This has been one of the best ever summers for tomatoes! At least in my garden! Since we had been busy getting ready for a trip earlier this year, all my tomato plants came from a store. In addition, our departure was a bit before the “ideal” transplant outside into the garden date. The varieties I got were a mix of favorites, have to try a new variety, and hardy, should-survive-a-little-cold-weather-if-temps-went-down. Lucky for me, the weather was good. In addition to getting the plants off to a good start, my friend Misty kept an eye on the garden and watered when needed.
Upon our return from Europe, I was greeted by my tomato jungle. The plants were huge, and loaded with gorgeous tomatoes.
Ever since the first batch ripened, I’ve been picking a huge, and I mean huge bowl of tomatoes several times a week.
Despite eating tomatoes every day for weeks, we never tire of them. How many ways are there to enjoy them?
- Tomato salad with thinly sliced red onion, a sprinkle of salt, a little good olive oil and some good vinegar.
- Tomato sandwiches with avocado, arugula, a little gunpowder on good crusty bread.
- Check out my recipe for the Summer Garden Casserole! Yummy!
- Straight from the vine and warm from the sun, while picking them.
- Roasted in the oven at low temperature, with a little olive oil, salt, chopped garlic and herbs until concentrated in flavor.
- Make an Indian style tomato rasam, a spicy soup made with red lentils, curry leaves and some basmati rice.
- Cooked into pasta sauce to be savored during the cold winter months.
- Transformed into various types of salsa and preserved to enjoy with latin style food when tomatoes are out-of-season.
- Sliced the bigger tomatoes and halved the cherry tomatoes and dehydrated them.
- And of course, share some with friends who don’t have a garden.
It’s been a busy summer around here, so when I decided to preserve some of my tomatoes, I did take a few shortcuts. Many stores carry canning equipment and all the items needed to successfully preserve the harvest. I picked up a few pouches of Mrs. Wages spice mixes for salsa and pasta sauce. All I had to do was wash the produce, chop it in the food processor and follow the directions on the back of the package.
This salsa was simple, wash and chop the amount of tomatoes needed for the mix , put into a pot, add the salsa blend and cook according to the recipe. When finished, I cooled it, filled it into small canning jars, put on lids and labels and stuck them into the freezer. It’s that simple. And so tasty come winter!
What I really like about these mixes, is the option to can or freeze. I did a little of each.
For the pasta sauce I chop up the required amount of tomatoes, put them into a non-reactive pot along with the seasoning mix and cooked it. Then I canned it all according to the package directions in pint jars. A few of the jars I froze. Nothing better than a taste of summer when the blustery winter storms visit us.
And for those who don’t have a garden, growers at local farmers markets or roadside stands often have produce they sell by the box (whole or partial) for very little money. I have gotten to know my favorite vendors, who will often sell me boxes of amazing produce for a fraction of the cost at the store. I often ask if they have anything they don’t want to take home, that’s getting maybe just a bit on the ripe side or doesn’t look perfect! I’ve come home with boxes of perfectly ripe white peaces, that were perhaps a little bruised. Peppers (the hot ones!) by the gallon, apricots, plums, you name it … It really pays to ask.
I dehydrate all types of tomatoes, big and small. I especially like the cherry tomatoes dried, the almost taste like candy. A few slices added to a soup or stew adds a ton of flavor, without salt or preservatives. My first dehydrator gave out after 15 years, and I replaced it with the same one (newer model, but the trays are compatible), and use it to dry fruit as well.
If you feel like all this is too much work on a hot summer afternoon, think about the enjoyment you’ll get out of the results. Try just one of these suggestions. Preserving doesn’t have to be done in huge batches. Even a handful of jars packed with summer flavor in your freezer or pantry, will delight you in a few months.
Just shy of 2 pounds!
in cahoots with muddy boots 
I’ve always wanted to try making tomato jam, but it looks like huge expensive process with the canning.
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Hi Trudy! Last years I made tomato jam with smoked paprika. Very tasty! The equipment isn’t that pricey. You can probably find a pot with insert for under $20.00. The jars around here are generally on sale all summer long for under $10.00. Also check Craig’s list for both. There is a great small batch preserving blog called “Food in Jars”. I only can in the water bath method. Ask your friends and family too, someone might have all the things you need!
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They’re definitely not into canning , I get the RCA dog look when I mention stuff like this. Half of them barely cook , but I will look on Craig’s list.I need to become more self sufficient and cooking (when no one else is there) relaxes me.
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Once you start, you will find all kinds of great stuff to put into jars. And recipes these days keep small households and smaller kitchens in mind. I give jars away at Christmas or for a gift when visiting friends. Everyone likes something like that. Let me know when you get around to it.
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I will have to plan, I want to try preserved lemons even though I have no use for them . Just because I love lemons.
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Love preserved lemons. Just made a jar last week. They turned out great and I put some into a lentil soup last night. These were sliced very thinly and then salted and put into a jar with chile flakes and topped off with olive oil. I like them better than the whole lemons, and they also don’t take forever to get done.
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Keeps you off the streets and out of bars at least, right? ;)) That’s a whole lotta tomatoes!!!
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Still picking, though they are slowing down. As to keeping me off the street and bars at night, you know just what kind of wild woman I am! Would you like some more tomatoes on Thursday?
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Thank you, no. They require bread and I’m avoiding that at the moment.
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Okay! They do taste good in salads too! See you Thursday!
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Mmmmm! Never enough!
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What a gorgeous post! It has been a great summer for tomatoes in Michigan as well 🍅🍅🍅🍅!
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Reblogged this on spencesgirl and commented:
One of my favorite bloggers posted this. I too am enjoying a stellar tomato crop. I wanted to share this with my followers and fellow tomato lovers! Check out her blog while you’re at it!
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Thanks for your kind words and the reblog! You too are one of my favorite bloggers!
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We are so happy that you like our Mrs. Wages® salsa mix. If you or your followers ever have product questions, please feel free to call our Customer Care Center at 800-647-8170 or find us on social media!
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Interesting picture series of drying them! Also like the reference to your “tomato jungle”, haha! That gives me all kinds of mental imagery… sounds interesting!
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I call it a jungle because I don’t trim the plants, so they grow like crazy and get all intertwined. Some are 7 or 8 feet tall.
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You have been busy. When my kiddos were little I did a lot of canning; not so much any more. I do love using my freezer for assorted goodies, including tomatoes roasted with garlic and olive oil.
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Hi Missy, I prefer freezing things too, but when I give some of these jars away, canned and sealed is better. Especially in the mail! Thanks for always stopping by.
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You are welcome!
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