tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2507829329403685696.post509791053111349135..comments2023-12-09T02:34:01.121-06:00Comments on Veg*n Cooking and Other Random Musings: Weekly Local Booty 8/24-8/30-2008Jhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01760009169211682230noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2507829329403685696.post-48644942225121136282008-09-04T11:15:00.000-05:002008-09-04T11:15:00.000-05:00Erin - It was a pretty productive week, all things...Erin - It was a pretty productive week, all things considered.<BR/><BR/>And I DO love the cayennes, their spiciness holds a dear place in my heart. ;-)<BR/><BR/>I thought so too, it's amazing how good the prices at the market are, we couldn't have gotten all this stuff from the grocery store for this price.<BR/><BR/>When I hear that "pop" I can breathe a sigh of relief, it's the first sign that you did it right!Jhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01760009169211682230noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2507829329403685696.post-27847670013714244222008-09-04T00:36:00.000-05:002008-09-04T00:36:00.000-05:00Look at all the goods! The cayenne peppers are so...Look at all the goods! The cayenne peppers are so cute. That's a great deal at the farmers market for all that!<BR/><BR/>It is one of the best feelings to hear that "pop" when you're preserving stuff in jars.Erinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14532890894030753470noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2507829329403685696.post-46933641392058128632008-09-01T17:33:00.000-05:002008-09-01T17:33:00.000-05:00Chickpea - Thank you, I was a little nervous, but ...Chickpea - Thank you, I was a little nervous, but we have eaten some of the salsa we canned, and so far, are still alive. ;-)<BR/><BR/>That's awesome that you don't have a car! It IS great exercise, but you are right, every so often, it is a bit of a hassle - especially if you are trying to lug a large load or carry something big.<BR/><BR/>Bobbi - Thank you for the tip, the website that I found that explained how to do that didn't say anything about dunking in cold water and told you to blanch the tomatoes for a whole minute! I thought that seemed like a long time to blanch something, but I figured they were the "experts" and they should know best. I learned my lesson on that one!<BR/><BR/>Lisa - Thanks! We have and we've also had some pretty killer meals this weekend that I'll be posting about later this week.<BR/><BR/>Daphne - Thanks for the tip, I'll have tokeep my eyes peeled for that strainer. Smooth or chunky salsas are both good in my view, it just depends on my mood and what I am planning on using the salsa for.<BR/><BR/>Melinda - We have a slight "problem" with peppers, or better stated, I have a slight problem with peppers - oh how I love them.<BR/><BR/>Sounds like you've had the same type of summer that we had. Our weatherman, not too long ago, was running a poll to see who thought it would get back above 90 degrees before the end of summer - that is so hard to grasp - it's summer in the Midwest, it is usually miserably hot!<BR/><BR/>Glad to hear your peppers are doing well in spite of all the obstacles.<BR/><BR/>Thanks, it was really tasty!<BR/><BR/>Chile - Thanks, and thanks for the tip. Unfortunately, all I had on hand were pint sized jars, but that is a great idea having some half-pints for incidents like this.<BR/><BR/>Oh, I plan on it.<BR/><BR/>Yep, we are going to attempt an indoor winter vegetable garden - we'll be documenting our progress in the weekly garden update. We both have high hopes for the greens and herbs (so long as our feline companions stick to their "fodder crops"), but we're also experimenting to see how small squash, tomatillos, and peppers do indoors. We have south facing windows, know how to self-pollinate the flowers, and have some ideas for maintaining the soil temperatures, so we'll see how it goes.<BR/><BR/>Dp Nguyen - Thank you! I would post the recipe, but it comes from the Ball Blue Book of Preserving, and I don't want to get sued for copyright infringement. If you wanted this recipe, just drop me an email (my email address is on the right sidebar of the blog) and I'd be happy to give it to you.<BR/><BR/>This is only my second time canning, but I am just starting to get comfortable with the process. I think with experience, it likely becomes second nature like most other things.<BR/><BR/>Hmmmm, you might be in luck even sans bell peppers, the salsa recipe I made didn't call for any bells, just jalapenos.<BR/><BR/>Courtney - That is what I thought too, but I wasn't going to complain!<BR/><BR/>It was quite the ordeal with the tomatoes, and I'll be honest, I did some cursing and made quite the mess!<BR/><BR/>That is a GREAT IDEA what you and your aunt used to do. I'll keep that in mind.<BR/><BR/>Wowsa, 2 cantaloupes, muscle woman! I bet your shoulder was sore when you got home! It's always odd taking off a really heavy bag, you almost feel like you are floating for a few seconds afterwards. :-)Jhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01760009169211682230noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2507829329403685696.post-52646171430757413172008-08-31T17:00:00.000-05:002008-08-31T17:00:00.000-05:00Hahaha--one green pepper IS pretty odd! But, you ...Hahaha--one green pepper IS pretty odd! But, you take what you can get, right?! <BR/><BR/>Congrats on the salsa making! I have always been intimidated by canning salsa--probably for the very reason you mentioned of peeling and seeding all the tomatoes! I used to can sauce with my aunt, but we took the easy way out and just threw everything in, cooked it, and then ran it through a ricer/food mill to get rid of the seeds. But, as someone else mentioned, that will produce a smooth consistency, and won't really work for a chunky salsa...<BR/><BR/>I know what you mean about being tired from carrying the groceries--I walked 2 miles today carrying 2 cantaloupes (plus a bunch of other groceries) back to my apt. Talk about a sore shoulder!<BR/><BR/>CourtneyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2507829329403685696.post-72916788795152730982008-08-31T16:55:00.000-05:002008-08-31T16:55:00.000-05:00Hi Jennifer, That harvest looks amazing! And your ...Hi Jennifer, That harvest looks amazing! And your salsa looks very good too. You should post the recipe. I have started canning this year, so I'm always impressed when others do it too. I might can some apple sauce. I wish I had the bell peppers to make salsa though.DP Nguyenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13729511776841579464noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2507829329403685696.post-62946505463336860432008-08-31T14:03:00.000-05:002008-08-31T14:03:00.000-05:00Congrats on your salsa canning. I've learned to a...Congrats on your salsa canning. I've learned to always have an extra jar or two ready when I can anything, including one half the size of the others. This way, if the recipe is slightly short, I can stuff it in a smaller jar. If it makes more than it's supposed to, I have a sterile jar all ready to go. <BR/><BR/>Enjoy your peppers and tomatoes while they last. Any winter garden plans?Chilehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11406176434011890590noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2507829329403685696.post-29316143628386178822008-08-31T12:18:00.000-05:002008-08-31T12:18:00.000-05:00Wow, look at all those peppers! They're beautiful...Wow, look at all those peppers! They're beautiful. Ours are coming along, doing surprisingly well in our cold, rainy, horribly cloudy summer (sigh).<BR/><BR/>That salsa looks fabulous!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2507829329403685696.post-40668112044269087862008-08-31T11:11:00.000-05:002008-08-31T11:11:00.000-05:00The easiest way to deal with tomatoes is if you ha...The easiest way to deal with tomatoes is if you have a tool like the Victorio Strainer. Just pop them in the top and turn the handle. Out comes the pulp from one spot and the seeds and skins in another. Its flaw is that it totally purees your tomatoes, so if you want them chunky, you have to do it by hand. It is not a problem for me since my husband hates chunks. If you have a lot it is really worth it. A few are not worth it at all.Daphne Gouldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17305049560953735881noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2507829329403685696.post-49471508312490471652008-08-31T07:38:00.000-05:002008-08-31T07:38:00.000-05:00Your first canned salsa, congrats! Hope you guys h...Your first canned salsa, congrats! Hope you guys have a great weekend and get to eat some delicious meals.Lisa (Show Me Vegan)https://www.blogger.com/profile/06222499189852950447noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2507829329403685696.post-81913071268691432472008-08-31T01:06:00.000-05:002008-08-31T01:06:00.000-05:00For me, the easiest way to peel tomatoes is to dip...For me, the easiest way to peel tomatoes is to dip them into boiling water for 20 to 30 seconds and then immediately dip them in ice water - the skins slid right off. As for the seeds, I usually run the peeled tomatoes thru a tomato seive.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15334812243182354729noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2507829329403685696.post-4341625626875354842008-08-30T22:52:00.000-05:002008-08-30T22:52:00.000-05:00Kudos on your first canning attempt--you are brave...Kudos on your first canning attempt--you are braver than I. I hear you on being tired from lugging groceries! I don't have a car either, so I walk to the store and back every week--great exercise but sometimes a little annoying!ChickPeahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01796488061660385286noreply@blogger.com