So maybe the dramatics on Thursday about The Blighting of the tomato plants and WOE IS ME NO TOMATO CANNING were a little premature. Because I canned seven quarts of tomatoes yesterday. I mean, seven quarts is ridiculous, just a tiny fraction of what I SHOULD be canning (last year was 39 quarts of plain tomatoes and numerous pints of salsa, ketchup, sauce, etc.), but at least it's something.
Also, those seven quarts make me feel a bit less of a fraud, since OF COURSE this is the year I contributed to a cookbook as an expert on canning (check it out: I'm famous--for canning*). Okay, so it's true that tomatoes aren't the only thing I can--so far I've done pickles, beets, and mulberry juice as well--but they are the major thing I can.
If I'm lucky, I'll get one more harvest from the tomato plants big enough to make a batch of salsa. Which I will then hoard like a miser, because one measly batch of salsa is not going to go very far if I have to SHARE it.
You see what deprivation does to a person?
* Of all the things I ever thought I might become famous for, CANNING was not one of them. Especially at the age of 29. Pass the Geritol.
Just downloaded your chapter! If I read it and discover I've been doing it all wrong, it's your fault.
ReplyDeleteCongrats! This is a week of good news for you.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you got to use at least some of your tomatoes.
P.S. I would like to come shopping in your pantry. :-)
ReplyDeleteLord Bossy's tomatoes totally failed this year and don't get her started because: TOMATOES. Tomatoes are only Bossy's favorite food she eats like apples off the vine, except not this year, and sister mercy Bossy is getting started all over again...
ReplyDeleteLOVE your friend's blog! And duly impressed by your inclusion in a book.
ReplyDeleteI bow down to your canning awesomeness. I'm just paranoid about poisoning myself, so I don't do it. Oh....and you know....I'm a horrible gardener, as well...
ReplyDelete