother died almost a decade before I was born, my mother's oldest sister "Faye" filled the slot of grandmother for me. I truly loved spending time at her house, playing on her pump organ,  swinging on that tire swing, and admiring her pansies.  I also loved  having her come and visit us at our house in Chester.

She was always so thoughtful and kind to me, even making it a point to make it to my high school graduation to hear my speech. Sadly she died only a month before my wedding, this broke my heart because I wanted her to be a part of that day.

I love this picture of her cooking in her kitchen in Manti. I wonder what is hidden under the lids of the pots? Perhaps Delicious Pot Roast?

Theresa's Pot Roast

1 Beef Roast
2-3 cups water
1 onion cut into cubes or strips
1 chopped celery stalk
2 beef bullion cubes
3 T. butter
Salt and pepper to taste

Put the roast in a covered pot (just like Aunt Faye's) and bring to a boil. Turn heat to a medium simmer for about an hour.

Mix into a paste: 3 T. flour into 1/4 cup water. Add this mixture to the pot and stir it in. (This will make a gravy base to the pot roast).

Add to the pot cubed potatoes and carrots; cook until the vegetables are tender and the meat is cooked as desired (apx. 45-60 minutes). While the Pot roast is cooking, add water as needed.

When serving strain all of the cooking juices for a yummy gravy. Thicken with more flour if necessary.




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Mama's Sweet Bean Chili

My mom made the most delicious chili (probably because of the brown sugar)! I loved those cold winter evenings when its delicious smell filled the room. My stomach is growling right now thinking about it!

Of course, when served, the chili was presented with homemade rolls, muffins or corn bread; and ice-cold raw milk, right from the milk barn.

I have talked before about my mom's thriftiness. I am sure it found its roots deep in her childhood. My mom was the youngest of 12 children. The picture below shows my grandma in the center surrounded by her 4 sisters. Their names: Faye, Delia (Mary Effie their mother), Mary, and Beulah. In the front center is my mom Theresa (pronounced Thres-sa). To this day I follow her meal-saving "thrifty" rule. The first day with the hamburger is for tacos, but fry enough to have leftovers to make the next day's chili or spaghetti.

I hope you enjoy one of my favorite Mama Recipes: 

Sweet Bean Chili

Ingredients:

1 large (or 2 small) can pork and beans

1 small can lima beans

1 small can kidney beans

1 large onion

1/2 green pepper

1/2 cup brown sugar (or molasses)

1/lb. ground beef

1/2 cup ketchup

1 T. dry mustard

Dash of chili powder

Directions:

Cook the ground beef, onions and green pepper. Add all of the ingredients in a large bowl (drain all beans). Place in a casserole dish and bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour.

*This is a recipe that I love to adapt! I have added salsa, barbecue sauce, chili sauce, green chilies, can of stewed tomatoes, I just add “there-abouts” just like my mama taughted me. I have tried numerous types of beans. I especially love to garish with chopped green onions, sour cream and grated cheese. 

It is an easy meal to make early in the morning, throw in the crockpot, and cook all day!