Julie's Sweet Salsa

I've been so blessed with such an abundance in my gardens this year. I've been trying to use up my tomatoes. Someone gave me the idea to try making salsa. This is one of two recipes I hope to be trying. I got this one from a sister in my ward, Julie, so I'll call it...

Julie's Sweet Salsa

12 large ripe tomatoes (I used both round and Roma, I counted 2-3 Roma's for every large round because my Romas are a lot smaller.)

2 large onions, chopped

2 large green peppers, chopped

1 - 2 jalapeno peppers, diced (the first time I made it I used 1, the second time I used 2)
1 anaheim or banana pepper, diced

1 cup white vinegar

1/2 - 3/4 cup white sugar, to liking (I used 1/2 cup the first time, most of us liked it, some of us thought it was too sweet so I reduced it to 1/3 cup and added the second jalapeno the second time.)

2 Tbs salt

Blanche (place into boiling water for 20 - 30 seconds, then run cold water over them til cool enough to handle) and peel tomatoes, cut into bite size pieces and put into large pot. (Julie uses the food processor for everything. I don't have one, I just chopped the best I could and used my magic bullet to pulse chop it up.) Add all ingredients to pot and bring to a boil.

Turn down to simmer for approximately 1 hour, until thickened. (Cooks down about an inch in the pot. I think it's a little runny still, I think I will cook down a little more next time.)

Pour cooked salsa into clean canning jars about 1/3 inch from the top, wipe around top and side and put on hot lids and bands.

Process in steam canner for 20 min. (pint jars) (I used my hot water bath canner.)

Makes approximately 5 - 7 pints.

*You can add hotter peppers as desired.

Freezing Green Beans

This morning we went to the ward garden and picked green beans and peas! I got a grocery sack full of green beans, Yum. I usually bottle them but I don't have a pressure cooker, so I was told how to freeze them...This is what I did






1. Wash and snap the beans. Aaron was a big help in snapping them.






2. Blanche in boiling water for 1 to 3 minutes, they should look nice and green.


3. Run through ice cold water to stop the cooking process. I started with ice in the water but the hot beans quickly made the water warm, so I ended up just using cold tap water and sifting through them till they felt cold.



4. Bag them, push out as much air as possible, put in freezer. I filled my quart bags because we eat about 3 cans at a time. I got about 5 1/2 quart bags! I just read that you can lay them out on a cookie sheet to freeze, then put them in bags. That way they don't all freeze together in one solid brick and you can pull out what you need for that meal.

I'm told when your ready to eat them, you just pull them out and cook them as though they were fresh out of the garden. You can boil them, steam them, or Nuke them in the microwave until tender. Add a little salt and butter, they are super yummy! But then I really like green beans!!

Don'cha love summer?!?

(Jennie, looks like we need some preserving tabs!)

Great price for wheat!

Just letting you know that Macey's is having a great price for wheat again, better than last time!

45 pound pail of red or white wheat for $16.99! That's a great price already sealed in a bucket!

If you don't have all your wheat yet, or just need to replace what your using, now's the time and here's the place!!

Food Storage: How much?

This a chart of food storage amount recommendations. My husband found this a couple of years ago.

Food Storage Ideas

So here is a list of some food storage items and ideas:

Grains
Wheat
Flour
Corn Meal
Oats
Rice
Pasta

Fats and Oils
Shortening/Butter
Vegetable Oil
Mayonnaise
Salad Dressing
Peanut Butter

Legumes
Beans, dry
Lima Beans
Soy Beans
Split Peas
Lentils
Dry Soup Mix

Sugars
Honey
Sugar
Brown Sugar
Powdered Sugar
Molasses
Corn Syrup
Jams
Fruit Drink, powdered
Flavored Gelatin
Cocoa

Milk
Dry Milk
Evaporated Milk
Other

Cooking Essentials
Baking Powder
Baking Soda
Yeast
Salt
Vinegar
Vanilla extract

Water
Water
Bleach

Other
Dried Onions
Spices
Potato Pearls
Canned Goods

Bottled Goods
Apple Sauce
Apples
Peaches
Pears
Green Beans
Pumpkins/Squash
Tomatoes (sauce)
Grape Juice
Apricot Nectar
Plum Jam
Strawberry Jam
Raspberry Jam
Peach Jam

Household
Medicine
Toilet Paper
Feminine Supplies
Tooth Paste, Brushes
Contacts, Solution
Shampoo
Lotion
Dish Soap
Material, Thread, Patches, Needles, Buttons
Candles
Light Bulbs
Lanterns
Coal and/or Wood
Matches
Cleaning supplies
First Aid kit
Charcoal Briquets & aluminum foil
(you can use to make a cardboard oven to cook with)

Make sure you rotate your supplies when you restock. I feel so much more secure with a year supply or more!

If I don't have something on the list that you think of please let me know! I might have overlooked it myself. ;)

Great Price for Wheat!

I know it doesn't look like it, but I am really excited about this blog! I have been experimenting with lots of recipes and such that would be fun to share. I will try to be diligent in sharing and get to posting. I have to remember to take pics and get busy!

I did however, want to mention that I found a GREAT price for wheat at Macey's case lot sales this last week. I found out they are going one more week. Wheat in a 45 pound pail for only $18.99! I know we can get it a little cheaper at the cannery, but already in a pail, it's a killer deal! They also have their dough enhancer and wheat gluten at great deals too!

I just love case lot sales, I think Doug will be happy when it's all over, I've spent quite a bit! But when you have as many people as I do to feed, this is the time to get it!!

One of the things I've learned about preparedness is - it's not enough to just prepare and have the food storage. But part of preparedness is learning how to use what we have. If we had to cook out of our storage and we weren't used to it, it would be a lot harder, not only on our bodies, but on our abilities. It's very beneficial to already be used to making breads and recipes from scratch than to have to learn while we were in whatever crises that causes us to have to eat from our storage. I hope that makes sense!

I have a great french bread recipe and Lion house roll recipe I want to share, coming soon, hopefully!!

(Hey Jennie, I wasn't sure what labels to attach, I'll let you attach whatever you think!)