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The Trefoil Muse

Words are art on paper, and for me they are the seeds of my soul.

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Letting go »

Stone Soup

October 8, 2021 by Nadine Gordon

Stone Soup is a folktale about sharing during a time of hardship.

The age old tale begins with the arrival of a poor starving beggar at depression struck Village.  The Villagers hardly have enough provisions for themselves so refuse to feed this stranger.  The beggar then offers to share his meal with them. Obviously, the beggar has no food but he is an alchemist.  The magic begins when he adds a stone to a boiling pot of water. Curious, the untrusting Villagers gathered around the beggar to watch as he prepared the special soup.  Since none of the villagers had enough in there larder to share with others, they found the generosity of the poor beggar peculiar.

“What are you doing?” they asked.

He smiled politely at the unfriendly villagers while he wordlessly placed his pot of makeshift soup over a fire.

“I’m making stone soup.  It’s delicious.  I’ll be glad to share it with all of you when I’m finished.”

The villagers watched in awe as the beggar dipped his ladle into the mixture and tasted it.

“Hmmm, it’s not quite right just yet.  It needs some salt.”

“I have salt,” one of the villagers offered and added a few pinches of salt to the mixture.

“Mmmm, yes, this is coming along quite nicely,” he said as he dipped his ladle in and tasted the Stone soup again. “It’s still not quite right, though.

Intrigued, other villagers began to share by adding ingredients to the stone soup mixture.  Soon, there was enough food for all.

The moral of the Stone Soup story is that everyone benefits through the simple act of contributing.

This moral is the premise behind our Thanksgiving Day traditions as well.  We gather in an act of gratitude, mutual sharing and celebration of a bountiful harvest.

Thanksgiving Day, is an annual national holiday in the United States and Canada where the fruits of harvest are celebrated.  And, we give thanks for other blessings of the past year by sharing a bountiful meal together with family and friends. In my family everyone contributes something to the meal so we have a bountiful buffet!

American history tells us that colonists and Native Americans shared an autumn feast after the pilgrim’s first harvest was successful – this was the beginning of the Thanksgiving tradition we celebrate today.

In Canada, Thanksgiving is celebrated on the second weekend of October.

The past year has been hard on Canadian citizens.  Differing opinions, anger and fear have caused some divides among family, friends and even communities because of a pandemic.  It is an enduring a time.  But, I believe in alchemy so I thought it might be fun to stir up some magic from Canada’s soup cauldron.

May it lessen the divide and bring Canada together for a special Thanksgiving feast by honoring some of our tasty diversity.  The first ‘Stone Soup’ recipe is a contribution from Canada’s most eastern province, Newfoundland.

 Jiggs Dinner

3 lbs. Salt Beef                                   6 Potatoes

2 cups Split Peas                               6 Carrots

(tied in a cloth bag)                            1 Turnip

1 Head of Cabbage

1 Stone (optional)

Total cook time 2 ½ hours

Rinse Salt Beef in cold water.  Fill large pot with cold water and add stone (optional).  Place salt beef in cold water and bring to a boil for 45 minutes to draw out excess salt.   Drain salty water from pot leaving the Salt Beef and Stone (optional) in pot, fill it again to half full with fresh cold water and bring to boil.  Add your tied Peas pudding bag to the boiling pot of meat. Boil meat and Peas pudding for another 45 to 60 minutes. Add quartered cabbage.  Boil for 20 -25 minutes then add sliced carrots and turnip. Boil for 20 minutes then add potatoes and cook until potatoes are done.

Serves – 6

 

Try it with a simple and easy fried bread recipe. Bannock is a traditional Indigenous bread made modern. See the Recipe below:

Bannock

3 cups All-Purpose Flour

2 teaspoons Baking Powder

½ cup Margarine (butter or shortening)

¾ – 1 cup milk (or water)

Mix flour, baking powder, sugar, and salt.

Work in the margarine using hands until you make a nice crumble.

Gradually mix in enough milk or water to make soft but not sticky. Knead.

Shape into balls then flatten into a circle about 1 inch thick.

Fry in hot oil on medium heat until golden brown and then turn to brown on the other side.  Drain on paper towels.

Or:

Place on a greased baking sheet and bake at 425°F (220°C) for 25 minutes or until lightly browned.

 

Finish your Thanksgiving meal with a piece of deliciously creamy pie straight from the Prairies.

Flapper Pie – The Lost Prairie Pie is a delight for your taste buds!  You’ll want to start enjoying it daily!

 

Lost Prairie Flapper Pie

Flapper Pie Ingredients:

Crust:
1 ¼ cups graham crackers
¼ cup melted butter
½ cup sugar
dash of cinnamon

Filling:
2 ½ cups of milk
½ cup of white sugar
¼ cup of cornstarch
3 egg yolks
1 tsp vanilla
pinch of salt

Meringue Topping:
3 egg whites
¼ cup of sugar
¼ tsp of cream of tartar

Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees.

Mix all the crust ingredients together, save about 2 tbsp to the side and press the rest into a 10 inch pie plate, in the bottom and up the sides. Refrigerate.

Combine the filling ingredients together and cook on a medium heat until it boils and thickens, making sure to stir constantly! Set aside to cool while you make the meringue.

Beat the meringue ingredients together until they form stiff peaks.

Pour the filling into the crust and top with the meringue, making beautiful little spikes that will brown up on top. Sprinkle the rest of the crumbs on the top and slide into a 350 degree oven.

Bake until the meringue turns golden brown – approximately 10 minutes but watch it carefully.  All ovens are different!

Cool in the fridge or enjoy it warm right out of the oven.

 

I hope you enjoy these ‘Stone Soup’ recipes.  May these culinary contributions bring you comfort and joy during this year’s harvest festivities – Happy Thanksgiving Canada!

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Posted in Compositions | Tagged alchemist, alchemy, bannock, beggar, Canada, comfort, Flapper pie, folktale, Jiggs dinner, lifestyle, recipes, short story, soup, stone soup, Thanksgiving | 22 Comments

22 Responses

  1. on October 8, 2021 at 11:06 am Terry

    Great post and thanks for the recipes, Nadine! I first tasted Bannock (with Buffalo Stew) at the Interpretative Centre at Batoche, SK. Have had it several times since but have never tried to make it. I have Métis cousins in Northern SK who refer to bannock as “bush bread”. Maybe I will give it a go once my left arm is free of the cast. Happy Thanksgiving weekend!

    LikeLiked by 1 person


    • on October 8, 2021 at 11:09 am Nadine Gordon

      Ohhh… Buffalo stew!
      I’ve never tried it!
      The closest I’ve ever come to tasting Buffalo is a beeffalo burger which was delicious!
      I do hope some people try these recipes though… 😋

      LikeLiked by 1 person


  2. on October 8, 2021 at 11:43 am 5thgenerationgirl

    Lovely! This fable brings back wonderful memories of when I’d read them to my children before bed. I found it was a great way to teach them about certain moral values in a way they could grasp. Thanks for sharing.

    LikeLiked by 1 person


    • on October 8, 2021 at 11:47 am Nadine Gordon

      I’m so glad you enjoyed Stone Soup and that it brought you some nostalgic memories! Memories are another wonderful aspect of Thanksgiving! Do try some of the recipes! They are quite delicious!

      LikeLiked by 1 person


      • on October 8, 2021 at 11:56 am 5thgenerationgirl

        I actually jotted them down, the problem will be finding some of the ingredients since many products seem to be missing off the shelves. Thanks, I love experimenting with new dishes, especially around the holidays.

        LikeLiked by 1 person


      • on October 8, 2021 at 11:58 am Nadine Gordon

        Let me know if you enjoy them! 😉

        LikeLiked by 1 person


      • on October 8, 2021 at 11:59 am 5thgenerationgirl

        Will do

        LikeLiked by 1 person


  3. on October 8, 2021 at 12:43 pm Tippy Gnu

    Happy Thanksgiving, Nadine. I get the sense there will be plenty of good stuff to eat at your table this holiday.

    LikeLiked by 1 person


    • on October 8, 2021 at 12:44 pm Nadine Gordon

      I’m breaking out my fat pants! Lol

      LikeLiked by 1 person


  4. on October 10, 2021 at 6:15 pm fgsjr2015

    I love that story, which a Grade 4 teacher read to our class (about 45 years ago). …

    Regarding Thanksgiving Day, however, the following poem is for the countless people out there who genuinely believe/feel there is very little or nothing for which to be thankful (nor on any other day of the year, for that matter, COVID-19 crisis or not). …

    GRACE Pass me the holiday turkey, peas / and the delicious stuffing flanked / by buttered potatoes with gravy / since I’ve said grace with plenty ease / for the good food received I’ve thanked / my Maker who’s found me worthy. // It seems that unlike the many of those / in the unlucky Third World nation / I’ve been found by God deserving / to not have to endure the awful woes / and the stomach wrenching starvation / suffered by them with no dinner serving. // Therefore hand over to me the corn / the cranberry sauce, fresh baked bread / since for my grub I’ve praised the Lord / yet I need not hear about those born / whose meal I’ve been granted instead / as they receive / naught of the grand hoard.

    LikeLiked by 1 person


    • on October 10, 2021 at 6:17 pm Nadine Gordon

      💕💕 beautiful Thanksgiving Prayer! What a lovely share!

      LikeLiked by 1 person


      • on October 15, 2021 at 5:56 pm fgsjr2015

        Thank you for allowing me the posting space.

        LikeLiked by 1 person


  5. on October 18, 2021 at 10:28 am joyroses13

    Happy late Thanksgiving! Hope you had a great one!
    I have always liked the tale Stone Soup, such a wonderful meaning behind it. ❤

    LikeLiked by 1 person


    • on October 18, 2021 at 10:29 am Nadine Gordon

      It was an excellent Thanksgiving!
      I’m glad to have been able to share Stone Soup with you!
      I’m glad you enjoyed it 😊

      LikeLike


      • on October 18, 2021 at 10:30 am joyroses13

        Glad to hear that you had an excellent one, and now I am hungry. LOL!

        LikeLiked by 1 person


      • on October 18, 2021 at 10:33 am Nadine Gordon

        Ohhh… if you haven’t tried Flapper Pie, you’ll love it! Yum…

        LikeLike


      • on October 18, 2021 at 10:35 am joyroses13

        I never have, but may have to add it to our Thanksgiving menu. 😋

        LikeLiked by 1 person


      • on October 18, 2021 at 10:36 am Nadine Gordon

        Be sure to share it with Betsy and your gang of characters too!

        LikeLike


      • on October 18, 2021 at 10:36 am joyroses13

        Hahaha! I may have to!

        LikeLiked by 1 person


  6. on October 21, 2021 at 8:16 am Dale

    I’m way behind in responding to blog posts! This was wonderful and thank you for the recipes! Hope your Thanksgiving was fabulous! Mine was pretty much non-existent this year… Hopefully will get the sisters involved next year!

    LikeLiked by 1 person


    • on October 21, 2021 at 8:26 am Nadine Gordon

      Thank you Dale!
      Our Thanksgiving was wonderful albeit different from other years, still we enjoyed spending time with our family!
      Enjoy the recipes!

      LikeLiked by 1 person


      • on October 21, 2021 at 8:52 am Dale

        🙂

        LikeLiked by 1 person



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