More Tomato Soup (Yay!) ~ Proud Parents

The last of the tomatoes weighed in at litteraly ounces over 10#.  I got one last batch of tomato soup canned.  So happy right now.  It ended up about 45-50# of tomatoes - 6 pints tomato sauce, 10 pints tomato soup.  I am a happy gal!

I had to get dinner in the crock pot before canning.  I was stressing about having to dice and dice before canning (which required dicing carrots, celery and onion as well).

I decided to pull a quart of frozen homemade french onion soup for the "broth" and "onion" in the lentil soup.  Pulled celery cubes and carrots from the freezer.  Worked perfectly.  I am now adding that on the re-stock list for the winter as well.  It always comes in handy.  I also pulled rolls from the freezer, making dinner way easier after a canning day.

My waste funnel for my food strainer is on it's last leg.  Why can't they make these with a thicker body?  I do not know.  I went online and ordered a very expensive replacement (even with 10% off), only to get an email back that they are out of stock.  Sigh.  I cannot find one anywhere else but their parts store either.  It did last about 5-6 years (maybe more).

A small yarn order came in quick.  Now I want to work on a project for myself, but guilt will kick in.  The change in weather has made me realize we are running out of time for everything outdoor related.  

I finally got the call, but from the insurance company, and not the surgeon's office.  GRR!  Insurance never got the paperwork until the 21st, even though I called prior to that (way prior), and now I'm told I have to wait another 15 days.

The big news?  Our youngest daughter was selected as the "Student of the month" in our entire county.  We are so proud of her.  I'm pretty sure it'll be printed in the newspaper too.

Dinners ~ More Canning

I woke up early looking like a cross between Medusa and Heat Miser.  Literally.  Sigh.  Hubby walked in the door last night about 4:30pm, and said, "I love you Honey" in a way in which it gave him away.  He took on the night shift last night and will work through first shift today.  I could not sleep and....well I'm up early.  Let's get this post posted and may the coffee and a hot shower give me super powers today.

Dinner Monday night after canning.  Homemade sloppy joes using home canned ketchup (the best), and sweet potato fries (white sweet potatoes and they are so creamy, and organic). 

Tuesday nights dinner . . .

Chicken enchiladas with homemade enchilada sauce, and crock pot fried rice (both new recipes, actually 3).  I know "fried" rice is not a Mexican dish and Spanish rice is, but wanted to try it for a possible vegetarian potluck dish.

Guess what?  We did not like the rice recipe (hence no photo), but loved the homemade enchilada sauce (recipe online at "Gimme some Oven" and adapted with my home grown dried herbs, and organic ingredients).  Yum.  Sauce keeps up to 3 days in the fridge too.  My dinners have been based on what's in the freezer and pantry, so that helped make a decision for the next meal.

Tonight's dinner was voted in for a lentil (if I have lentils, I forgot to check) crock pot soup.  I need a crock pot something.  More canning is going on today, and I am not complaining either. We are so blessed to be able to re-stock some pantry items.  I just have to figure out what I am canning after I weigh the last of them.  

Have you heard about the orchard heists?  Two states near us have had apples and pumpkins stolen.  I read the apple orchard was picked completely clean.  Just sort of scary that this is happening.