I just went through all my apples checking for bruises and spots and composting the bad. One thing is for sure, it’s time to make a big batch of applesauce! You only need one ingredient… apples. I like to mix a variety of apples to add more flavors, but use whatever you have on hand. [Read more...]
This a funny way this recipe came about and a lesson learned. When I first had a garden and had lots of tomatoes I thought I would make a big batch of fresh tomato salsa. I thought why not put it in some containers and freeze it. It would be great to pull out a [Read more...]
I love to have oven-dried tomatoes on hand, especially in the winter when fresh garden tomatoes are unavailable. Oven-dried tomatoes are similar to sundried tomatoes. They are easy to make but take a long time in the oven… hours in fact. You don’t need to stand in the kitchen, just check on them every hour [Read more...]
Freezing tomatoes Here’s another easy one you won’t believe. I take plum, roma and small tomatoes, rinse them and place in a freezer bag and freeze. So many cooks blanch, stem and seed the tomatoes. It really isn’t necessary. Really. When it’s time to use the tomatoes, thaw in the fridge, on the [Read more...]
Now this is really hard. Wash okra, trim off stem end, slice into desired size and place in a freezer bag. Freeze until needed. Yup, that’s all there is to it! No blanching needed. I did not plant a lot of okra, so I slice and add to my freezer bag as I harvest [Read more...]
Fresh green beans picked right from the garden taste wonderful. When green beans are ready they start producing quickly. It’s more than you can eat, well unless you’re my friend with a family of six with four hungry teenagers. If not, it’s best to freeze them. A quick and easy process and you will enjoy them [Read more...]
The rhubarb is winding down. When picking rhubarb give the stalks a squeeze with your fingers, they should be firm if they feel spongy they are not good for eating. My neighbor behind me, Howard, told me I could come pick rhubarb. I was glad since I didn’t have enough to freeze. His rhubarb is [Read more...]
Strawberries, strawberries, strawberries… Most people ask what we did do get such a great yield. One word, “neglect”. A neighbor gave me a couple of plants 5-7 years ago. I stuck them in a corner of the garden; they did nothing, just sat there looking the same every year. Then 2 years ago my husband [Read more...]