Katidids

Being happy doesn't mean everything is perfect.

It's learning to look past life's imperfections





Looking for knitting updates? Find them here!
Katidids Knits

Be sure and say Hi!

Thursday, November 21, 2013

Clearing Freezer Space

It’s deer season.  With any luck we will be needing freezer space.

Last night I pulled out a few bags of tomato’s I’d frozen. I had the thought of saving some of the canning for when all that heat would be appreciated. Since it was mid 30”s this morning …the heat was appreciated!

Let me tell you, working with frozen tomato’s is so much easier than fresh.  I’d much rather slip skins from a cold tomato than a hot one any day. 

I’ve read on a few canning sites about using the crockpot to cook the sauce down and decided to try it.  I tossed a few bags of frozen maters into the crockpot and set to low, let it do it’s thing overnight.  That worked but was a bit messy.  Next time I wont let them cook overnight maybe only an hour or so till they are thawed just enough to slip the skins

IMG_3434

3 of the many bags waiting in my freezer

after they thawed & started weeping I poured all the liquid off and ran them through the food processer.  If I was working one batch I would have left it  in the crockpot to reduce & thicken but, I had more bags to go so on the stove this sauce went.

The bit that didn’t fit in the pan I used to thaw the next few bags of tomato's and left them to cook till the sauce pan was available

IMG_3435

Worked pretty slick!  I’ll be doing this again for sure.

I ended up with 5 quarts and 7 pints cooling on the counter, not a huge batch but a good start.

IMG_3464

All the tomato skins I saved and popped in the dehydrator

IMG_3436

I ended up with all 9 trays loaded

IMG_3461

Last time I tried dehydrating the skins for tomato powder I scorched them.  Forgot they were in the dehydrator and the scorch taste carried to all the skins.

This time I’m turning that sucker off before I go to bed!

Have you tried freezing part of your summer harvest and canning in winter?

Stay warm out there!

Katie

 

5 comments:

  1. I have bags of our raspberries in the freezer that I still want to can. I've never used frozen ones before to make the canned berries, so this will really be an experiment. I'm just hoping they don't turn to mush!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Katie,
    Making sauce, and dehydrating skins. Your preparing your freezer for some good venison, I'm jealous. No venison for us this year, hubby not able to hunt from surgeries. Maybe next year!!!

    ReplyDelete
  3. I hope you get your wish and harvest some deer meat for the freezer. I really like working with frozen tomatoes too. It's much easier. :-)

    ReplyDelete
  4. I absolutely love what you do with the tomato skins. Brilliant! I will definitely do this next time I do tomatoes. Now I need to dig into my own freezer and haul out all those elderberries. Jelly making is on my to-do list. :)

    And please do stop by my blog and see what I'm excited about!

    ReplyDelete
  5. With the right freezer, you’ll make fewer trips to the store while saving time and money. Take a moment to consider your options and space constraints to find the freezer that’s a perfect fit for your life and lifestyle.

    aboard

    ReplyDelete

Hey! Thanks for stopping in I love hearing from my bloggy friends!
Katie