Ah! Bountiful garden
you left me no room
for idle wondering.
When we came home from our two-week vacation last Wednesday, we were greeted with ripening tomatoes and peppers. The weather had been good during our absence. Rain came once a week. Immediately, I harvested the ripe fruits. That same afternoon, overcome by excitement, I canned tomatoes even if I was not prepared to that day. As a result, I broke two quart canning jars. I forgot that the jars and the water had to be the same temperature to prevent breakage. After the two mishaps, I was careful to keep the canning water just warm and to let the canned tomatoes and water heat up and boil at the same time.
Since Wednesday, I have been busy using up the tomatoes. I have been blanching and peeling and canning, and even sharing a few of the fruits to neighbors and friends. To date, I have canned 20 quarts of tomatoes. When it got a little tiring, I decided to try making Salsa. I don’t know what to expect. The recipe I used turned out sour and vinegary. I wonder if the extra boiling would make the flavors blend and mellow a bit more.
And I made a big batch of spaghetti sauce using a family recipe. I froze some of the sauce for use when our days get too tight.
Well, I guess that was my roundabout way of explaining my absence from WordPress. 🙂
MY WALL 
Oh my!!! Angeline, that looks great!!! A lot of work!!!
…and what a perfect excuse for your absence Imelda, can’t think of a better one! I’ll have some of that spaghetti sauce if you have any left over please 😉
I’ve never had that many tomatoes at once. Wow!! But I have found myself wondering what to do with armfuls of courgettes and runner beans in the past….if only we could spread the bounty through the year don’t you think?!
Hi, Jennie. 🙂 True, many will be benefited if they can just trade produce.
It may be possible to can the runner beans. I am just thinking of the green beans that my MIL cans. I do not know how different runner beans and green beans are, but it may be an option for runner beans, too?
Good idea Imelda; one to remember for the future maybe. I haven’t tried that so far, but I have done chutneys and frozen them in big batches. And given lots and lots away to friends and neighbours! 🙂
I am SOOOO impressed. Beautiful photographs. Wonderful.
You’ve certainly been kept busy since your return home, Imelda. Sorry bout the mishaps, but your spaghetti sauce looks delicious. I also make a big batch and freeze it. 🙂
oh wow!
a bountiful harvest. excellent.
Yum! We haven’t had more tomatoes than we can eat fresh so far but the apples are starting to ripen. I’ve got a bushel and a half in the basement already, canning season here we come!
I smell apple pies and apple cider from here, Jessie. Sometimes, I think we are crazy to wish for all of these produce when they entail so much work! 🙂
We thought that we could pick some apples from my in-laws’ orchard but alas! the fruits were puny and wormy.
Understandable… and it all looks so delicious…. Diane
I’m impressed. I’ve never canned anything… and I expect I’m probably too lazy to try it 🙂
Well done! It is worth all the work. Your creativeness shows again 🙂