Monday, September 6, 2010

Salsa

In the library last week, I noticed Ball's Complete Book of Home Preserving on the new book shelf. Turns out, it isn't actually a new book, it's just new to my library. Oh, my, am I glad I spotted it and brought it home.

This is shaping up to be one of the best years for tomatoes we've had in a long time. I usually can my tomatoes after we've sauced them with the occasional few jars of peeled, diced tomatoes thrown in. But since we have a cool gadget (it isn't this one, but it's similar) for easily making tomatoes into sauce, I seldom feel a need to scald and peel them.

That may be changing.

I tried the Fresh Vegetable Salsa from the book. I've never made salsa before because, well, I have this cool gizmo so saucing is easiest...and anyhow, my best friend gives us a lot of her homemade salsa every year so I've never been terribly motivated to make my own. Cinda, I never fully realized how much chopping is involved in making salsa. I'll never take it for granted again.

I tried the recipe within a couple days of checking out the book and made 15 pints of salsa from our garden produce. A few days ago, Julianne used one of the pints on top of chicken enchiladas (I'm not a fan of enchilada sauce so we use salsa instead). We loved the new salsa enough that we decided to purchase more jalapenos from the farm stand and make more.
Somehow, I ended up with more than a stockpot full. Clarence suggested using my roaster, which I thought was brilliant so I'd have enough room to mix it well. Hmm, that almost didn't work either.

I ended up with almost 27 more pints of salsa, plus a quart of tomato sauce from the tomatoes we had peeled but didn't need for the salsa.
I may not have a single jar of green beans canned for this winter, but I think we're set for salsa. Maybe.
Posted by Picasa

8 comments:

  1. Yummy! I love homemade salsa!

    Our tomatoes have done well, especially the grapes and cherry tomatoes. Our Brandywines have lots of tomatoes on them they are just taking forever to ripen.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Those looks sooo good! I made salsa one year and it was much easier than I thought it would be and really good! We didnt have such a good year for tomatoes as you did though and no time for making much of anything!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Can we swap a jar. I will always be willing to give you salsa. I just like making it. I would love to try some of yours

    ReplyDelete
  4. Yum! I love salsa and yours looks fantastic! That should last you awhile...a nice big batch.

    xo,

    annie

    ReplyDelete
  5. Oh my gosh! That is A LOT of salsa! Maybe we should find a way to use it on grilled pizzas? lol Looks yummy though, and I'm sure it is since you made it! :)

    ReplyDelete
  6. yummmmmmm.... Do you know how much I love salsa Keeka? A LOT. That's how much. So you bringing a little jar to say... Thanksgiving dinner so I can try it would not be unwelcome. Or you could give it to my mom and she could mail it to me. Also, they still have your overhead projector, which technically I never finished using because I worked so much, but if you need it back, they have it. In my bedroom. Sorry I kept it so long. I LOVE YOU!!!! xoxoxo
    ~Victoria

    ReplyDelete
  7. Looks tasty! Boy, that Clarence is brilliant, isn't he? Are you sun-drying any of your surplus?

    EM

    ReplyDelete
  8. Wow! What a great job on the salsa! Looks yummy!
    Gina

    ReplyDelete

Thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts with me!