8.13.2007

Four Tomatos Make a Bunch and So Do Many More


Tra la la, la la la la
Tra la la, la la la la

One tomato, two tomato, three tomato, four
Four tomatos make a bunch and so do many more.
Over hill and highway the tomato buggies go
Comin' to bring you the Tomato Split show
Makin' up a mess of fun, makin' up a mess of fun
Lots of fun for everyone

Makin up a mess of fun
Makin up a mess of fun
Happiness for ev'ryone
Tra la la, la la la la
Tra la la, la la la la
Tra la la, la la la la

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Ah memories. That little bit of nonsense will mean nothing to many of you. But a select few of you will know right away what other fruit i cancelled to make way for that special little ditty bout all our tomatos. We have as many more as this that are within a day or two of needing to be picked. We went to our local Tractor Supply Store, and could not get mason jars... I figured if any place would have canning supplies, it'd be the trusty Tractor Supply. So, once again i'm reduced to ordering from Amazon.com... Oh well, at least i realize my tax dollars are really going there too anyway.

Do any of you have any canning / jarring advice for us? None of us (JingXia included) have ever properly canned. Jingxia pickles vegetables in crap she pulls out of our recycle bin, but there's no proper sterilization or vacuum sealing going on.

UNTIL NOW that is. Debbie will be glad to know that our household is no longer putting the entire midwest at risk for a botulism outbreak.

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Oh and by the way, I know THOUSANDS of you have been wondering about the mystery of the corn silk. Alas, I have no answer for you. Alack, the mister said it looked disgusting and threw it in the trash. Not even the compost, but the trash mind you. Oh, the humanity.

2 comments:

Curtis said...

I used to help my Gran can tomatoes. I suggest that you blanch the fruit first and remove the skin when they are cool-ish to the touch. Spoon into large quart jars and with a very clean hand, gently but firmly press with the back of your fingers so that they are packed with little or no air in the jar.

Place a bay leaf along the inside of the jar facing outwards. Not only does it give just a hint of flavor, it also looks Martha Stewartish and pretty. Seal and process as usual. Google the processing - it's too long to put in comments.

In the dead of winter, open and enjoy a little preserved summer!

Sam said...

Hey Curtis, thanks; we'd hoped you would have some tips for us. We were thinking of quartering the tomatos after peeling, and seeding them before jarring them. Also heard we should put a tablespoon of fresh squeezed lemon juice in each jar with the juice.

Big fan of the bay here; Martha approves of that good thing ;)

We read a few canning documents online... and are getting a book with the kit.

Wish us luck!

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