Remembering Grandma with a Recipe

I don't think we ever understand the impact that losing someone in our life will have on us, until it has already happened.  Even if we know everyone is going to pass away some day, we are still never truly aware of the gap that will be left.  Recently, with Easter approaching, I was thinking of the beautiful magenta pickled beets and eggs that my Grandmother, Rozella Stewart Goss, used to make. I remember thinking how cool these were as a kid, even when I didn't love beets as much as I do today.  Just the vibrant color of the eggs seemed to make them a standout at the holidays at Gramma's house.

I wish that I had her recipe, that I could call her up and ask her, but sadly, it has been more than 10 years now that she is gone.  It occurred to me after I searched the internet for a recipe and made them, that perhaps my mom or one of her sisters has the recipe. But, I made them anyhow.

I paid a visit to our farmer friends at farmthisway out in Brant, and picked up some eggs last week (among other goodies).  Some of them got hard boiled to make these.  When beets are in season, I will also can my own to use in this recipe, but for now, I used canned, store bought beets.

The recipe was pretty simple.

2 - 15 oz cans of beets (with juice reserved)1 dozen hard boiled eggs, 1 cup of apple cider vinegar, 1 cup of water, and 1 cup of sugar.  There were other recipes that called for onion as well, but I don't remember there being onion in my grandma's recipe so I didn't use one of those.  


I spread the eggs and beets between 2 1 Quart glass jars, and then everything else went into a pot on the stove.  Bring it to a boil, pour it in the jar over the eggs and beets, cool, then cover and refrigerate for at least 24 hours.

I just had some for breakfast this morning, after they sat for about a day and a half, and for a moment, I closed my eyes and imagined I was sitting in the kitchen of my grandparents' farm house in Pennsylvania.  It is funny how simple things can take us back to happy memories.

Thanks for the memories, Gramma.


**And before I close this post, I will let you know that I LOVE social media!  Before I started this post, I put this picture below on Facebook.  I said that I wished I had my Grandmother's recipe, but these would have to do.  Before I could finish typing this blog post, a cousin of mine had messaged me to say that she had our Grandmother's recipe and sent it to me!  Thanks Michele!!!  Next time I will use her recipe.  =)

Pickled beets and eggs bring me back to childhood visits to my grandparents' farm in Pennsylvania.