Got More Tomatoes? Make Tomato Jelly

Yesterday was a very long day.

The pantry was blessed with yet another 5 1/2 quarts of tomato sauce.  I used one quart to make my spicy crock pot pork chops this morning.  Along with garden green peppers and onions.


I am having to push my pear butter making to another day.  I took pork chops and 2 chickens out of the freezer, making more room for tomatoes.

My day was shortened today, on account of going to the bank to get my oldest daughter her very first checking account and debit card.  

When I arrived home, I used about 9-10 of my larger tomatoes, and made my very first tomato jelly.

I'm not sure how this will taste.  It will be used on grilled meats, for pasta dishes, dips, and a lot more, if it passes the family inspection test.

I saved the leftover tomato juice, from making the jelly, and will use that to make a pot of chili in a few days.  The leftover tomatoes were also saved and some treated to our billy goat.

After making 4-1/2 pints of that, I was left with about 5 dozen large tomatoes. I kept 2 for lunches and the rest is going in the freezer.  I wanted to can tomato soup, but I don't have a pressure canner yet.

Even after that, I have yet 1 1/2 dozen roma tomatoes, green peppers (more), and a handful of cayenne peppers.

I still need to bake my angel food cake, and start on homemade noodles. 

Tomato and Other Garden Updates

I had to turn my to-do list into two lists - one for today and one for tomorrow.

My today list, just became today and tomorrow lists:

Friday:
Today's list:
-can tomato sauce - Reducing on the stove

 
-wash and dry dishes and put them away - Done
-pick, blanch and freeze Swiss chard - Done

-cut fresh basil to dry - Done

-cut fresh oregano to dry - Done
-freeze green peppers- Done
-make fridge salsa - Done

-wash, dry and put away more dishes - Done
-pick tomatoes - Done
-put laundry on the line - Done
-write
-write farmgirl penpal
-create template for sales receipts - Done
-some where in there, make dinner

Saturday:
-ship craft store order (my first order - YAY!)
-library returns and pickups
-can pear jam 

-can zucchini relish - if there is time

Without a list today, I would have forgotten to put the last load of towels on the clothesline.  Phew!  Normally, I don't use a list.  I just go with the garden flow - what's ripe gets processed, canned, picked, frozen.

It's about 86 degrees in the kitchen right now.  I had hoped to get as much of the canning done early, but it's the reducing of the sauce that takes more time.

I better get back to work.  I have a lot more to get done today, and it's almost time for school to be out.

It's hard work, but worth it.  The way I see it, why grow a garden and not utilize it?  I don't want to waste anything. Not after going through all the work to grow it.  Four trips to the compost and to the goats today also - Orion loves those leftovers (green pepper tops, tomatoes, Swiss chard stems etc.)