Wednesday, August 8, 2012

Getting Ready to Can Tomatoes

These two egg baskets were given to me by a generous neighbor when we first moved to this place, several years ago. They make great garden baskets. I avoid piling the tomatoes too high, so that they don't get bruised by the weight of the others. This morning's picking required both baskets. The tomatoes aren't fully ripe yet, but I don't like to leave them on the vine until they are dead ripe, for there seems to be a lot that can go wrong with them. I pick them a tad early and set them out on the picnic table to finish ripening.



Right now my cherry tomatoes (or grape, or whatever they are) seem to be ripening all at once. I like to eat those right from the vine, warmed by the sun. We should live on salads for the next week, and I'll try to forget that box of Seroogy's dark chocolate truffles that's sitting on my desk.




I'm pretty sure that I'll be spending Saturday canning tomatoes. This year I'll be obedient and add the lemon juice to my tomatoes so that the county (and state) extension office personnel don't have to try to make a plausible argument, yet again, why it makes sense that green beans don't need added citric acid when being canned for the same amount of time and same pressure as tomatoes.

♫It's the debate that never ends.♪♪


***

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23 comments:

Olive said...

I do not think he invented the egg baskets as I have three myself and they are from the turn of the century to perhaps the 1920's. You are blessed with tomatoes. I have not canned since I was in my twenties. With food prices soaring you are so smart to do this.

Empty Nester said...

Doodlebug and I absolutely love cherry tomatoes. She picks them off the vine and pops them into her mouth like you! I grow them just for her. I think I'm going back to the farmer's market this weekend and get some more tomatoes. Once you get started, it sort of becomes addicting.

Chatty Crone said...

Tomatoes and Chatty are like two peas in a pod - lol. They are my favorite - warmed by the sun - on sandwiches with mayo. Canned - anything!

Hey I looked but didn't see - do you make oatmeal soap? Are yours made from goats milk? My daughter wanted to know.

Love, sandie

Cranberry Morning said...

How funny, Olive! I guess it was an egg washing machine that he invented, not the basket. :-) Kevin said it was 'gentle cycle only.' ;-)

laurie said...

Those tomatoes are beautiful. I so wish I had a garden! And those baskets are awesome!

April said...

Mmmmm, tomatoes. Can't wait till I can plant a garden! Yours are beautiful :)

Artsy VaVa said...

I have been canning for the last month and my husband thinks we need to plant more tomato plants next year. I say we need half as many. His hobbies are a lot of work for me! Although I do enjoy it...I just won't tell him! As I sit here typing to you, I just heard the third lid "pop" on one of the many cans of salsa I prepared tonight. I love that sound!!!

Denise said...

My sister has been canning tomatoes for weeks.

Amy, a redeemed sheep said...

I love your baskets! I see them at antique stores and I have to leave them behind. Sticker shock. =( I'll keep looking though. =)

Yenta Mary said...

Oh, your tomatoes are so gorgeous! I always envy your garden - don't have the space here. And there is very little in life that brings as much satisfaction as looking at shelves, in the cold of winter, that hold summer's bounty in beautiful glass jars. And the "ping" of the seal ... such a happy sound!

Unknown said...

Oh, some day I will have a tomato bounty like yours... heck, I'd settle for half of that bounty!! And I'm with you on the cherry tomatoes, they are best right from the vine! Happy Canning!!!

MadSnapper said...

i think you must have forgotten my post a few days ago where i said it is not canning when but Jarring that you are doing. ha ha. had not heard of the citrus in canning, mother canned make that JARRED all our food and did not add anything but the beans or tomatoes. of course i was whining so loud because i had to help i might have missed it.

Heide at ApronHistory said...

I think our garden is in an odd place or it is too sheltered by the fence, everyone's tomatoes ripen way before ours!! We are just starting to get the first few. You would think with with all the hot weather they would have been early this year!

Rachel said...

My dad loves tomatoes! He would be so jealous of those! :)

Maggie Ann said...

Good for you, canning up your tomatoes. They are beautiful. One thing we have in common is eating the cherry tomatoes off the vine. Aren't they delish! I'm not a canner, but do love to get good buys on squash, for the butternut are delishious and keep all winter long for me in a cool place.

SImple and Serene Living said...

Nothing like tomatoes fresh off the vine and looks like you will be enjoying yours all winter. YUM!!!

Lois Christensen said...

Love the photos of your tomatoes! Ours are still green and I'm waiting to do the same thing! Only I never added lemon! I haven't canned any tomatoes in years, so I think I need a refresher! Tomorrow is our Foodie Friends Linky party! Would you like to come and share that delicious recipe from the previous post?

Vicky @ Mess For Less said...

I have 3 little bitty tomatoes so far so I am living vicariously through your crop. Have fun canning! Vicky from www.messforless.net

Marianne (Mare) Baker Ball said...

What a gorgeous harvest! We had our first veggie garden this summer and I think we'll get about a dozen tomatoes. :-( The worms got our squash, and the watermelon never took off. You must have a green thumb!

RURAL said...

Oh now I want to make my own Salsa, and can tomatoes...not so much the lovely too much work peaches.

But alas, our glass topped stove makes it too difficult to can...sigh...lol.

Jen @ Muddy Boot Dreams

TexWisGirl said...

i always enjoyed helping my mother can tomato juice. my job was to operate the hand colander/juicer thing.

Debra Hawkins said...

I hated canning days as a kid. It always took so much time! Now I wished I had paid better attention. I am going to try my hand at jam this year!

Mama Hen said...

That pork roast looks delicious in the last post and so do these tomatoes! You are always inspiring me to want to make some more things in the kitchen. I hope you are well! Have a great day!

Mama Hen

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