Today’s project – salsa!
I wish I had hundreds of pounds of tomatoes. There are so many fun tomato products to can.
Today’s salsa is a bit spicy but when we’re adding it to other dishes, like tacos or enchiladas or using it as a dressing on a taco salad, the spicy is good. If we’re just eating it with chips, it’s going to be spicy.
I got 9 pints and one half pint. The photo above was taken before it all went into the canner. It’s all done now, all jars appear to have sealed. I will leave them out til tomorrow, remove the rings, make sure they’re sealed and put them on the shelf. We have been out of homemade salsa for over a year. I didn’t make any last year. If I have enough tomatoes, I’ll make another batch of this because we do use a lot of salsa.
This morning I fixed omelettes for breakfast and was wishing the salsa was already made . . but it wasn’t.
This doesn’t count for today because this was yesterday’s project but freeze dryer finished. Left to right – basil, rosemary and sage. Those jars are vacuum sealed and on the spice/herb shelf!
JoAnn says
Would you be willing to share your salsa recipe?
judy.blog@gmail.com says
The recipe I used is in the Ball Complete Book of Home Preserving but I found it online here.
Here are the changes I make:
1. I used 15 cups of tomatoes so I ended up with 9 pints and 1 half pint. I used 1.5 times the ingredients listed except where noted below.
2. I only used about 4 cups of chopped bell peppers total.
3. Because I used a lot of peppers over the weekend in canning, I used whatever I had so it was a mix of poblano, jalapeno, serrano – really just whatever I had in the garden.
4. I did not add the hot sauce. I tasted it and it was plenty hot. I’ve made this recipe many times and have never added hot sauce.
5. I added about a cup (or more) of chopped cilantro and I don’t think it was overpowering.
6. I always taste it before adding it to jars and I think I always add more salt. I know I did today.7.
7. The recipe says to cook about 10 minutes til thick. I was using Roma tomatoes, which are usually somewhat dry, and I cooked this at least an hour until it was thick enough.
OK . . I think that’s all the changes I made.
JoAnn says
Thank you! Making my list for the farmers market.
Sandy Gail Hitchins says
Love to see all your canning! I need an Oscar post! Rocky has torn up books, items from our bookcase, etc. He has to be watched every minute. Sure wish we would be gifted with a small dog like Oscar for a stray! You can pick him up, not this huge pup that has adopted us!
judy.blog@gmail.com says
When the pet finds you instead of you finding him, you don’t get much say in it but I know having a dog that size is difficult. I was 30 year younger than I am now when we had a chocolate lab. Our vet’s office was on a busy street and one day I had Chip at the vet. We were leaving with him on a leash and someone got out of their car with their dog. Chip reacted and I could barely hold only to the leash. I said then that we would keep Chip but I’d never again have a dog I couldn’t pick up and carry. Even though Oscar is only 14 pounds, with his determination, he is very difficult for me to hold onto when he doesn’t want to be held onto.