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

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

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.

All the tomato skins I saved and popped in the dehydrator

I ended up with all 9 trays loaded

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

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Life’s Wake up Call

Yesterday morning I woke in a massive panic.  I must have been dreaming of Thanksgiving, & running through my to-do list.

  I woke in a full on panic knowing I have of a frozen… rock solid turkey and it was TUESDAY!!!  There is no way it would have time to thaw for Thursday’s family supper.  I sat down after putting the coffee on and came up with a “Gotta Do list that would take 3 people to complete. Think of it… actually writing legibly B.C.  (before coffee). About the time I was half way through my first cup and ready to tackle the stairs to the basement freezer, my daughter text me.  Good thing she did because I saw the date flash on my phone & realized Thanksgiving is NEXT Thursday.  What a way to start the day!  Talk about blood pressure check. 

It was my wake-up call.

This past year has seemingly been one of constantly playing catch-up. I couldn’t find my routine blending the house, garden & kids. 

We’ve had a few changes and family events which I now know took more of an emotional toll on me than I realized. I was letting others choices control my attitude & taking their bad behavior personally.  I thought I was working through & handling what needed dealt with…yesterday morning was a wake-up call in a way…made me realize I’ve kinda shut down, withdrawn and become a bit numb. 

This morning has me thinking about letting go of people & burdens that are not mine… things/activities I’ve missed that I enjoy & changes I need to make to blend them back in.   Blogging I miss.  Although most of my content is nothing earth shattering, it’s mine.  I miss it (blogging).

Looking back through here this morning I realized I have little record of this summers garden…what worked, what flopped. 

How did I miss an entire garden year?

Well, it is what it is right?

Moving forward from here with a much lighter heart.

Katie

 

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