Salsa

I had someone ask about the salsa. The way that I know to do it is to make the salsa, then cook it down for a very long time. Once you get the consistency that you want, then can it. I have 1 salsa recipe from my mother-in-law that is very good. It is a sweeter salsa and not very spicy. Due to this nature, you can use it in your toco meat or just it it out of the jar with chips. I will post it down below. I have also been considering going online to find some other recipes to try. I'm not sure if this answers the question that I was asked. I am think that all tomato products really need to be cooked a lot. Ever when i simply slip the skins and toss them in a jar to cook down later, I have to pressure cook them for 45 minutes. Anyone else have any canning tips or recipes that they would like to share

Making Salsa
16 C of tomatoes
1/4 C vinegar
1/8 C sugar
1/4 Tb salt
1 large onion
1 green pepper
1/2 jalapeno

Cook until thick
Pressure cook for 15 minutes at 15 ponds of pressure

Idaho Falls Zoo

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

Canning and freezing

I canned and prepared veggies for the freezer for 4 hours this morning. I'm beat. I was able to can 3 quarts of tomatoes sauce and 13 pints of carrots. Then I froze 9 cups of carrots and 5 ears of corn. Freezing veggies is a lot simpler than canning them, but it does take up space. On the other hand, canning is more time consuming, but you can store it anywhere that is relatively cool, dark, and dry. I thought I would quickly go over some how-tos because I had some people ask. First, I have a large, heavy pressure cooker. It is older than I am, and it weighs more than my children. However, it does a great job. It has a pressure gauge on it to let you know the pressure inside. You should read your instructions before operating your pressure cooker. I am not afraid of it blowing up, but I also know what I am doing. Once It reaches the desired pressure I simply turn down the heat to medium and let it cook for the proper amount of time. Beans are one of the easiest to can because you snap the ends off, snap them into smaller pieces, add salt, add water, put the lid on and pressure cook at 15lbs for 20 minutes. Carrots take a little more work. You need to peel them and then chop them in to 1/4 pieces. Then add salt and boiling water to them. Pressure cook at 15 lbs for 25 minutes. Tomatoes are still more labor intensive. You boil the tomatoes just long enough to have the skin slip off. then you cut them into chunks. After than you add hot tomatoes sauce (I use V8). Then you add salt and cook them at 15lbs of pressure for 45 minutes. You can do a lot more with tomatoes. You can cook them down and make a tomatoes sauce, spaghetti sauce, or salsa. All are great ways to use up the multiple pound of tomatoes. I made my 12 lbs yesterday into a think sauce by simmering it for 10 hours on low.

Freezing is similar in the prep work, but not in the finishing. Tomatoes can be placed on a cookie sheet whole, then frozen solid. Once they are frozen, place in Ziploc bags and store in freezer. (They sound like pool balls once they are frozen.) When you thaw them they are not as firm as fresh tomatoes, but still taste great. You can use them for tacos, or any recipe you add tomatoes to. Carrots need to be peeled and cut up. Then you need to place them into a pot of boiling water for 2 minutes. After that they need to be placed into a pot of cold water for 2 minutes. Then you are free to stick them in the freezer in whatever serving size fits you best. Corn needs to have the husk removed then boil it for about 7 minutes. Then place it in cold water for 7 minutes. Stick it in Ziploc bags and store in freezer. Zucchini can be shredded and frozen.

I encourage all those that can to look into canning and freezing produce. It sure saves money during the winter when the produce is so expensive. It also nice to know that your kids are getting healthy garden veggies throughout the whole year. Anyone that wants to learn, I will be happy to teach. i am not an expert and I know their are others that know so much more, but I willing to so my best:) I know there are web sites and stores that will teach as well.

To party or not ro party?

McKayla really wants a Halloween party. I think it mostly stems from the cool things that super cooks can do with food that she sees in the check out line. I'm impressed too. I could just imagine having a great party in our back yard with yummy treats and everyone sitting and chatting while the kids played games and entertained themselves. Then reality come to mind. The cooking for 2 days to have all of the cool goodies. Being thankful that it is Halloween food so that it doesn't have to look pretty. Trying to keep the house cleaned so that others are fooled into thinking it is always this clean. Trying to convince McKayla that she can not change costumes again. trying to decided to who want to come to a lame party at our house. Then worrying that too few/too many will show up. Hearing children fight. Then at the end of the party realizing that you were so busy that you didn't even get a chance to sit down and talk to anyone. Yet, I am still tempted. What is every one's opinion. how have you had low stress get together? Maybe it is a girl thing because my brothers manage get together all of the time and look so relaxed. maybe it's the kid factor that throws everyone for a loop. Ideas? Comments? Good therapist recommendations? ;)

Put That Pen Down

Ariana is certainly growing into her own little person. She loves to write on things. If she can find a crayon, marker, pen, or chalk, she will use it to write on something. It seems like she a has a stash of them somewhere because as soon as a take one away from her, she has another one. It makes me laugh. She is also very into baby dolls. McKayla sometimes likes dolls, but is more into the theatrical dressing up . It is fun to see her pat her babies and she makes a sad face when she is holding them to let me know they are sad. It's so cute.

McKayla is loving school and dance. She thrives in social areas. She loves people and animals and she talks to everything. She also wants to know why. Why this and why that. She really has some good questions. Such as, "If God made the sky pink, what color would sunsets be?" And "Why is it not Halloween yet?" "How long is a long time?" "Why does everyone have to go to school and work? We should all just play together and then we would be happy." And last, "No mom, we don't have to wait and see, we just have to do it. It easy."

These two make me smile and laugh. At times I miss working, but for the most part I couldn't imagine not being here to see them do their silly little things every day. I am greatful for the opportunity I have to watch them and learn from my two sweet girls.

The Fair 2009

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The Fair

I realize that time passes and I am getting older. However, the fair reminded me of my age with stark reality. Here are some things I noticed yesterday when we went to the fair. They are not in any order, but more rambling of my mind. I will put up a slide show of the fair tomorrow, but I am too lazy to go get my camera out of the car right now.

After being at the fair about 2 hours I was tired. I used to go the the fair all day and never even stop.

I was appalled at the rip off the rides are. $30 for all rides, but we would have had to pay that per person. Then we started looking at the rides that McKayla could go on by herself, there were 4. With an adult there were a few more, but not really $30 worth. I wasn't going to pay $60 for rides yesterday. We could go to Lagoon and it would be cheaper. I used to not care about the money. It was the state fair and I had to ride everything.

We ate more food during the 6 hours we were there than we normally do in 2 days. The food was one the most exciting parts of the fair. I used to never eat the food at the fair. I only rode ride after ride.

We went though the commercial building to look at the vender's and the exhibits. I especially loved the wedding cake displays. They were incredible. In my younger day, I hated walking around looking at things.

The crowd really annoyed me. There were too many people and too little space. I used to love the excitement of the people and being around everyone.

I looked forward to running into people I know. I used to simply rush from ride to ride, not stopping to look at anyone.

I used to dress to go to the fair to be noticed. Now I dressed as comfortably as possible.

The money was a big issue. I used to get upset that my parents would gripe about the cost of everything. Now I totally agree with them.

That is all I can think of for now. What differences do you notice as you go to the fair?