Freezing Beets

I'm an avid canner and preserver of food.  Surprisingly, few people know how to preserve beets.  I like the taste and simplicity of freezing beets.

I remove the beet leaves (jut rip them off, you want some of them attached - maybe about an inch or so- to keep them from bleeding too much color out the top).  Put beets in a big saucepan with the largest beets at the bottom and the smallest at the top. Cover with water.   Boil them until cooked through (time depends on the size of the beets, start at 20 minutes, and for larges ones it could be about an hour).  When the smaller beets on the top are done (aka - a knife will go through it easily), take them out.  Remove them as they cook, and keep the larger ones cooking longer.  Let them cool (sometimes I'll put them in the fridge overnight).

When the beets are cooked, and cool, cut off the beet top and root.

Remove the outer skin.  It should come of easily with a little rubbing.  

Cut beets into desired size/shape.  I usually cut them into circles, about 1/4 to 1/2 inch wide, but today I tried to cut some into wedges.  

Try my bagging trick. . . I turn the closure of the bag inside out.  This makes it so the bag will stay opened (making it easier to put stuff in), and also keeps the closure from getting all "gunked up".  I will do several bags at once, so I can fill them easily.

Put beets into the baggies.  I use cheep sandwich baggies, and then when bags are filled to my satisfaction, I put all the smaller bags into a larger gallon size freezer bag.  I reuse my more freezer bags as they are more expensive.  Double bagging keeps the freezer bag clean. :)

Place the bags flat in the freezer (you can move them later if you'd like, but it you freeze them flat, they are a better shape for moving and stacking later, or even turning on it's side).  

When you are ready to eat beets, simply let them defrost, and cook.  I like to sauté them in butter, with a little garlic or feta cheese.   

What does this have to do with resiliency?  Glad you asked. . .  When the resiliency center is fully running, clients will teach others skills that they have.  Doing hard things helps to build resiliency.  Sharing skills in front of a group is often difficult, so this is one way to give people a chance to build resiliency.  

Enjoy your harvest :)

A visual definition of Resiliency

On to the meat and potatoes of this blog. . .

After going through several encounters were I felt less than strong, I wanted to help others to feel empowered.  But how?  I knew I had figured out how to be strong, but I couldn't tell you the steps it took to get there.  The logical part of me knew if I wanted to help people, I needed some concrete steps or answers on HOW, and not just "hey, I did it - you you can too!"

I was sitting in a classroom when I saw this:

Wolin, S. & Wollin, S (1993) from The Resilient Self: How survivors of troubled families rise above adversity. 

Someone who is becoming resilient will start from the center traits and move outward.  For example, if you are learning to become independent, you will begin by straying, the disengaging, separating and finally becoming independent.

If you need an example of gaining independence, watch the nearest 2 year old you can find.  A two year old child will begin to stray farther and farther away (physically) from their parent (while still ensuring they can see the parent and return to safety at any time).  A toddler will then begin to play by themselves, and sooner or later begin to feel safe when the parent is not in the room.  Eventually children can be left without their parent (with another caretaker) without fear.  2 year old LOVE the word "NO", and this is another example of learning independence.  

For an adult becoming independent may mean forming new opinions that are different from their parent or spouse, while knowing they are emotionally safe to think differently.  

I will go into more detail on these components of resiliency over time.  

In my experience, resiliency is not something that is learned once, than mastered.  For example, while searching for employment, there were some times when I felt very discouraged!  Instead of giving up, I continued to explore, and work, and take initiative.  Many people commented about my positive attitude throughout the process.  

Because resiliency is formed in may ways, I will be including some *creative* ideas on this blog as well.  I do this to help others, and also to teach skills (which is part of my ultimate plan when I have a full resiliency center in operation).  Please feel free to comment on anything you are curious about.  

How to get started...

Hello world!

For the past several years, I've been circling around an idea. . . An idea that has potential.  An idea that friends and therapists have agreed would be a benefit, and would be useful in our community.

It all started one day when I was with a few friends at a women's retreat.  An idea to help women to overcome challenges and build self esteem was born.  At the time, everyone in the group was working through MAJOR challenges.

Years passed, and I felt a tug to work towards this goal.  I received promptings to go back to school.  I was afraid, because I didn't  understand WHY I would need to go back to school.  Four years later, I understand.  In the past 2 1/2 years, I have been divorced, watched my mother pass away, struggle with singlehood, battled unemployment (being the only breadwinner in the home), and completed a master's degree.  I don't say this because I need a virtual pat on the back, but to let you know that I have overcome MAJOR trials.  Even more important, I hope to be able to pass on some wisdom and aid to others who are also going through trials.  I know how these challenges were overcome.  It was through my religious beliefs that I was able to have the strength to overcome.  I am LDS, and am firm in my knowledge of the gospel, and the Atonement.

But, I'm also a social scientist.  I know that I can't use my religion as a way to help everyone through trials.  I learned about resiliency, and chose resiliency as my vessel to aid others in overcoming challenges.  During grad school, resiliency was MY topic (I'm sure my cohort was tired of hearing about my passion).  I decided that the way I can help others is to teach resiliency to others.  Resiliency as a skill set is the beginning of self esteem, and gives meaning to our trials.  If you have yet to experience challenges, well. . . everyone will go through something someday.  I hope by teaching skills, I can aid other, and they will have the skills necessary WHEN challenge occur.

I've pondered about how to get from where I am now to beginning my organization.  I have experience in running a successful business, along with fundraising, organizing events, grant writing, community outreach and more.  These skills have given me the backbone to begin.  While pondering, I felt that I should start a blog.  I don't know how starting a blog is going to get me from here to running a resiliency center (I will write more about my specific action plan later), but I trust that these promptings will lead me in the right direction.

Resilient people move forward, not backwards!  While I am willing to listen and offer empathy towards those who have struggled, I do not want to move backwards.

This weekend, someone told me that I would be a good teacher.  I intend to teach skills.  Skills are based both on research, and my personal experience.

Resiliency has a component of spirituality.  While my religious beliefs fill that for me, spirituality can come from many forms, and does not have to include organized religion.  Because of my strong beliefs, I am not able to separate my secular knowledge and spiritual knowledge.  If you are not of the same faith as me, I hope you will tolerate and be respectful of my beliefs, and I will be respectful of yours.

I have no idea where this blog will be seen, or who it will touch, or how this will help me to reach my goals to rescue others, but I know it will.  If you read this, and have any insight on how I can obtain my goals, please let me know.  This is the first stage of pursuing a dream, and more will follow.  While I do have several concrete plans on how to help others, I am still brainstorming, so if you have any suggestions, I'd love to hear them.

Cheers!