Canning salsa and recipe

We are filling our canning pantry up fast for the fall and winter months.  We are so blessed with good weather (usually we have a threat of snow looming over us at this time) and a good (even if  my rows aren't as straight as Dude's -smile) producing garden this year. 

There is a whole row waiting to be filling with salsa. I LOVE salsa and it goes fast in our house.  I need to can at the very least 20 jars. 

I did head out to the garden to get peppers. 

And scallions, I had picked an onion last night. 

I did have some tomatoes ready with many green ones on the vine. I headed to our nearest farm market and got a half box of tomatoes. 

I did also find to giant zucchinis in the garden. 

Right after me, Dude brought in more cucumbers. 

I picked peppers...

And more peppers...

and more peppers...

Every thing went into the food processor.  In days before I had a food processor I cut everything by hand , so that does work just as nice. 

I'm halfway there.

Here's the recipe:

Restaurant Salsa

g = we grew in the garden this year to inspire you to grow your own food.

4 garlic cloves (more or less it's up to you)  -g

1 chopped onion -g, I used a white onion in the first group and scallions in the second

3 cups peppers - g , mix it up I used a green, 3 jalepeno, and 3 Thai chilis

6 cups of tomatoes g, again I mixed it up (it was around 20 tomatoes)

2tsp cumin

1/2 bunch of cilantro - now I like the stuff, you can reduce if you like

1 tsp of dried oregano g

1 1/2 tsp salt

1 Tbsp sugar

2 Tbsp lime juice

1 cup white vinegar

6oz can of tomato paste. 

I whirled  all the veggies  in the food processor , add it and the rest of the ingredients to a large pot and cook until boiling. 

Fill your jars (it will be 5-6 pint jars).  Be sure to follow the proper canning procedures (washing jars, boil, filling correctly... )

Process in a water bath.  I am high altitude so I did 40 minutes.

peace 

Tuesday, cantaloupe and crafts

Dude is still in pain but not totally out of commission.  I did manage to to feed the animals, walk the dog and cats, spent time with the geese and had poo duty outside before heading in the house to finish in there then off to work. 

I did pick an amazing cantaloupe. It was so sweet and juicy.  

Next up, I had to get the salsa made. I picked the tomatoes the day before and I wanted them to be firm for the salsa. 

Most of the ingredients were from the garden. 

Looks good. 

Then on to make a craft. We have a craft party at the end of September and this is one of them. 

I got some terracotta pots a while back to replant my ever growing aloe vera. 

I washed some pots and their saucers. 

Then I painted them and glued them together. Next time I will use a brighter color. A glue gun doesn't work for this craft and I had to use gorilla glue. 

Just need to fill with seeds for the birds. 

I made these placemats last year. 

Just before I left I realized I needed a card for someone at work. This one was quick and easy. 

I found this fan case in the trash at work. Some how I want to make them into eyeballs for the party. 

Dude would not stay down. He only had a tiny bit left to put on the roof. He was pumped since the inspector had been out and he passed all his inspections. 

The only thing left is the chimney. He is putting large rock around it and put the gutters on.   

It has been a stressful few weeks but we will get through this like we do everything. We find out more this week what is going on with Dude's pain.  We persevere.  We reinvent and work hard to make it happen. We dreamed to long for this not too. 

peace 

Garden update, salsa, and garlic planted for next year

I was out in the garden early this morning. 

Cantaloupe

Corn 

Zucchini 

Spaghetti squash.

Planted garlic and yes, I had some help. 

Came in and made salsa.

Salsa  - tomatoes, onions, sweet and jalapeno pepper, lime juice, cilantro, sea salt and lime juice.

Great on just about anything.

Dinner - Spaghetti squash with tomatoes, cabbage, artichokes and our Thai dipping sauce. Top with chopped nuts and hot sauce.  Yum.

Steaming our spaghetti squash. 

Cheers!  (our mint and lime water )

peace 

Canned goods from the homestead and dehydrator challenge

Nothing like starting out the day with a bang... literally. I logged onto the computer and let in a cat that I didn't realize was locked out last night.  She jumped up on the desk for some love and promptly threw up all over the desk and across the floor....ohjoy.

Last night I got home later from work than I expected and was so tired I didn't make the ribs. This morning I cooked them up for Dude's dinner. I thought I had gotten out short ribs but they were spare ribs. I made a quick sauce of ketchup, vinegar and brown sugar.  Browned the ribs and some onion in the Dutch oven and poured the sauce over it. Cooked on low for about an hour.  Ohsogood and messy.

Today was the Feast of St Juan Diego.  I put some tamales in the crock-pot at work and brought in a jar of homemade salsa and wala! we have a feast.  They didn't know what I was celebrating but just that we were sharing a good fun meal.

I brought into work a gallon container of dried apples I made, just apples and cinnamon and people loved them. They were all gone within 2 hours.  A friend of mine and I have challenged each other to dehydrate something edible and not just a dehydrated item such as onions.    Bahaha... here are the two I came up with marshmallows (I found that one on a homesteading group) and next, pickles!

Pretty cool all the things produced from the homestead that you can share with others.... pork, tamales, salsa , dehydrated stuff... oh the possibilities!