MerryHeartCrafts.comMountain Momma… Country Living

Here’s a picture of the beets I canned the other day.  I pulled 1/2 bushel of beets.  Pretty good for the first time I ever raised  beets here at the farm.  From that 1/2 bushel I canned 9 qts.  This will taste really good this winter with pinto beans and cornbread.  The other jars are pureed tomotoes.  The tomatoes were the yellow striped variety thus explaining the color in the jars.  I had forgotten how much work goes into canning beets.  Quite a lot but as you know most things worth having require  work.  Today was homecoming day at church.  We had a really good day.  Lots of people showed up, good music, good preaching, good eating.  The temperatures are still cool at night here with beautiful sunshine during the day.  Wonderful fall weather.  I think I will take my Daniel bible study and my bible and go out and enjoy some of this wonderful weather God has decided to bless us with.  Enjoy and God Bless.

Today has been another busy but productive day.  We gathered 1/2 bushel of tomatoes from the garden and the dishpan full of peppers.   The tomatoes yielded 9 qts and I am attempting for the first time to dry the peppers in the dehydrator.  Hope it works.   Hubby has been busy today with woodwork.  I’ll post a picture when its finished.  After canning was done I went to help him and the girls took off upstairs for some play time.  They are such good helpers.  They help me with everything I do.  We try to impress upon them the value of work and the importance of play.  Teaching them how to garden and then harvest what we raise is important to me.  Canning is becoming a lost art and I want my girls to know how to do it.  Well night is approaching and I need to get busy doing my Sunday School lesson.  If I hurry I can get it done outside on the swing before dark sets in.  God bless.

I have been asked to post my salsa recipe.  This is a very good recipe and can easily be divided to make less.  This recipe makes about 10-12 pints depending upon how thick you let it get when simmering.

Salsa

7 qts tomatoes chunked
6 cloves garlic chopped
5 med. onions chopped
5 green peppers chopped
1/2 cup hot peppers chopped(this makes med. hot-lower or increase amount for your preference)
2 cups vinegar
2 tbsp salt
2 tbsp sugar
2 tsp oregano
2 tsp cumin
2 tsp cilantro
2 tsp chili powder
Combine all ingredients.  Simmer until thick.  I  simmer 4-5 hrs.  Process in hot water bath canner 20 min.  I use pints.

Enjoy!