I've put a start on dehydrating spearmint finally. I've also made dehydrated cucumber powder. Spearmint is for tea and both of them are for Tzatziki Sauce this winter. It is the first year to make cucumber powder, and I am researching the uses for it. It sounds like it would be great in sauces, dips, and other recipes. I had a few cucumbers getting too soft to make a salad, and didn't want to waste them (although I am sure the chickens would have loved them). I do have a better plan to keep the cucumbers "fresh" after picking them.
The weather is heating back, so any dehydrating is on hold now.
Woke up to a brisk 48°F outside. There appears to be a frost on the windows of the truck, and top of the trash can, so I'm hoping it has not affected my herbs or garden.
It's not going to last (we are heating up again to the 90's), but I will admit, I slept in, as the cooler weather was a welcome. However, I have more tomatoes and bell peppers to take care of, and running very behind now.
Anything "sauce" tomato days are long days here. There is the chopping, dicing, then heating until a puree, then removing peels and seeds, then reduction, then canning. Canning in the water bath is typically 35 minutes or longer, depending on what I'm canning. My husband was shocked at how many ingredients (and the time to do it) go into tomato soup.
I'm brewing some coffee to get this day started, but hope to be back with an update. Thank you all for your potluck ideas. I do appreciate it.
I'm still being held captive by the paste tomatoes, but have a hot minute to ask a question. I started the tomatoes late today too.
My husband and I eat healthy (low carb/zero sugar), so it's hard to eat at a potluck. I could always make deviled eggs, but so many people bring those too.
What is your go-to dish for making sure you have something you can eat, and one that others will enjoy as well (low carb/zero or low sugar)?
Not a crock pot dish, as the event I'm thinking of, invites a lot of people, and lack space for electrical outlets.
Not a dessert either. Ha! I'm making this difficult for myself. Fresh fruit is an option, but I'm thinking a cold veggie salad of some sort.
Maybe a dip with sliced bell peppers for dipping? Salsa and quinoa tortilla chips?
I'm stumped. Eat before we go, and just take whatever?
I'm looking at cold carrot salads in between stirring, chopping, and reducing tomatoes. I found one with Dijon dressing and another with a sesame oil/soy dressing. Has anyone made a cold carrot salad that is good?
I think I still have a recipe for a broccoli salad. I will have to check.
I gotta get back to the stove, check the washing machine, and the dehydrator.
Welcome to Crazy Lady's Kitchen, where the days start with tomatoes, and end with sauce anything!
My Weston sauce maker waste funnel broke! Of all the wrong times to happen. The funnel is a think plastic one, with plastic tabs to attach it. It broke before, and they were out of stock for over a year. I saved my old one, and hold it on, but now the price to replace it is a whopping $21.79 with shipping.
I'm looking into getting a different food strainer/sauce maker. What is the brand you all use (for those who have one)? If I have to replace the funnel every year, I might as well look into a better overall sauce maker. I use it to make applesauce too.
We brought in another 80 pounds of paste tomatoes. I canned pizza sauce, and taco sauce. I've been crazy busy, with long days in the kitchen. Top that off with doing all the dishes, and trying to keep up with normal housework, including laundry! Yikes. Let alone the mowing.
I apologize if you emailed me. I have not had a second to read them, and it's either that or I plum forget with the crazy kitchen-ness!!
I managed to get one bell pepper into our dinner, but I have all of these to either freeze or eat. I'm hoping for some stuffed bell peppers soon.
This is an old blog draft I had before all things in life went BAM! Funeral is over, but we are all hurting. Again, thank you for your prayers and good thoughts.
It is taking all I have to get up and go this morning. I am slammed with tomatoes, and I should have been up at 4:30am today. I am so far behind, but I am up, as my husband had to work today as well. Oh, I am slammed with green bell peppers as well. I'm still dealing zucchini, and did not have a chance to check on the plants, as we had a day of visitation, and a full day with funeral services. I thought I just heard the radio mention thunderstorms today, so after I get tomatoes prepped, I may run out and do a very quick look-see.
I have to get my morning work out in first, then there is the unloading of the dishwasher, and then moving produce around to make room for a full day of canning. It's very hot here as well, so that is a double whammy in my kitchen this week.
I learned something new from one of my favorite chefs (Mary Ann Esposito) - when freezing shredded zucchini, place it in waxed paper, twist the ends, and then put it in a plastic freezer bag to freeze. It will be so much easier to get out of the bag when you thaw it. I wanted to use freezer paper, but could not find mine, and I was out of pint bags. I had just been to the store, so I was not going back. We live in the boonies.
Speaking of TV, my husband worked late one day, so I watched the movie on Netflix, "Poisoned." There wasn't much in the movie that I didn't know, but when they were asked one thing they would never buy from the grocery store, it was bagged greens/lettuces. It was suggested to buy the head of lettuce and wash it yourself. Hence, that wake up call, we will be making sure we have a raised bed for all of our spring greens next year.
