{an afternoons harvest}
we are new to having a vegetable garden. we put in a small raised bed this spring mainly to introduce the boys to the idea that food comes from somewhere. we really did not have big expectations. we did not expect, for example, that the boys would find a ripe red tomato so thrilling they would eat it like an apple just after it had been plucked from the vine. never mind that they would reject it out of hand if it dared to grace their dinner plate! and, speaking of tomatoes…that is basically the only thing that we are growing. we had a few snow peas; some bits of lettuce; the carrots were stolen by groundhogs who ate their tops; as were the sunflowers. but, with the intense heat the 2 small tomato plants just took over the place.
they grew and grew and buried the handmade tomato stands we set up (so cute and yet so useless) and we have to dig around to find our basil plants which are thriving, somehow. I’ve been making tomato pasta sauce like mad and so far we have been managing to eat all of it but soon we might have to stew tomatoes and freeze them or even learn how to can them (!!).
the funniest part is that we belong to a community farm share from which we also get loads of tomatoes! we are up to our ears in tomato goodness.
What a wonderful dilemma! There are so many things to do with a plethora of tomatoes! My favorites are turning them into tomato catsup and salsa. The salsa is particularly easy to can, especially with our excellent pepper vendor at the farmer’s market. I’m happy to send recipes if you’re interested!
I absolutely want your recipes!! I also want your expertise at canning, as you know. Have you ever made peach salsa? I’ve had some and loved it!