I totally ran out of whole tomatoes last Winter. I have not been a happy camper over that. So I have about 40 quarts that I did today. whole tomatoes 2013 whole tomatoes 2013 Now my pantry is feeling a little more full. I canned and worked in the kitchen for 12 hours straight. Now I am happy.
Yes, I like to have 2 years supply in the pantry so next year I will can the amount we use this Winter. I have plenty of tomato sauce left and am canning some of that for replacement but I haven't had tomatoes for a while. I also diced about 55 bell peppers and froze it this morning.
Now that's an impressive sight! I turn our tomatoes into a base sauce that can be used on its own or as the basis for other things.A couple of years ago I went mad and did loads and then last year was so awful weather-wise that we had not one tomato and we ran out of the base
I learned to make that a habit about 40 years ago. One year we had a bad year and I suffered, going without for a year. Last year I had about 750 bell peppers so I gave them away to friends and egg customers. I cleaned, diced, bagged up and froze and gave....Bad prediction for me, I ran out before Summer got into full swing. We planted 50 plants this year and I am not giving any away till Winter is almost over next year. I love to have a large amount put up for security. People think I'm nuts but I'm not.
Yes Frank. sometimes my pantry looks like "a large store". Every changing by rotating stock. If you ask me what those bags are hanging there I would tell you one is grocery sacks waiting on the left and on the right is my being used one. I use it for kitchen trash. Then it gets knotted and put in a large black plastic bag for the trash can. That way, if my puppies ever go into the house part, (which they only are allowed in my living room,) they won't get into the garbage. See, nice and tidy.
Barb, I'm going to go lie down for a while, and comtemplate my lazy life-style. You are one amazing, highly-organized woman with a lot of stamina!
Yes, but I do have my lolly-gagging, sloppy, neglectful times. That's fun, too. I have some closets that I wouldn't show anyone in this world. But it's always better to be on the ball in my life. I get too stressed out when I am behinder..
I should put price stickers on everything. RIGHT? Might make the husband think a bit...... BTW, I am in the kitchen canning more whole tomatoes today. Going out to the garden to get the last minute ripe ones. I love to do the very almost ripe ones whole in jars. they turn out so nice. I should get about 10 more quarts with that.
Still working............ thick tomato sauce 2013 thick tomato sauce 2013 I pealed and cored them first then just cooked them down with the seeds. My hubby thought he would like them this way. I usually put them through a food mill and take the seeds out. It looks good and is really really thick. lemon juice half pint 2013 lemon juice half pint 2013 I had some extra lemons that I didn't want to waste so I squeezed them and strained them, then canned them in half pints. I have some pints from past years still but it's nice to replace a little when you find some cheap. and that I did.
Barb,I am in awe of your pantry!, It looks bigger than my utility room. Labelling is important coz no matter how much you think you'll remember what's what 6months down the line you don't...don't bother asking how I know that
What an amazing posting! I can't tell you how much I enjoyed reading and seeing the things in this thread. Just inspiring and....plain good to see. I mean, it is so nice to grow things in the garden...it gives one such a feeling of accomplishment (when things turn out right). The mechanics of gardening is pleasurable. The whole hobby is relaxing and fulfilling exercise. I will say that the harvesting and processing of the vegetable and fruit bounty is then like icing on the cake. It is for me the normal and logical end to a season of growing. It looks as though you have carried out the last steps to the maximum. You have done so much and organized it all so well that I would like to say that if this thread was a picture choice in the pic of the month, that it would win. Chapeau madam! (bowing deeply whilst doffing my plumed hat).
