Canning salsa

Those peppers are still coming on strong, even in this drought and heat.   I am not a huge fan of home-canned salsa, but I do like to throw it in when making chili.   These jars will come in handy this winter when it is subzero and snowing outside.

I am wistful for freezing temperatures and possible snow days.   Come on!   School hasn’t even officially started yet (even though I am back at work).  Reality check needed, please!

Most importantly, I was able to use a whole cup of jalapenos for Pepper-palooza!

Home  Canned Salsa
from SalsaGarden

8 c.  ripe tomatoes
3 c. chopped onion (I did use onions pulled from the garden earlier this summer.)
1 c.  seeded and chopped jalapenos (Don’t seed some for hotter sauce.   I threw one Serrano in, too.)
1 c.  cider vinegar (5% acidity)
1 T. canning salt

Dip tomatoes in boiling water for 30-60 seconds until skins loosen.   Place in ice water bath and slip off skins.

Place your cutting board on a rimmed baking sheet. This method will keep all the juices from running everywhere.

Core and chop tomatoes.

In a 6 to 8 qt. saucepan, combine all ingredients. 

Bring to a boil, stirring often.  Reduce heat and simmer 30 minutes, or to desired thickness.   Immediately fill hot pint jars with salsa, leaving ½ inch headspace.    Carefully run a nonmetallic utensil down inside of jars to remove trapped air bubbles.   Wipe jar tops and threads clean.   Place hot lids on jars and screw bands on firmly.  Process in water bath  for 15 minutes.   Yield:  6 pints.

We have cleaned out one of the closet shelves in a guest bedroom as an annex to our pantry for all our home-canned goods.

Warning:   These tomatoes did not come from our garden.   I bought about 15 lbs. of tomato seconds at a farmers market and made this salsa and canned some whole tomatoes too.   We also found out that The Hub’s beer brewing kettle works great as a water bath!   🙂

These meager tomatoes did come from our garden. 🙂

 

The farmers market we visited was in Bentonville, Arkansas.    We made a short trip eastward to see Crystal Bridges, an outstanding new art museum focusing on American art.    More about that later, but if you are within driving distance of this art museum, you must go!

 

 

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