July 16, 2011

  • I See Dead...Tomatoes!


    TALES FROM THE BRAT FARM

      I know!  I would almost prefer to see dead people.  I'm just not that lucky.  I spent the better part of today sorting through the tomatoes.  The perfect ones I put aside because those will become stewed tomatoes.  The others....chop, chop, chop....they are going to be my HOT salsa for the most part.  I think I may end up with enough for six pints of it.  It's amazing how quickly chopped up tomatoes gain in volume.  I was amazed at how quickly my big mixing bowl filled up.  I'll add the celery, hot peppers, spices, onions and green onions (stems included) tomorrow.  Chewlee loves to help by pressing down the button on the chopper.  She likes doing the *pulse* chopping.  Kids love that irritating noise.  I hate it.

    My hands are suffering from the acid of the tomatoes, of course, but I expected that and took enough breaks from it that it's not too bad tonight.  After I shower later, it will be fine.  The cut up tomatoes are resting in the fridge for tomorrow's happy event....more canning.    I told the Beast, he's going to have to get me some more canning jars soon and I am not going to make more pickles without having pickling tomatoes.  The dill spices I used for the kosher dills I'm not fond of.  Even Chewlee didn't like them.  Too vinegary or something.  I followed the recipe exactly so it's not something *I* did, it's the recipe itself that sucks.  I'll just make regular dills next time and keep my fingers crossed.  The sweet zucchini chips actually aren't bad.  They should have been cut a bit thicker than I did but I had no clue about that since I was using zucchini and not cukes.

    The Beast seems to be highly amused at all this and he has a mean streak in him, too.  He went out in the garden just before dark and carried in a bunch more zucchini, cucumbers (rather large ones) and the inevitable tomatoes.    Yes, more tomatoes.  They are marching through my dreams and I am being smothered by them.  I texted my niece, Tara, and told her come over and get some for her family and I put some aside for the Princess, too.  The tomatoes plants show no signs of letting up at this time.  The strawberries are going crazy since the Beast thinned out the zucchini and ithey aren't shading them any more.  I'm really hoping for all of the flowers that have shown up on it to turn into delish fruits.

    Even the Beast's blackberry bushes seem to be getting into the swing of things.  THey won't be ready until this fall but the plants themselves have been growing nicely and look extremely healthy.  Keep your fingers crossed.

    Love you all.  Sounds like thunderstorms are moving in from off in the distance so I had best get this posted before I lose my internet.  Have a great weekend.  Do something that's fun for you.  Even if it's lunch out or window shopping.