 |
| Lusciously red and fresh picked, these tomatoes deliver that signature homegrown flavor. |
Every year for as long as I can remember my Grandparents, Dad's side, have had these massive gardens that produce some of the best vegetables. Even with a big family such as ours there is too much produce! The solutions was simple to them, create a stand and allow people to share in the goodness from the earth.
 |
| This is not the best photo, but it shows the two gardens this year. I'm simply amazed. |
 |
| Here is a close-up of the tomatoes. In the photo above, they are the jungle to the left. The plants got MASSIVE this year. |
While I thoroughly enjoy these fresh picked tomatoes sliced and sprinkled with salt and pepper, canning them is another way to enjoy their unique flavor throughout the Fall and Winter months. As much as I’m not ready for the Summer to be over, I’m ready for the chili I make every year. Last year I finally got it near perfection, in other words, I got it near to Gma D’s recipe. The key is her canned tomatoes, tomato juice and hot red peppers. A few weeks back I got a chance to help can the juice. What fun! I still don’t feel confident enough to do it on my own, but I will get there. Someday I’ll be growing my own tomatoes and need the know how. I couldn’t help but snap some photos along the way.
 |
| This little machine is a beast! |
 |
| The tomatoes stewed to perfection. I kind of just wanted to ladle these into my happy smiling face. They smelled simply delicious. |
 |
| Alas, we had to make juice so I couldn't eat the tomatoes. |
 |
| Time for the juice to get a reheat before it hits the can. |
 |
| Batch one is ready for the jars. Ladles up! |
 |
| Look at that natural red beauty! Gma D does the work while Gpa D stands in the background doing what he does best, supervising. |
 |
Gma D puts that last bit in before capping them off for the hot hot bath to seal them.
|
Once the canning is done Gma D stores them in the basement until it's time for her to make her amazing dishes or until someone needs a jar or two (raises his hand). I do have a few cans here waiting for me to get creative. I think it's time to do that!
Ciao for now,
Chad D.
