Pioneer Woman at Heart

One Flourishing, Frugal and Fun Family!

One family learning to live off the land, cut back on expenses, and to live a simpler and a more self-sufficient lifestyle.

Adopted Motto

"Eat it up,
Wear it out,
Make it do,
Or go without."
~A Pioneer Sampler, by Barbara Greenwood~

Thursday, October 20, 2016

What to do with all those tomatoes?

I faced another 8# of ripe tomatoes yesterday, and will be today.  In fact, I told Hubby dinner will be very late.  I'm on a mission to put up all of my ripe tomatoes.  Ha!  

I took time, after the tomatoes were all boiled and ice bathed, and draining, to eat breakfast on the porch.  It was nice to get some Vitamin D.  Then it was back to the sink and stove.  By the way, that was leftover sweet potato/black bean frittata (Mmmm!)


I made our first tomato salsa for this season.   Believe it or not, it's the one thing I have not been making.  I made a different recipe too.  It's the chunky salsa recipe in the same BHG booklet I have.  I didn't have Anaheim peppers, so I substituted green bell peppers combined with some hot banana peppers.  I also used my home canned tomato paste for this recipe - delicious!!!  Those chips are organic/non-gmo tortilla chips. 

What have I made with this year's mega-crop of tomatoes?

Tomato Sauce
Pizza Suace
Lemony-Basil Tomato soup
Ketchup
"Adult" ketchup
BBQ sauce
Taco Sauce
Tomato Paste
Zucchini Salsa
Chunky Tomato Salsa
...ate some
...froze some (easier than canning a bunch)
...dehydrated grape tomatoes (to crumble and bake into crackers, or add to pizza, soups, stews and other dishes).

I have more ideas if they keep coming too - for dinner anyway.

What have I made with green tomatoes?

Green tomato cake

There are always things to make with more tomatoes - tomato juice, stewed tomatoes, spaghetti sauce (similar to my tomato sauce ingredients), marinara sauce, tomato jam....you can't run out of things.  I just don't want to see any more red tomatoes.  I have yet to take care of my green tomatoes yet - possibly relish, green tomato ketchup, salsa, or chutney.

8 comments:

Susan said...

I bet you dream about tomatoes! A friend sent me oatmeal cookies made with dried cherry tomatoes instead of raisins - they were great!

Pioneer Woman at Heart said...

Susan, Oh my gosh! That is an excellent idea to use the for too. Thanks! Yes, it's not just me dreaming about tomatoes, it's the kids waiting to be able to sit and eat at the table again, ha ha!

Sam I Am...... said...

Thanks for the list! Amazing! Don't forget Green Fried Tomatoes! Those are my favorite but I have none this year...boo hoo! I love the idea of using dried tomatoes in her oatmeal cookies! Thanks Kristina and Susan!

Mama Pea said...

I use so many stewed tomatoes in soups, stews, casseroles, etc. that if I had the tomatoes, that's what I would make a lot of. Our good friends and neighbors put a make-shift greenhouse over their tomato plants this year and have been sharing with us so we've had lots to eat sliced fresh. They also made a lot of tomato juice and gave us over a dozen quart jars. It's delish!!

Carrie @ Cottage Cozy said...

So fun to cme over and start following you here - the sunrise is beautiful and I wish I had some of those tomatoes.

Pioneer Woman at Heart said...

Sam I Am, thanks for that tip. My green tomatoes are turning red today, and I am not canning today. Ha! I hope they stay green.

Pioneer Woman at Heart said...

Mama Pea, if I get any more tomatoes, the crushed and stewed tomatoes are next, then juice. I typically just use frozen tomatoes and add spices and herbs. We'll see. It's pretty cold here today.

Pioneer Woman at Heart said...

Carrie, I can't believe I hope I get more, ha ha!