Spaghetti Sauce

If you've ever had a garden, you know how you can get loads and loads of tomatoes from what seemed like very few plants in spring.  We've eaten our share of tomato sandwiches and there's still so many tomatoes left to go.  

 I tried a new recipe this fall (thanks Roxie & Christina) and was happy with the results.  Tasty, tasty spaghetti sauce.

Here's the recipe:

• 12 cups chopped tomatoes (I put everything through my food processor, skins and all.  Easy peasy)
• 1 cup chopped onion (again through the food processor)
• 1 green pepper (still through the food processor)
• 1/4 cup oil
• 1 1/2 tsp minced garlic
• 2 tbsp salt
• 1/4 tsp pepper
• chopped half bay leaf
• 1 1/3 tbsp oregano
• 1 1/2 tbsp basil
• 1 1/2 tsp chili powder
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 3 6oz cans of tomato paste
• 3-4 tbsp cornstarch

 Fry onions, garlic and green pepper in the oil.  Add to simmering tomatoes.  Add spice ingredients, sugar and tomato paste.  Simmer on low heat for 1-2 hours, stirring occasionally.

Mix cornstarch with a bit of water to make a smooth paste and add to tomatoes.  Bring to a boil and pour into jars and seal.

I put the jars into my 300 degree oven for 15 minutes, on a cookie sheet with a bit of water in it.  Then take them out and wait to hear the lids "pop" and you know it's sealed.
One recipe makes 3 quarts.

Million Dollar Relish

Tis the season for canning! This is my all time favorite relish recipe. My Grandma makes it, my Mom makes it and now I make it. I could eat it with a spoon! Not all that expensive to make if you've got the cucumbers, onions and peppers in your garden.
- 1 quart onions, chopped fine
- 3 quarts cucumbers, chopped fine
- 3 green peppers
- 3 red peppers
- 3/4 cup salt
- 2 quarts water
- 1 quart vinegar
- 5 cups sugar
- 1 tsp celery seed
- 1 tsp tumeric
- 2 tbsp dry mustard
- 1/2 cup flour
- 1 cup vinegar

Soak chopped vegetables in the 3/4 cup salt and 2 quarts water overnight. (I use a food processor to chop everything. Easy peasy). Drain in the morning. Add the next 5 ingredients and bring to a boil. Add flour, mixed with vinegar. When bubbly and hot, put into jars and seal. Makes 10 pints or 5 quarts.

Canned Tomato Soup

1-11 qt. basket ripe tomatoes

4 large onions,cut up

1 head celery, chopped

1 bunch parsley

put above ingred in large pot and boil 1 hour or till tender. Remove parsley, then press veggies through sieve. put juice back in kettle and add

2 tbsp salt

1/4 tsp cayenne pepper

1/2 c butter

1 c sugar

1/2 c cornstarch or clear jel

Cook until it boils down a little and is thickened, watch close as burns easily. Seal in jars for twenty minutes. recipe says the yield is nine pints but I got ten pints from eight quart tomatoes.

We still like campells soup with grilled cheese but I find this soup excellent as an addition to borshts or hamburger soups. Also great for recipes like lazymans cabbage rolls and meat loaf.

Habanero Gold Pepper Jelly

This a sweet, yet somewhat hot jelly that is so delicious! Can be served with cheese or melt it onto grilled or sauteed dishes to add sparkling flavor highlights. I've never tried it any other way than on crackers with cream cheese. So good! Tasted it at my mother-in-laws and promptly asked for the recipe. :)

Habanero Gold Pepper Jelly

• 1/3 cup finely sliced apricots (dried)
• 3/4 cup white vinegar
• 1/4 cup each: finely chopped red onion, red bell pepper & seeded habanero or jalapeno peppers
• 3 cups sugar
• 1 pouch liquid pectin

In large stainless steel saucepan, combine apricots and vinegar. Cover, let sit for at least 4 hours. Add red onion, red and habanero peppers and sugar. Over high heat, stirring constantly, bring to a full rolling boil that cannot be stirred down. Stir in pectin. Boil hard, stirring constantly, for one minute. Remove from heat, skim off foam and stir to disperse peppers. Ladle jelly into hot jars, leaving 1/4 inch head space. Heat process. Boil filled jars in boiling water canner for 10 minutes.

Makes 6 x 125ml or 3 x 250 ml jars.

Sliced Sweet Pickles

On Monday I, along with a couple friends, started off the canning season. It was a fun, but oh so tiring day! However, these pickles are so worth the work. Another great recipe from my sister-in-law Christina. :)

Sliced Sweet Pickle

In each jar, put one clove of peeled garlic and one head of dill. Slice cucs and pack into jars. They will shrink when processed, so be sure to pack it tightly. Make one recipe of brine for each quart jar (or 2 pints).

• 1 cup sugar
• 2/3 cup vinegar
• 2/3 cup water
• 2 tsp pickling salt

Bring to a boil. Pour into jars, leaving an inch of headspace. Wipe rims of jars clean with a damp cloth. Place lid and screw ring on jar. Steam for 15 minutes in 3 inches of water. (I put a cookie sheet in the oven, fill about half way with water and set jars in for about 15 minutes @ 325).

Salsa

I'm always a little leary about making my own salsa. I've had a few experiences where the salsa was less than fabulous. But thanks to Shirley and her willingness to share her most excellent salsa recipe, I have the best salsa yet!

Salsa

• 20 ripe tomatoes, chopped
• 2 large onions
• 3 green peppers, chopped
• 4 jalepeno peppers (I left these out)
• 4 tbsp crushed red pepper (I used half this amount)
• 1 bunch of celery, chopped
• 1 cup fresh parsley
• 1 cup vinegar
• 3 small cans of tomato paste
• 4 tsp salt
• 1 tsp basil
• 1 tsp pepper
• 6 tbsp sugar
• 2 cloves of garlic

Chop all veggies and cook until boiling. Add 3 tbsp cornstarch, mixed with water. Pour into sterile jars. Process for 20 minutes.

Makes 8 pints.