What a summer. I think I might need a vacation from summer vacation. But then again, I was never on summer vacation, was I?
We have tomatoes, finally. Grown from 8 year old seeds, yep the same ones I found in that good ole drawer I told you about. I was told that I would not get tomatoes (ahem - I was told many things about my garden as you might recall).
But I did, yeeeehawww ;)
With several more on the way, and other vines sprouting babes as I type. So now, I have to think about what I want to do with them... Chomp chomp chomp... (that's Mister's thumb below, not mine ;)
Having a garden that produces edibles is a huge job. That is, if you want to eat everything you grow. I am obsessive compulsive about not wasting. So, I am working like a mad woman to make sure someone is eating all my treats, as we have found a few helpers to help us eat all of this. I think pleasantly plump is a gorgeous concept, don't you?
(the twins)
I have made 8 batches of pesto (walnut and pine nut - I am leaning towards the pine nut one as my fave), and saved bags of basil seeds for next year. I have delivered basil seeds to family, along with bushels of basil.
As soon as I publish this, I will be getting ready to make more pesto, so I can then escape to finish painting wee faces, without worrying about wasting the lovely herb.
Did I mention that I peach plunged?
I made a huge batch of peach jam, and gifted some to our friends.
Only, I didn't boil/sterilize the jars because I figured that, if it gets eaten within 2 weeks, I can skip that step? What do you think? ( I made sure my recipients knew this)
I had made 8 cobblers, a bunch of crisps, smoothies, etc. etc....
So, why not try jam?
Oh oh, and of course, you need homemade buttermilk biscuits if you are going to make jam, right?
(I made these, and they were the best ever)
You see, I made the decision to make jam after I had frozen 15+ bags of sliced peaches, and had about 3 lbs. of peaches still sitting in front of me.
So, here's what I did to make my jam.
ps: I did not use pectin, because I did not have any.
I took 3lbs of skinned and sliced peaches, 2 cups of sugar, the juice of one lemon, and put it all in a bowl and let it sit for 1 hour. This allows the sugar and lemon to draw oodles of peach juice out of the peaches.
Then, I poured all of that into a large glass saucepan, and brought it to a boil at med - high heat.
After it came to a boil, I continued boiling it at med heat, while stirring constantly for 25 minutes.
Then I let it cool.
I popped it in jars, put it in the fridge, c'est voila...
(for some reason, reds and dark oranges look funky in my posts, but if you click on the image, you can see it without the wobbly color weirdness)
We are really trying to be super good thankers of the fruits of nature :)
I should go out and make a love shrine to our well. We have glorious ice cold well water, that has been invaluable in helping my garden survive during this beyond long and hot summer.
So long, so hot....
Sooooo many hours of work.
Totally worth it, but wow, you have to be committed, especially in this desert land, where there is hardly no rain to help you out. Although we had rain last night and I was dancing in it, soaked, and ever so grateful.
I am sitting here, just staring blankly at the computer screen, all of a sudden.
It is 9:59 a.m.
I have been up tending my garden since 5, and I am sleepy. Eeeks ;)
I never nap (makes me feel rotten as heck), but I am sleepy right now friends...
I think food wold help. We get to have Sunday Lox again on a Monday, yay!
I have a confession. I am tomato weird....
I can have them super fresh, sliced-
But I don't like them fresh sliced, and warm.
And, I am finicky about tomato sauce, aka gravy. (Although, I make a pretty mean & delicious sauce. So much for being humble, eek)
But, right off the vine, yummmmm.
I have sure used that word alot this summer (yumm), haven't I?
Anyhow, lox and warm bagels and capers and onions and tomatoes from the vine, await me...
Mmmmmmmmmm.....
And we can't forget the cream cheese.
Yay.
Any suggestions for what I should plunge into making with my tomatoes?
Hmmm, must think on this one.
Anyone ever sun-dried their own tomatoes?
Okay, let's brainstorm if you will ;)
And, I will be back real real soon.