A Little Business on the Prairie

Borscht Soup Mix ~ A true Russian/Ukranian soup of the prairie! Borscht (Old Slavic for beets) is a beet soup served hot or cold, usually with sour cream or whipping cream. Using vegetables straight from the garden ~ this soup was a staple for peasant farmers. Borscht is often served "better the next day" once the sweetness of the beets melds with the tanginess of the dill. Add fresh or canned beets, green beans, carrots, tomatoes or more to "get Borscht" ~ North Dakota style! (8 oz bag) makes 10 cups $5.00

Simple Salsa ~ A fiesta of taste with a hint of sweetness! This super fresh garden salsa is loaded with chunks of tomatoes, onions, green peppers, and even celery! Add a dollop of this salsa to any dish for a "simple" homemade taste! Or try adding a jar to your favorite (condensed) tomato soup for a "made from scratch" flavor! (18 oz jar) $5.00

Sod Bustin' Sauce ~ Cranberries and ketchup are creatively combined with a touch of spices and onions making for a "gotta-have" condiment in your fridge! Try adding a splash of Tabasco to turn up the heat! Or warm a jar over 4 lbs. of country sausage, beef smokies or pork ribs. Add to meatloaf, meatballs, sloppy joes or on hamburgers. Dunk onion rings or French fries ~ or use anywhere ketchup works! (18 oz jar) $5.00

Strawberry Rhubarb Jelly ~ This delightful combination melds the sweetness of strawberries with the tartness of rhubarb. Originated in Asia over 2000 years ago, rhubarb ~ a close cousin of the garden sorrel, is actually a vegetable ~ rich in Vitamin C. Warm a small bowl in the microwave and pour over your favorite bowl of ice cream, frozen yogurt, pancakes or French toast ~ yum! (12 oz jar) $5.00

Email orders to thepantrypeddler@ndsupernet.com

Shipping and Handling $7.95 on orders up to $79.50

Being a wife of a "cowboy" and a mother of a little "cowboy" - in addition to running my Little Business on the Prairie - makes every day a rodeo of my own!

I get up - grab my morning cup of "joe" and work routinely at my desk making phone calls, sending emails, and jotting down new ideas I thought of while lying in bed the night before for my business. Usually, smack dab in the middle of one of my business calls, I am interrupted by the call of nature and I have to go wipe a little bum while I am closing a deal on a shipment of my products. Our little buckaroo is 4 now - so believe me - I can sound professional and wipe a little bum at the same time!

The next event of the day - includes a snack for my son and making a lunch for my husband. The lunch for my husband is a little tricky - I usually have about 8 seconds notice to prepare his gourmet box lunch and then a bumpy ride to the nearest prairie trail to meet him as he trails by with a load of cows heading out to pasture.

Back at the ranch - I have new messages waiting on the phone - creating more business to tend to - later. I grab the vacuum and dust rag and barrel around the house cleaning and picking up - thinking of what I can wrangle up for supper. Toss in a game or two of Old Maid and Crazy 8's - a quick 30 minute exercise routine - and more time at my desk and supper time is upon me.

After supper - while daddy and his little buckaroo roll around and buck like broncs on the living room floor - I pick up the supper mess stopping periodically to add to my list more "things to do" tomorrow and ideas to make realities!

Bath time is one of the final events of the day - but another phone call stirs up dust for my Little Business on the Prairie - and I scrub away the prairie mud while I take an order with bubbles on my nose and water dripping from hair.

Finally, my little cowboy doses off and I finish the evening reading the day's mail and watching the day's events unfold on the local news. My husband and I share thoughts on the day and what the new day will bring - and give thanks to the good Lord above - that we had aother good run!