Tomato sauce....and soup

Knowing we couldn't get it all done in one day, and dealing with the fear my tomatoes were gonna go bad...we started the process with the crockpots and clean whole tomatoes!!

We mashed them down and ran them through the food processor and got out the chunks.

My new waterbath canner for pint size jars!!! Yay!!!

Here is the recipe and instructions I used. I loved that she gave me permission to not peel and seed the tomatoes!!! It actually worked well and the crockpots for the long cooking helped break up the process for me!! We got 14 pints out of this batch. I also put a teaspoon of lemon juice just to make sure the acidity was right (I found the recommendation on another canning site).

We didn't add any seasoning to these recipes...just tomato sauce. We like to fancy it up on cooking day by adding meat and veggies and seasoning at that time. Also, this way I can use it for my chili. (which we'll probably have often this fall!!).

After the initial batch we had another mess of tomatoes come on so I did the process again. I was too exhausted to can it so we have 11 pint and 2 quart ball freezer jars in the freezer (I love these freezer jars).

I also used Laura's recipe on that same link to make a batch of homemade tomato soup. Since I was gonna freeze it too, I cooked it in the crockpot all day then ran it through a strainer. I probably could have cooked it longer, but again, only so many hours in a day and so much energy this pregnant lady has!!!

I'm trying to save it for postpartum...but I'm very tempted to take some to work tonight!!!

Salsa 2010 (finally)

Here is what we started with...all from my garden and my in-laws garden!!! (except we bought 4 jalapenos- we'll add one plant to the garden next year!!)

I wanted this pic posted to show how we did the peppers. Even the mild-er ones have the same burning affect on your hands!!!

I borrowed my friend Meghan's cuisanart...definitely on my christmas list this year!!! Made it so much simpler!!! Thank you Meghan!!!



Here is the salsa put together...all looking yummy!!!

I found on a canning site that you can sub lemon juice for vinegar but not the other way around so the only change I made was lemon juice instead of vinegar. I googled recipes until I found one that looked good and had all the ingredients I wanted to use!! Here is the winning recipe (and I'll definitely use it again next year). I halved the recipe but then made it twice (on 2 days). I got 14 half pints and some fresh (which the fresh is all gone!!). I have even opened one of my jars and eaten all of it!! Salsa is a craving this pregnancy!!!

Unfortunately the canning process took all week because of the sciatic, back and foot pain this pregnancy!!! But we got it done!!! Yay!!!

Busy busy!!!

The last two days my mom and I have been busy putting up 21 half pint jars of black bean and corn salsa with fresh veggies from my inlaws garden!!! I also kept some fresh out to share with friends and have some to freeze in freezer bags to use as soup starter for Chicken Tortilla Soup (I love love love soup in the fall!!!). I'll post the recipe hopefully this afternoon when the boys nap (lets pray they nap at the same time!!!).

I will also be posting Jake's 5 month pic on the boys blog!!! Can you believe he's 5 months old??? I can't!!!

Also- check back tomorrow as I'm planning a big freezer cooking day of toddler friendly food for Max!!! I want some microwave ready quick fixes for his lunches!!! I'm hoping to post lots of pics of the process!!!

I'm loving this fall weather....anyone else???

Thoughts on canning....

I wanted to type up my thoughts on the canning process. It was alot of work!!! But now, especially having 1 time under my belt, I really think it's something I would enjoy doing every summer!!! Especially jelly and salsa!!! Not sure if I'm ready to do pressure canning, but water bath I think I could handle!!!

I hope to do more jelly this summer still. Next summer I'd like to do black raspberry jam and of course more salsa!!! I'm going to plant more roma tomatoes instead of cherries so I hopefully won't have to buy any tomatoes to do salsa!!

If anyone has any questions, feel free to post a comment or email me using the snazzy button on my sidebar!!!

Canning Salsa

We put the tomatoes in hot water, then ice cold water so they were easy to peel. Then cut them into small pieces.

It took a lot of tomatoes!!!

Mixed the tomatoes, pepper, and ball salsa seasoning pack

Got the half pint jars prepped in the water bath.

Mmmmm....salsa.

Filling all the jars and getting them ready for the bath.

After the jars were filled, it was processed just like the jelly. I didn't take any additional pics because well, I just didn't.

Canning Jelly (part 1)

Prepping the jars in the water bath
Mixing the cherry juice, splenda, and pectin.

This is the pectin we used.

How Jason kept Max busy while grandma and I were in the kitchen!!!

Spooning it into the jars.

Canning Jelly (part 2)

Filling the jars


Jars ready to go into the water bath

Processing the jars

Finished product!!!

just a short delay...

Equipment issues, 2 very grumpy boys, and a sleepy mom and grandma caused a little delay in the canning project!! But do not fret- we're gonna try again tonight. I know you'll be waiting for me to post my updates..haha!!!

Adventures in Canning....

I've never tried it before!!! My mom and I are gonna give it a go tonight. She wants to make some jam and I want to work on salsa!!! We'll see...I bought all my supplies and I'm so excited!!!I've gotten a gazillion books from the library and I even bought myself the Ball Blue Book guide to preserving!!!

How hard can it be??? HAHAHA!!!